“So you’re here to try to convince Kris there were extenuating circumstances, that you cheated on your wife because she deserved it?”

  Matt swallowed what tasted like bile. He recognized it as the bitter truth. That’s exactly what he’d hoped to accomplish, but after hearing Robert’s story, he knew there was no way it would be that easy. He could tell Kristen exactly how he and Robin shared the blame for the demise of their marriage, but it wouldn’t erase what he had done. “I guess I’d better come up with a Plan B, huh?”

  Robert chuckled. “That would be my suggestion.”

  Matt stood and, doing something he never expected he would, offered Robert his hand. “Thanks for the coffee and the talk. Believe it or not, it helped.”

  “I’m glad.” Robert clasped Matt’s hand. “I still love Kris, probably always will, but it’s never gonna happen for us. I want her to be happy, and from what I could tell, you made her happy. Maybe she’ll remember that once she’s had a chance to think things through.”

  Matt knew Robert’s word held a veiled warning. “You’re suggesting I give her a little time and space?”

  “I know that’s what I would do.”

  As hard as it would be, Matt had to let Kristen go. He just prayed she would realize how much he loved her and come back to him, willing to forget their past mistakes.

  ***

  Kristen had spent a sleepless night in a hotel near the airport. She didn’t want to sleep at home, knowing that would be the first place Matt checked, nor did she want to show up on her mother’s doorstep in the middle of the night.

  The short drive from the airport to her mother and stepfather’s home did little to ease Kristen’s angst. She’d decided to surprise them, mainly because she didn’t want to explain over the phone what prompted her sudden decision. Her mother would get it out of her, but Kristen wanted to wait until they were face-to-face.

  After pulling into the winding driveway, Kristen took a few deep breaths while the driver hauled her suitcase out of the trunk. She slipped a few bills into his hand, including a generous tip. He’d been astute enough to realize she wasn’t interested in idle chit-chat. Looking up at the post-and-beam home Phillip and her mother had built two years ago, Kristen was glad to see a car parked by the detached garage and a light burning in what she assumed was the kitchen. Last she heard, they weren’t planning another trip for a couple of months, but it wasn’t uncommon for them to take off in their RV on a moment’s notice.

  “Thank you,” Kristen said to the taxi driver as she took the handle of her luggage.

  In her frenzy to pack and escape, she wasn’t certain she’d packed for the elements. Whatever she had would have to do. It wasn’t as though she intended to do a lot of sightseeing. Her main goal was to hide out and share her fears with someone who would understand. If anyone would support her decision not to get involved with a man capable of cheating on his wife, it would be her mother. Kristen just needed someone to tell her she was right to walk away from the man she loved. Her heart argued it was a mistake she would regret for the rest of her life.

  “Enjoy your stay, ma’am,” the middle-aged man said before climbing back into his taxi.

  Kristen knew pleasure would be elusive. While she was looking forward to seeing her family, the best she could hope for was a little rest and relaxation to soothe her battered spirit.

  Before she could even ring the doorbell, her mother threw the door open, her elation evident. “Kristen, oh my gosh! I can’t believe you’re here, honey.”

  Kristen commanded herself to smile and pretend she was there to make her mother’s day. “Hey, Mama, I thought I’d surprise you. You’ve been after me to come out and see the new house for so long that I thought it was high time I make the trip. I hope you don’t mind I didn’t call first?”

  “Mind?” Nadine asked, pulling her daughter into her arms. “Surely you can’t be serious?

  I’m thrilled you’re here, and Phillip will be too.”

  Kristen closed her eyes, breathing in her mother’s familiar smell. They’d been so close until her mother found solace in alcohol. After that, it had taken years for them to repair their relationship. But they finally had, and Kristen felt they were closer than ever. Though they didn’t see each other often, they talked and texted or emailed almost daily.

  “Thanks,” Kristen whispered, cursing the tears burning her eyes. She didn’t want to worry her mother by breaking down on her doorstep. Holding it together was proving more difficult than she thought it would be. “It’s so great to see you.”

  Nadine must have heard her voice waver because she pulled back. “What’s wrong, sugar?”

  “Nothing.” Kristen sniffled and looked over her mother’s shoulder, hoping to catch a glimpse of Phillip. Maybe his presence would distract Nadine. “Where’s Phillip?”

  Nadine narrowed her eyes while pulling Kristen inside. She reached for Kristen’s suitcase and closed the door. “Don’t try to change the subject. I asked you what’s wrong.”

  Kristen gave her mother a quick once-over. She looked fabulous. Her streaked silvery-blond chin-length bob was stylishly stacked in back, and her body was trim from hours of walking and Tai Chi. Her soft pink warm-up suit hinted that she’d just finished her morning fitness ritual before her daughter showed up like a stray. That’s how Kristen felt, even in the warmth of her mother’s home

  Before Kristen could hedge her mother’s question again, Philip made his way down the stairs, a wide smile lighting his soft green eyes that were partially concealed by his silver-framed glasses. He was everything her biological father wasn’t: steadfast, reliable, and honest. As a college professor, he’d been a rock in his children’s lives, raising them on his own after his wife left them to find herself.

  “Hi, Phillip.” Kristen stepped forward when he opened his arms. As soon as his strong arms enfolded her, Kristen felt a fresh wave of tears burning the back of her throat.

  Phillip was the kind of man she’d wanted as a father, someone she could turn to when her life was falling apart, who would always be there to hold her and tell her everything would be fine. She hadn’t spoken to her father in years and questioned whether she ever would again. The separation was so long, the hurt and resentment too deep to allow healing and forgiveness to permeate. He had a new family, a new life, and he’d never given Kristen any indication she had a place in it.

  “What a wonderful surprise,” Phillip said softly, stroking her back and offering the comfort and reassurance he was famous for.

  Kristen could only imagine the look of confusion passing between her mother and stepfather. They must wonder what she was doing there and what was so terrible that she needed to seek refuge in their little corner of the world.

  “I was just about to make breakfast,” Nadine said. “How do blueberry pancakes sound?”

  With an arm around her shoulders, Phillip guided Kristen into the spacious kitchen adjoining the family room. “Sounds good to me, sweetheart.”

  Kristen smiled at the endearment. That was what she had always wanted for her mother: peace, happiness, and a man who loved her. “Your home is beautiful.”

  She could see the entire main floor from that vantage point. The home didn’t have a large footprint, but the rooms were spacious with high ceilings and plenty of windows. The forest surrounding the property meant they didn’t have to worry about window treatments. It had taken them an entire year to find a suitable piece of land to build their dream home, but it had clearly been worth the wait. She couldn’t imagine a more perfect spot for people seeking peace, tranquility, and the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature in their own backyard.

  “Thank you, honey,” Nadine said, setting out the ingredients for the pancakes.

  “Pictures don’t do it justice.” Kristen accepted the chair Phillip offered with a grateful smile. Nadine had emailed her updates, complete with pictures, during the construction and decorating phases. Nadine knew how much she loved decorating, which was ironic, since Kristen’s home looked like a non-descript builder’s box. “I think you made the right choice with the family room furniture, Mama. The plaid cushions are perfect with the chenille.”

  “Thanks, honey. Did I mention I’ve taken up knitting?” Nadine poured a generous amount of fresh blueberries into the bowl. “I made that throw on the couch.”

  Kristen saw the brown and red blanket tossed over the arm, inviting one to take a nap or curl up with a good book. She wasn’t surprised her mother was learning a new skill. The second half of her life had been all about squeezing every ounce of pleasure she could out of every day. She claimed losing her only son and so much time to her addiction had helped her to realize that every moment was a gift, and she was determined to make the most of it.

  “It’s lovely.”

  “I learned by checking a few books out of the library,” Nadine said, pouring several circles of batter into the hot skillet. “Of course, that didn’t work so well. You know me, I’m more of a visual learner. So I started watching YouTube videos, and that helped a lot.”

  “Now she belongs to a knitter’s group in town,” Phillip said, setting two mugs of freshly brewed coffee on the table. “At first, the owner, Sandra, gave her a few lessons. Then she invited your mother to join the group.”

  “That’s nice.” Kristen had always admired her mother’s ability to welcome people into her social circle. As much as Kristen enjoyed interacting with people, she was always more cautious about letting her guard down.

  “We knit for charity,” Nadine said. “You know, scarves and hats for the homeless. Preemie hats and blankets for babies, that sort of thing.”

  Kristen prepared her coffee. “Why didn’t you mention anything about it on the phone?”

  “I was more interested in what’s happening in your life.”

  That was so typical of her mother. “There’s not much to tell, except for work.” Of course that wasn’t entirely true, but it wasn’t time to talk about Matt. Her mother knew she was seeing someone new, but she’d been reluctant to share too much about him in case it didn’t work out. She didn’t want to get her mother’s hopes up.

  “Have you seen Robert lately?” Nadine frowned as she searched through a drawer, presumably for a spatula.

  “It would be hard not to,” Kristen said, sharing a smile with Phillip. “Since we share an office building and all.”

  Nadine grunted as she flipped the pancakes. “If he had any decency, he would find a new office space, preferably on the other side of the country.”

  “Gee, how do you really feel?” Kristen took a tentative sip of coffee. It was strong, just the way she liked it.

  “I’m sorry,” Nadine said, plating a short stakes of pancakes as Phillip crossed the kitchen to gather plates and utensils. “I know I should keep my opinions to myself, but I can’t help it. Just thinking about what he did to you makes my blood boil.”

  “Maybe it wasn’t all his fault.” Kristen almost laughed when her mother gaped at her. She’d had a lot of time to think about what had happened between her and Robert, and she realized Robert may not have been entirely to blame.

  “What are you saying?” Nadine’s face twisted into a look of disgust. “Surely you’re not implying you drove him to cheat on you?”

  That was a sore spot for her mother. The same questions had plagued Nadine when she learned of her husband’s infidelity, and it ultimately drove her to seek refuge in alcohol.

  “No, of course not.” While spreading maple syrup on her pancakes, Kristen said, “I just think we’re both to blame for things not working out.”

  “There are usually two sides to every story,” Phillip said, reclaiming his seat and spreading a napkin in his lap. “And usually more than enough blame to go around.”

  Kristen looked at him, hoping he would continue. She valued his opinion, and given his experience with a broken marriage, he would likely have insight that was of value to her. “It sounds like you speak from experience?”

  “A couple doesn’t divorce or separate because one person is solely to blame, my dear. In my experience, people change, they grow apart. Instead of acknowledging that, they often look to others to ease their fears about the future.”

  “Makes sense,” Kristen said, waiting until her mother was seated before eating. “But I don’t know that Robert and I changed all that much. I just don’t think we were all that compatible to begin with.”

  “I can’t argue with that,” Nadine muttered. She frowned when her husband gave her a sharp look. “I’m sorry, but my daughter knows I always speak my mind, especially where her welfare is concerned.”

  “It’s okay, Mama.” Kristen popped a delectable blueberry-infused triangle into her mouth. Her mother’s pancakes were to-die-for, like so many of her staples. If Kristen could cook half as well, she suspected she wouldn’t be able to work off all the calories she’d consume. “I know how you feel about Robert.”

  “Enough about him,” Nadine said, pouring orange juice from the glass decanter her husband had set on the table. “I want to hear about the new man in your life. Matt, isn’t it?”

  Kristen must have grimaced because Phillip raised an eyebrow. “Is he part of the reason for your impromptu visit?”

  She’d hoped to have a little more time before burdening them with her troubles. “I learned something about him last night, something that troubled me.” Kristen assumed she would have that conversation with only her mother, but it might be nice to hear a man’s viewpoint.

  “What’s that?” Nadine asked.

  Kristen was almost afraid to throw Matt under the bus, which told her she hadn’t written him off entirely. “I found out that he cheated on his wife.”

  Nadine and Phillip shared a look before he asked, “Did he tell you that?”

  “No, she did. His ex-wife, I mean.” As delicious as the pancakes were, Kristen pushed her plate away. She wouldn’t be able to eat another bite as long as Matt was the topic of conversation.

  “Did he tell you the circumstances?” Phillip asked. “Was it an ongoing affair or a one-time thing? Was there just one woman or more?”

  “I don’t know.” Kristen couldn’t reconcile her image of Matt with a man who would do the things her father had done. “I didn’t stick around long enough to hear the details. It doesn’t really matter, does it?”

  “I don’t know. Does it matter to you?” Phillip asked.

  “What do you mean?” Kristen felt as though he was talking in riddles. Her sleep deprived-brain was probably making it seem that way.

  “There’s a story there. It may not be the one you want to hear,” Phillip said quietly. “You may not think it even matters, but if you don’t find out, won’t you always wonder?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m just so confused. What do you think, Mom?” Her mother was surprisingly quiet. Kristen had expected her to tear Matt down and tell her daughter she was better off without someone like him in her life.

  She reached for her Kristen’s hand. “I won’t lie, honey. I thought this man might be the one for you.”

  “Why would you think that?” Kristen asked. “I haven’t told you all that much about him.”

  “It wasn’t what you said,” Nadine said, smiling. “It was how you said it. You were glowing when you told me about him. Even over the phone, I could tell.”

  Kristen couldn’t help but laugh. Her heart hurt when she thought of how she’d hoped Matt would be the man to restore her faith. “You do have a vivid imagination.”

  “Say what you will. A mother knows these things.” Nadine returned to her breakfast.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” Kristen reminded her. “What do you think… about what I told you?”

  “I think Phillip’s right.” She cast a glance at her husband. “You should speak to your young man. Give him a chance to tell you his side of the story.”

  That was the last thing Kristen had expected her mother to say. Maybe she had rushed to judgment. “Can I ask a favor?”

  “Anything,” they said at once.

  “Would you mind if I hung out here for a few days while I sort all this out?”

  Nadine’s face lit up and reached for her daughter’s hand. “You stay just as long as you need to, honey. We’re thrilled to have you.”

  Kristen returned her smile, feeling a lot better than she had an hour earlier. Maybe Matt’s indiscretion wasn’t the end of the world after all. “Thanks, guys. You’re the best.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Giving Kristen her space was making Matt crazy, which was why the boys had refused to let him out of their weekly poker game. They claimed he needed it to take his mind off his troubles. Since he couldn’t disagree, Matt relented.

  Grayson was the only one in the private room when Matt entered. “Hey, man, what’s up?”

  “I was just about to ask you the same thing,” Grayson said, tossing the cards aside so he could give Matt his full attention. “Any word from Kristen yet?”

  “No, her assistant said she was out of town, but she wouldn’t tell me where she went. She must have her cell turned off because it goes to voice mail every time I call.”

  “I thought you were going to give her some time.”

  All of the guys had agreed that was the best approach, but Matt had given in to his weakness and tried to reach her a time or two. What else was he to do? He couldn’t concentrate on anything other than the woman who’d left him.

  “I’m tryin’, man, but it sure as hell isn’t easy.” Matt sank into the chair across from his friend and picked up the deck of cards. He shuffled them, trying to give his attention to something other than his problems.

  “I’ve never seen you this messed up over a woman.” Grayson tilted his chair back on two legs and crossed his arms. “Not even Robin got under your skin like this.”

  “This is different.” Matt struggled to find the words to make Grayson understand. His friend had never been in love, and Matt knew until he was, he would be mystified when he saw a reasonably intelligent man get bent out of shape over a woman who claimed to be through with him. “Robin was…” But tearing his ex down wouldn’t make him feel better. If anything, it would just remind him of what a fool he’d been to fall in love with her in the first place.