Obviously not what he had expected. He actually stumbled a step in the sand before he repeated, “A party?”
“A surprise twenty-fifth anniversary party for Uncle Jared and Aunt Cassie. It was their daughter Molly's idea. She's trying to gather most of the foster sons who have lived on the ranch during the past twenty-five years. She's located most of them, but you and a couple others pretty much dropped out of sight after you left.”
“Frankly I'm surprised you found me.”
“It wasn't easy—especially since you've changed your last name. But I remembered that you once told me you were considering switching to your mother's maiden name after you left the ranch.” The slight uptilt she added to the end of the comment turned it into a subtle question.
He shrugged against her shoulder. “I created a false identity for Drake using my mother's name, thinking it wouldn't be a problem, since that wasn't the name I used as a boy, in case he checked.”
“You used my name, too,” she reminded him.
“Um, yeah. As I said, that was an odd coincidence.”
“Hmm.”
“So—all of this was over a party.”
“A big party,” she felt compelled to add. “Dozens of people will be there.”
“And that's just your family.”
The dry comment made her giggle. “Well…yeah. But other people, too. Uncle Jared and Aunt Cassie have touched a lot of lives during the past twenty-five years.”
“I'm sure they have.”
B.J. looked rather fiercely at the waves cresting white-topped in the moonlight. “I, um, thought they changed your life, too. At least, that's what you told me the day you left.”
“That was a long time ago,” he said after a moment.
“Do you remember what you said to me that day? You told me you were going to make something of yourself and then you would come back to thank the Walkers for all they had done for you.”
“Like I said—it was a long time ago. I was just a kid. I barely remember those days—and I would be surprised if they remembered me.”
“Of course they remember you, Daniel. You were a part of their lives for a full year. They still have your photograph displayed with the other foster boys who have stayed with them and they mention you often when reminiscing about the past.”
He remained silent.
“They would love to see you again,” she ventured.
Without glancing at her, he murmured, “You really think they would be proud to learn that I've become a con man?”
“Is that what you are?”
“It's what you called me earlier,” he reminded her.
“Was I right?”
“Oh, yeah. You were right about that.”
She chewed on her lower lip, trying to interpret his tone and not his words. “Won't you at least tell me why you're here?”
“I've told you that already. I'm here for the money.”
There was a ring of truth in his voice. As far as she knew, he hadn't actually lied to her yet. When she asked a question he didn't want to answer, he simply ignored it. So when he said he was here for the money, she supposed she should believe him.
“That's really it?” she couldn't help asking.
“If you're trying to find justification for my actions, forget it. I keep telling you, I'm not the kid you used to know.”