Trinity Falls (Finding Home 1)

“What do you mean?”

“‘Home’ is what you make of it. You left Trinity Falls to make your home in New York. Now you’re back. If you don’t know what you want in a home, you’ll never find one.”

Ean watched Megan walk away. She was right. If he didn’t know what he wanted, he’d never find it. But what did he want?

CHAPTER 9

Ean sat at the dining-room table Thursday night, staring hard at his mother’s boyfriend. Most people would find it hard not to like Leonard George. Ean wasn’t most people. As a high school quarterback, he’d thought his coach had been great, second only to his father. Now that the man was dating his mother, he didn’t like him at all. He drained his glass of iced tea, wishing the beverage was a cold beer and the evening was over.

“Why don’t we relax in the living room while we enjoy our desserts?” Doreen’s smile seemed forced.

Tension returned to Ean’s neck and shoulders. He’d thought the evening would end after dinner. He’d been wrong. Ean carried the serving tray of Trinity Falls Fudge Walnut Brownie, which his mother had made for dessert. He dutifully followed his mother, Leonard and Megan into the living room. A surreptitious glance at his watch showed the time to be seven-thirty. How much longer would this event last?

Doreen and Leonard sat, thigh to thigh, on the dark pink love seat to his left. He avoided looking at their linked hands. Megan had chosen the overstuffed armchair and ottoman opposite the matching sofa, on which he’d settled.

“This brownie is fabulous, Doreen.” Megan speared another forkful of the dessert.

Leonard’s laughter forewarned another joke. “It must have been great growing up with a mother who baked like this. But it’s a good thing you played football, otherwise you would’ve gotten fat.”

Ean lifted his gaze to find Megan’s encouraging smile. He wouldn’t have made it through the evening without her. “You’re right.”

Leonard gestured toward him with his fork. “You look like you kept up your training. Did you work out in New York?”

His former coach had been asking let’s-get-reacquainted questions all evening. How had Ean enjoyed Georgetown University? What was his favori

te part of attending law school at New York University? Ean would have been fine with those questions—if he wanted to get reacquainted with his coach. He didn’t.

“I still run and lift weights.” Ean felt Megan’s eyes on him. Was she remembering their jog through Freedom Park? He’d never forget it.

Doreen glowed with pride. “He attended Georgetown on an academic scholarship.”

“I remember.” Leonard smiled a little too long at Doreen.

“Of course you do.” Doreen touched Leonard’s arm with too much familiarity.

Leonard finally seemed to remember he and Doreen weren’t alone. “Ean, maybe you could come to a couple of Heritage High games.”

The silence in the living room was absolute. Everyone seemed to be holding his or her breath, waiting for Ean’s reaction. Tension drilled down his neck. Dinner with Leonard in the company of his mother and Megan was bad enough. Attending the coach’s football games would imply he approved of Leonard’s relationship with his mother. He didn’t.

“Maybe.” Ean stretched forward, setting his empty glass on the serving tray. Hopefully, Leonard would forget his invitation.

But the idea had been planted and Leonard was persistent. “The kids would get a kick out of it. You’re a legend at the school. You conquered Trinity Falls. Then you conquered New York.”

What was his former coach talking about? “I didn’t conquer anything.”

“Yes, you did.” Leonard insisted. “It’ll be fun for you and the kids. And it’ll give us a chance to get reacquainted.”

Ean’s gaze dropped to Leonard’s fingers intertwined with his mother’s. The coach appeared to make Doreen happy. He wouldn’t get in the way of that. But their relationship didn’t mean he and Leonard had to be friends.

He spoke with finality. “Coach, I’m not making any plans right now.”

“Call me Leo.” Leonard’s smile wavered. “I understand. You just got back to Trinity Falls. You’re settling in, trying to get back into the community.” He stood as he checked his watch. “It’s late.” Leonard helped Doreen to her feet.

She frowned at Ean before cupping the side of Leonard’s face. “Thank you for coming, Leo.”

Leonard’s good humor was restored. “It was fun, Dorie.”

Dorie?