Strike Out (7 page)

But then she wouldn’t have met Nathan. She’d have stayed in Richland Hills and been bound by a custody arrangement that dictated when she had to give up her son and for how long. Or maybe she would have married Zach, and the three of them would have lived happily ever after, and her baby never would have had to experience the heartbreak of losing his daddy.

No matter how often Rennie speculated about what might have been, she couldn’t undo her mistakes. She just had to deal with her life as it was and decide whether she could continue to live with a lie that was obviously hurting the person she loved most. Tyler needed a father, and he had one. Did she have the courage to tell him that and deal with the fallout? Would Zach even want to know they shared a child, or would he resent her for upending his life with the news that he was a father?

She had so many unanswered questions, and as she pulled into her parents’ driveway, she realized she had no answers. Jackie and Mason were already there. They’d promised to come early and help decorate since Tyler had a game he didn’t want to miss. Most of his school friends and teammates would be there within the hour. The house she’d grown up in would be filled with love and laughter, the chaos of screaming kids splashing each other in the pool, and neighbors and parents crowding the backyard as her father grilled hot dogs and burgers. Just like it had been while she grew up.

She’d loved her time in Florida, but Texas was her home. After Nathan had died, she realized how much she needed her family to help her though the tough times. Convincing Sky’s the Limit to let her move her office to Arlington wasn’t easy, but they eventually gave in when she offered her resignation instead. She was grateful they had let her move because she couldn’t imagine her life without her job.

“I’m hungry,” Tyler said, throwing the car door open before Rennie could ask him to help her with the bags in the trunk. “I’m gonna see if Grandad’s got the barbeque goin’.”

Rennie took a few deep breaths as she watched her son throw the back gate open and run into the backyard as if the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels. He only had two speeds: full on and out cold. Just like his dad when he was young. Zach used to play baseball every chance he got, work part time as a groundskeeper at his parents’ golf course, and maintain a straight A average. Everyone knew he was going places, and they’d assumed wherever he went, Rennie would go too. Fate had other ideas.

“There you are,” Jackie said, laughing. “I saw the little speed demon, so I knew you couldn’t be too far behind.”

Rennie tried to shake off her melancholy mood as she hauled her butt out of her Volvo. The day was supposed to be fun, not a day to dwell on the past. “I hope you came to help me carry some of this stuff in?” She slammed the door and walked back to the trunk. “My son took off before I could ask him to help.”

“Give him a break. It’s his big day,” Jackie said, smiling. She looked great in white denim shorts, a pale peach tank top, and white flip-flops. They shared the same fair hair and skin, but Jackie’s new interest in gardening had given her a healthy glow. Rennie really needed to get out from behind her desk more often.

“I guess you’re right.” Rennie handed her sister two shopping bags containing party favors and supplies. “Besides, I’m really getting tired of arguing with him. It’s exhausting.”

“You sure you’re not losing sleep for some other reason?” Jackie leaned her hip against the polished black car.

“Don’t start with that today.” She’d wasted enough time thinking about Zach and arguing with her son about him. She didn’t need her sister to add to it.

“You said you’d call and let me know what happened with the lunch,” Jackie said, pouting.

“Sorry, I got busy at work.” That much was true. Between coordinating three projects and helping out with Sheldon’s fundraiser, she was stretched pretty thin.

“Too busy to call your own sister? Come on, I’m dying to know what happened with Zach. You can’t just leave me hanging.”

“Sssh,” Rennie hissed, looking around to make sure their mother wasn’t hovering nearby. “Lunch was fine. No drama.” Spending time with him had actually been nice, much nicer than she would ever admit, even to her sister.

“Was it weird?” Jackie asked, wrinkling her nose. “You know, going out with him again after all these years?”

“We did not
go out
.” Rennie pushed the button to close the trunk once she’d extracted the last three bags. “We had a busy lunch. It was very productive.”

“Just how productive was it, sis?” Jackie asked, grinning.

Rennie rolled her eyes behind her dark sunglasses. Her kid sister always said what she thought, no matter the consequences. Rennie had always envied that about her. “We did what we set out to do.” She led the way up the stone path. “Don’t say anything to Mama and Daddy. I’m not ready for them to know I’m seeing Zach again.”

“Ah hah!” Jackie’s bright blue eyes twinkled with amusement. “You said it yourself. You two are seeing each other.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” Rennie smiled at her sister’s single-mindedness. She was like a pitbull when she went after something she wanted. “Zach and I are not getting back together, so don’t get your hopes up.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” Jackie said, looking dejected.

Rennie had almost forgotten how difficult it had been for Jackie to accept that the man she viewed as the epitome of male perfection had deceived her sister. “I know you’re a sucker for a happy ending, but it’s not going to happen.”

“What do you think will happen?” Jackie asked.

“I don’t know.” Rennie saw no point in worrying her sister with worst-case scenarios.

“Does he know about Nathan yet?” Jackie’s big blue eyes filled with the same sympathetic look she always got when talking about Rennie’s husband.

“No.” She knew she should tell Zach the truth, but his not knowing she was a widow provided a buffer she desperately needed.

“Wait ‘til he finds out.” Jackie nudged her hip as they walked up the stone path to the backyard. “Then it’s really gonna be game on.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Rennie said, trying to ignore the flutter in her belly when she thought about going out on a real date with Zach again. It could never happen, but thinking about it was kind of nice. They’d had a lot of great years together, and time had softened her anger over the way things had ended. She just had the aching reminder that their relationship had been like no other. Not even her marriage could compare to the intense years she’d spent loving Zach. “For all we know, he could have a girlfriend. I saw his picture in the paper with some girl the other day.”

Jackie threw her head back and her long blond ponytail struck Rennie in the face. “I saw that too. It didn’t look like he was all that into her though.”

“How can you tell? They were smiling.” She’d studied that picture for longer than she was willing to admit, trying to decipher Zach’s mood. Was he faking it for the camera or was he genuinely happy to be with the beautiful woman on his arm?

“I know Zach, and so do you. The guy reads like an open book.”

“Do you, uh, see him very often?” Rennie asked. She had purposefully avoided asking her sister about Zach over the years, knowing it was best to avoid the subject.

“Just at the club once in a while.” Zach’s parents still owned the golf course, and since Jackie, her husband, and their parents were all avid golfers, they had a family membership.

“He still plays?” Rennie knew she shouldn’t try to glean information about her ex if she wanted to stay out of his life and, more importantly, keep her son out of his sight.

“Yeah.” Jackie laughed. “Mason’s even played a few rounds with him over the years. He always comes home grumbling about how unfair it is that Zach’s not only one of the best pitchers in the league but a hell of a golfer too. He says it makes it real hard to like him.” Jackie giggled. “Of course, he can’t wait to go in to the office and tell everyone he played a round of golf with Zach Foster.”

“Does he think name dropping will help him make partner faster?” Rennie couldn’t keep the edge out of her voice. Rennie knew how anxious her brother-in-law was to make partner at his law firm, but for reasons she didn’t want to analyze, it still bothered her when people used their association with Zach to make themselves look better. He was a great guy… who’d broken her heart… who didn’t want their baby… who lied to her about wanting to start a family. She had to keep reminding herself of that, or she was at risk of falling for him all over again.

Jackie shot her a sidelong glance, barely able to keep the smirk off her face. “Who made you Zach’s protector, sis?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Zach doesn’t need me or anyone else to defend him.”

***

Zach was surprised to see the Baldwins’ home number flash on his call display just after his game ended. “Hello?”

“Zach, is that you?”

He immediately recognized the little voice he’d heard on the phone the other night. “Hey, Tyler. What’s up, buddy?”

“We’re… uh… having a party over at my Grandad and Nana’s house, and I was wondering if you could come?”

Zach smiled. He had the feeling Tyler was issuing the invitation without his mother’s knowledge. “What kind of party?”

“It’s my birthday party.”

“Cool, how old—” Zach stopped talking when he realized Tyler was talking to someone in the background. He hoped it wasn’t the boy’s father, who would no doubt question why his son was talking to his wife’s ex.

“My nana’s here. She wants to talk to you.”

“Great.” Zach had always had a great relationship with the Baldwins, even after their daughter left town. “Hey, Marian,” he said, chuckling when she greeted him. “Your grandson is quite the character.”

“Isn’t he though? It seems there’s nothing he won’t do to meet his baseball idol.”

“How did he get my number?” One thing was certain: Rennie wouldn’t have given it to him.

“He went through his mother’s phone and found it.” Marian cleared her throat delicately. “I had no idea you and Rennie were still in touch.”

“We just reconnected a couple of days ago, actually. I’m helping her with a couple of projects she’s working on for Sky’s the Limit.”

“Is that so?”

Zach heard the smile in her voice, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why she would welcome him back into the fold when her daughter was happily married. “Yeah, it’s been nice catching up with her.” The gold band on Rennie’s hand prevented him from telling Rennie or her mother how he really felt.

“I’m sure she feels the same way.”

Zach had gotten the impression she was softening toward him, not that he knew what he’d done to make her so angry she’d leave him at the altar. Maybe one day he’d convince her to tell him. Not that it mattered anymore. She’d moved on with her life, and maybe he could start to move on too. “Tell Tyler I’m sorry I can’t make his party.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.” Marian sounded genuinely disappointed. “Meeting you would make his day.”

Zach thought about how much it would have meant to him as a kid to meet a real professional baseball player. “Do you think his parents would mind if I just crashed the party?”

“His parents?” Marian hesitated. “Uh, no. You’re welcome here anytime. In fact, I think I’ll ask your parents to stop by too. They’ve been after me to meet Tyler ever since he moved to town. I think this would be the perfect time. Half the town’s already here. What could a few more hurt, right?” She laughed.

“If you’re sure?”

“I am. I know Chuck would love to see you too, hon.”

“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”

Rennie couldn’t figure out why her mother, who’d been the perfect hostess when they arrived, was shooting daggers at her from her post at the beverage station. Approaching cautiously, Rennie held out her plastic cup. “Can I get a refill of your sweet tea, Mama?”

“Jackie, come over here,” Marian said, crooking her finger. “You take over. I need to have a word with your sister.”

Uh oh. Rennie didn’t like the sound of that. “Is there a problem?”

Marian grabbed her daughter’s elbow and steered her into the kitchen. She locked the door and lowered the white wooden shades. With a hand fisted on her hip, she said, “You care to tell me why you led Zach to believe your husband was still alive?”

Rennie snapped her mouth shut when she realized it was hanging open. “I didn’t tell him anything about my marital status because it’s not any of his business.”

“When are you going to get tired of living this lie, girl?”

After her recent chat with Jackie, Rennie feared the day would come when her mama would call her out about Tyler’s birth father. She never expected it to be at her son’s birthday party. “Can we talk about this another time?” She slid her damp palms down the sides of her shorts.

“No, we need to talk about it now ‘cause Zach and his parents are on their way over.”

Rennie gripped the back of the high-back oak chair. She wished she could blame the spinning room on heat exhaustion or dehydration, but she knew she was in full-blown panic. “What are you talking about? They can’t come here.”

“They surely can. Your son invited Zach, and I extended the invitation to my good friends. They’re real excited to meet
my
grandson.”

Rennie sucked in a breath as one horrible scenario after another flitted through her mind. Zach and the Fosters would take one look at Tyler and know the truth. How could she get that runaway train of a situation back on track? “Then we’re leaving.”

“No, you’re not.” Marian grabbed her daughter’s wrist when she tried to walk past. “You’re going to stay right here and do what you should have done years ago. You’re going to tell Zach he has a son.”

Rennie felt the tears welling in her eyes, blurring her vision. It was worse than her worst nightmare. She’d never imagined dozens of people, including Zach’s parents, would be around when her world came crashing down. “You can’t make me stay.”

“Doesn’t Tyler deserve to know the truth? How can you sleep at night knowing you’re keeping your son from his father, especially now when it’s so painfully obvious he needs one? Why do you think he reached out to Zach? He’s missing Nathan so damn much.”