The Rancher's Redemption
“Okay, nothing you didn’t already know here. What’s the next step?”
“That’s up to Miranda.” She took the paper back, folded it in half, and then in half again. “I suspect she’ll be contacting me fairly soon.” She looked over at Roman who was humming to himself as he built a spaceship. “He deserves to know all his family.”
“Yeah, I get that.” Conscious of how many years he’d lost of Leanne’s life, and his new knowledge of his half sister, Adam could only agree. “But only on your terms.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”
He took her hand. “I know you will.”
“Ro’s the most precious thing in my world.” Her voice quivered, and he squeezed her fingers hard. “I’ll do anything to keep him safe.” After a moment she cleared her throat. “Have you heard anything from Ines and Carlos?”
It was his turn to pause and search for the right words. “He’s not doing too well. The experimental treatment place won’t work for him now.”
“Poor Carlos,” she said softly. “Is he able to come home?”
“I think that’s what both he and Ines would like. I talked to Rio this morning. He offered to fly him back on the company jet.”
“That was good of him,” Lizzie said.
“He’s a nice guy.” Adam sipped his coffee.
“And is Leanne still here?” Lizzie asked. “I thought I saw her with Daisy the other day.”
“Yeah. She’s staying a while longer. She and Dad have a lot of ground to cover.”
“That must be . . . hard for you.” Lizzie said diplomatically.
“She married again. Apparently I have a sixteen-year-old half sister called Eileen.”
Lizzie blinked at him. “What?”
“I know. It was quite a shock for all of us—apart from Dad, who apparently knew already.” He grimaced. “I’m kind of annoyed with him right now.”
“I’m not surprised,” Lizzie agreed. She was petting his arm and he didn’t want her to stop. “I suppose he thought it would be better if you didn’t have to deal with all those things.”
“He didn’t want to deal with them,” Adam stated. “He never gave us the opportunity to make a decision about anything. The least he could’ve done was tell us the truth when we turned eighteen and allowed us to make up our own minds.”
“I agree.” Lizzie nodded. “I’d already decided that whenever Roman asked me about his father, I’d tell him the truth.”
“The thing is . . .” Adam hesitated. “I’ve always seen my dad as a hero, bringing up six kids, managing the ranch full-time, never speaking about the wife who ran out on him, and it’s not true. None of it is true.”
He was relieved when she just heard him out rather than rushing to comment either way.
“Life can be pretty sucky sometimes, can’t it?” Lizzie said softly. “My mom always used to say there are three sides to every story—yours, mine, and the truth.”
Adam finished his drink and slowly wiped his mouth. “Leanne says she’s staying for another two weeks, and then she has to go back to New York.”
“She’ll be here for Nate and Della’s wedding then.” Lizzie picked up his glass and put it in the sink. “I wonder if my parents remember her? They’re due here at the end of the week.”
“Leanne certainly knows Nate’s parents. She used to know everybody.” He straightened up and retrieved his hat. “Are you going to the wedding?”
“Yes, I’m going to help Yvonne set up the buffet, and I’m free for the rest of the day.”
“Then will you hang out with me?”
She smiled at him. “In public? Like we’re a couple?”
Adam nodded. “Exactly.”
She turned around and hugged him hard. “I’d love to do that.”
He bent to kiss the top of her head and then put on his Stetson. “It’s a date.”
* * *
Adam had hardly been gone five minutes before Lizzie’s cell phone rang. She checked the number and answered.