Mending His Past Page 13

  “All in good time, my friend. First, I gotta know. What’s going on here? It’s just you and the kid?”

  “Yeah, I’m watching her for a few hours.” The fewer details he had to share with Levi, the better. He’d been a good friend back in the day, but Trent couldn’t take any more insinuations about Olivia and the possibility of their future together as a couple. She’d closed that door, and he would respect her wishes.

  “Really? Are you going to make me pry the details from you? You can’t leave me hanging like this. Where did she have to go so suddenly that she couldn’t line up a better babysitter than you?”

  Trent sighed. Levi had that look in his eye again. He wasn’t going anywhere until he got the scoop. The sooner Trent spilled, the sooner he could take Calamity Jane and her accomplice to wash up in the ocean.

  “You have to keep this quiet,” Trent said.

  Levi’s eyes lit up. “Spit it out.”

  Trent cast a cautious glance down at Molly to be certain she wouldn’t overhear their conversation.

  “Olivia had to drive up to Austin to pick up Molly’s father at the airport—but don’t say a word about it. Molly doesn’t know the guy’s her dad.”

  Levi’s jaw dropped. “You mean to tell me you’ve been handed a second chance with Olivia, and you agreed to watch her kid while she cozies up with an oxygen thief like her ex?”

  “Keep your voice down. I didn’t agree to do it. I volunteered.”

  “Even worse!” Levi rolled his eyes so hard his head followed suit.

  Trent looked over at Molly who was dancing circles around Sport, and clearly out of earshot. “You seem to like to stay up-to-date with the current gossip. What do you know about this guy?”

  “Only that he’s a total life suck, according to half the people in town.”

  “Half the people in town?”

  “You’d be surprised how much people talk to the dude reworking their engine block. What can I say? It’s a sacred trust we mechanics share with our patrons.” Levi arched a single brow and snorted at his own mini-joke.

  Trent reached into his back pocket and produced his wallet. “Speaking of which, how much do I owe you?”

  A sober expression washed over Levi’s face as he shook his head. “No charge. You donated the parts. I donated the labor. You and Olivia are old friends. I won’t take your money.”

  Trent knew better than to press the issue. If Levi was serious enough about something to cut the clowning around, his mind was made up. Trent had learned that about him a long time ago. “Thanks, man. I’ll make sure Olivia knows.”

  “No thanks are necessary. I should be thanking you. I hadn’t gotten my hands greasy in a week. Engine therapy was just what I needed to make it through another week at the rescue.”

  Trent offered a sympathetic smile.

  “Anyway, man, if you’ll take a word of advice from me—don’t push Olivia back into his arms,” Levi said.

  “I’m not pushing Olivia anywhere. She needed to go, so I’m helping. End of story.”

  “Helping her right out of your life. He’s the baby-daddy, Trent. They may be divorced, but that still carries weight. You’re second fiddle as long as that bum is around.” Levi slapped Trent on the shoulder and walked down the stairs.

  Levi’s words stung, even though he was wrong. Trent wasn’t second fiddle to anybody—he wasn’t even in the band. But still, the thought of Olivia and Eddie together made his skin crawl.

  He stooped to pick up a discarded toy shovel and bucket lying nearby. “Come on, Molly. Time to go.” She came and took his hand. “See ya, Levi,” he called over his shoulder.

  Molly chattered on about more things than Trent could keep track of as they walked down the road toward the beach. He was grateful that all it took to keep her happy was an occasional acknowledgment. It freed his mind to think of other things.

  Who was he kidding? He only thought of one thing these days: Olivia. And right now, she was somewhere with another man. A man she once loved enough to marry.

  He ground his teeth as his temperature rose. The knot in his stomach grew to unbearable proportions and twisted his insides a little more with each step he took. Was this what jealousy felt like?

  He shouldn’t be jealous. Olivia didn’t even want to go see the guy earlier that morning. And even if she did, what was it to him? He should be happy for her no matter who she found happiness with. What was important was that she found the happiness she deserved.

  But with Eddie? The thought made his hackles stand on end.

  “Why?” Molly tugged on his hand, gazing intently at him.

  “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  “That baby’s crying. Why?”

  He looked to his left and saw a young family unloading their car for a day at the beach. A child a little younger than Molly was crying and reaching for her father. Trent took his first steps into the sand, guiding Molly and Sport toward the waves. “I think she wants her daddy to hold her.”

  “Some little girls don’t get daddies,” she said.

  The matter-of-fact way she spoke the words ripped a hole in his heart. “That’s some pretty deep thinking for someone who isn’t quite three years old.”

  “I don’t get a daddy.”

  His heart spoke before his mind had a chance to turn on his filter. “What would you do if you got a daddy?”

  “Make a princess sandcastle.”

  If there ever was a little girl in this world who deserved to have a great father, it was Molly. He doubted she’d ever find that in Eddie. But she’d get her sandcastle today, even if it was the only thing Trent had to offer her. She’d get the biggest and best castle ever built on the gulf coast.

  He gazed at her smiling face. With the sun shimmering off the glitter clinging to the apples of her cheeks, she looked every bit the fairy princess she imagined herself to be. His heart warmed as he brushed a wisp of hair out of her eyes, and it was then that he knew; Olivia wasn’t the only person in Liberty Cove he’d fallen in love with.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Well, the house is still standing,” Olivia said, as she pulled into the driveway. A queasy sensation traveled up her throat and left a sour taste in her mouth. Telling Trent that Eddie would be staying with her and Molly was not a task she was looking forward to. She could only imagine the grim expression that would cloud his face at the news.

  “I’m glad your old friend was able to watch Molly so we could have some alone time. But would you mind keeping my situation between the two of us?” Eddie said.

  “What situation?”

  “You know… the fact that I don’t have a job or home of my own at the moment. Kind of embarrassing to admit to your ex-wife’s ex. It’s a guy thing.”

  “I don’t keep secrets from Trent. It’s a friend thing.” Olivia’s voice was tinged with scorn and it pricked her heart. She hadn’t driven all that way to pick Eddie up only to fight with him—that wasn’t part of the plan. She softened her tone. “I won’t go out of my way to tell him, but if it comes up, it comes up.”

  Eddie’s face fell. “Fair enough.”

  Olivia hopped out of the truck and walked up to the front door, relieved to put a little distance between them. She grabbed the screen door handle and peered inside. Her eyes welled up when her gaze fell on Trent.

  Seated in the plush hand-me-down reclining rocking chair, he held a story book in one hand and cradled her sleeping child with the other. Molly’s long lashes splayed over her rosy cheeks as her chest rose and fell with each peaceful breath she took.

  Trent’s eyes were closed, an expression of contentment relaxing every feature of his face. He’d never looked more handsome. Something about the way he held Molly made Olivia’s heart quiver. It was tender and protective all at once.

  Sport lay at his feet, resting his head on Trent’s boot. An aching desire to make this image her everyday reality tore at her heart.

  Trent’s eyes opened and found hers, making her
heart do a sudden cartwheel in her chest. Her cheeks warmed. She’d been caught staring. Opening the door as silently as possible, she tip-toed into the room.

  “How’d it go?” she whispered.

  Trent cast a cautious glance toward the kitchen. “Overall, I’d say it went really well. We spent some time at the beach. I think she wore herself out.” He rubbed Molly’s back, with more care than one would have thought possible from such a wide and calloused hand.

  “It looks like she had a great time with you. I can’t thank you enough.” Olivia poured every ounce of gratitude and love she had into those few words. There was so much more she wanted to say to him. The tender way he cared for Molly had undone her. Every wall she’d built and every logical conclusion she’d ever come to was gone.

  If it wasn’t for the fact that Eddie would walk through the door behind her at any minute, she’d have let loose and poured her heart out to Trent right then and there. She’d have gone against her better judgment and asked him to stay in Liberty Cove. She’d have asked him to stay with her.

  She cringed at the squeaking hinges of her screen door when Eddie flung it open. He stepped up beside her and stopped, his gaze fixed on the sleeping angel in Trent’s arms.

  “There she is,” he said. He dropped his carry-on bag onto the floor with a loud thud. “She looks a lot like you, Olivia. But I can see some of me in her face, too.” He stepped forward, and reached out to touch Molly.

  Sport sat up, a low growl rolling around in his throat. Trent’s eyes cut to the dog, but he did nothing to quiet him. The temperature of the room seemed to drop about fifteen degrees as Trent fixed Eddie with an icy gaze from beneath the stony mask he wore.

  “Don’t worry, pooch. This is my little girl,” Eddie said.

  Your little girl? The little girl you abandoned, you mean. It took every bit of self-control Olivia possessed to bite her tongue and keep from saying her thoughts out loud. Her throat became a traffic jam of angry words and stifled sobs. Forgiveness wasn’t for the weak, and she clearly had some work to do on that front—more than she had realized.

  “Love the tutu, by the way,” Eddie teased, pointing at the princess costume Sport still wore.

  “You do whatever it takes to make a little girl happy,” Trent growled the words with about as much friendliness as Sport had offered only moments before.

  “Hey, I’m not judging, man. The dog looks fabulous.”

  Olivia stiffened when Eddie placed his hand on the small of her back.

  “Thanks for looking after our girl. We really appreciate it,” he said.

  The way he’d uttered the word we made Olivia’s skin crawl. She’d told him he could try to prove he’d changed. But never had she told him he could waltz back into her life and begin acting like the last three years had never happened. There was definitely no we where she and Eddie were concerned. She side-stepped out of his reach, uncomfortable with the way Trent’s eyes appraised them.

  Eddie offered his hand to Trent. “I’m Eddie, by the way.”

  Trent made no effort to accept Eddie’s hand. “I know who you are. Sorry. My hands are full.” The flat tone of his voice didn’t reflect the lightning flashing in his eyes.

  Olivia was certain Eddie hadn’t noticed the deep shade of red creeping up Trent’s neck, or the fact that the tips of his ears were already crimson. Trent was on a low boil and it would be best for Eddie to make a quick exit before Trent got any hotter. “Eddie, why don’t you go take that shower you were talking about earlier while I tuck Molly in for the rest of her nap?”

  “Sounds good to me. Lead the way.”

  Olivia pointed. “The bathroom is down the hall and to your right. Towels are in the cabinet above the toilet.”

  Eddie snatched his bag up and headed down the hall. “See you around,” he said to Trent.

  Olivia sighed when the bathroom door closed behind Eddie, releasing some of the tension his presence had brought on.

  “What did you ever see in that puke sack?” Trent asked, bewilderment in his eyes.

  She clapped a hand over her mouth to quiet the sudden laughter on her lips and keep from waking Molly. “I didn’t know he was a puke sack when I married him.”

  She sat at the end of the couch, within reach of Molly’s arm, and ran her hand down her baby-soft skin. “He put on a good act at first. Only, I don’t think it was an act in the beginning. He changed after college.”

  “I thought you didn’t graduate from college.”

  “I didn’t. He did.”

  Trent’s brows furrowed. “I don’t think I like the sound of that. What happened?”

  Olivia shrugged. Her college days were ancient history—history that still brought on a dark cloud of gloom whenever she spent too much time reminiscing. She gazed at Trent, his caring eyes waiting patiently for her reply. She’d never told anyone how disappointing it had been to drop out of school. But Trent had always been her closest confidant when they were younger. Talking to him felt natural. Maybe sharing her story with him would help her move past the grief that still clung to her deep inside.

  “We got married too young; only about a year after you—” Olivia hesitated, her eyes flicking up to meet his “—joined the army. Money was tight. We figured things would be easier if only one of us went to school at a time.”

  “And he was the one who got to stay in school.”

  “Yeah. I was supposed to go back after he graduated, but that never happened.” Her cheeks flushed with the same old sadness she’d dealt with ever since the day she withdrew from classes.

  “Why?”

  The old pipes in the walls rattled to life when Eddie turned the shower on. Grateful for the extra level of privacy the sound of the water gave them, she continued. “The timing was never right.”

  “That’s messed up. Timing is never right. He should have stepped up and made it happen for you.”

  “He was too busy rubbing shoulders with the big wigs to worry about me. All he thought about was trying to look the part of a successful up-and-comer.”

  The muscles along Trent’s jaw line twitched. “So? Why should that keep you out of school?”

  “Driving the right car, wearing the right clothes—it was an expensive show to put on. We were in debt up to our eyeballs because of it. I couldn’t afford to quit my full-time job and go back to school.”

  “So you put everything on hold to make him look good.”

  “I kept telling myself it was an investment in our future, but I couldn’t help but feel… left behind.” Tears filled her eyes. “Then one day I realized it wasn’t just a feeling anymore. He was busy climbing that ladder and hadn’t even noticed that I still had my feet planted on the ground. All I could think about was how to fix us.”

  “That wasn’t something you could fix on your own. It takes two to make a relationship work.”

  Even though Olivia had always known this to be true, hearing the words come from Trent’s mouth soothed her aching heart.

  “You’re right, but I was desperate. I figured I was the problem.”

  Trent’s brow lowered. “Never.”

  “It’s how I felt at the time.” Olivia shrugged. “Everywhere Eddie went, he was surrounded by successful people in power suits. And all he had to come home to was a tired waitress in a stained apron.”

  “That would be enough for any sane man—more than enough.”

  The warmth in Trent’s eyes when he said those words chased away the gloom trying to settle in on her. She couldn’t bear to pull herself away from his gaze. When she looked into his eyes, she was safe from all of the pain and turmoil trying to take up residence in her heart.

  “I took a chance and tried to go back to school. I thought I could keep us together if I became successful—that I’d fit in with his new life.”

  “I’m glad you went back to school, but I hate that you did it because you thought you had to change yourself. You’ve always been enough. Just the way you are.” He brushed her han
d with the back of his knuckle. “Why didn’t you finish that time?”

  Olivia rested her gaze on Molly, a soft smile curving her lips. “Molly. I didn’t know I was pregnant when I enrolled, but I found out about halfway through the first semester. My pregnancy was hard. Almost lost her more than once. I was put on bed rest so many times I ended up having to drop out. It was worth it to keep her safe. Eddie wasn’t too happy though.”

  Trent rolled his eyes. “What was his problem? You were the one stuck in bed.”

  “He couldn’t deal with all of the medical problems. He hadn’t taken the loss of his grandfather very well. Each time I had to go to the ER, he freaked. He never could stand being at a hospital.”

  Trent’s protective hand spread across Molly’s back, nearly covering it entirely. The other flexed into an iron fist. His eyes narrowed as his gaze followed the path Eddie had taken.

  Olivia’s cheeks heated. “I’m sorry. You asked why I never went back to school and I sat here for the last ten minutes telling you the sob story of how my marriage crumbled. I guess it’s all one tangled mess of a story.”

  Trent gazed at her, his expression softening the moment his eyes met hers. “You never have to apologize to me. I’m partly to blame for the troubles you went through. I’m so sorry.”

  Olivia’s jaw fell open. “What are you talking about? You’re not responsible for anything.” Fire shot up her arm when he reached over and took her hand.

  “I was so young and dumb back when we were in college,” he said. “I thought…”

  Her heart raced. Was he really ready to talk about their past? She’d spent so many sleepless nights wondering what had gone wrong between them. Hardly daring to breathe, she searched the depths of his rich brown eyes, waiting for him to continue.

  The rattling water pipes in the wall quieted. Olivia’s heart dropped at the disruption the sudden quiet caused. Trent’s attention shifted to the door at the end of the hall. “Never mind. It’s not important what I thought. I’d better get out of here before he comes back out. I don’t think I can stand to look at him again today.”