Mending His Past Read online

  Disappointment stole the breath from Olivia’s chest, but Trent was right. He and Eddie were not mixing well at all. It was probably for the best if they went to their separate corners for now. She stood and reached for Molly. “Let me take her for you.”

  Leaning over to slide her arms beneath her daughter brought Olivia’s face to within a few inches of Trent’s. Her cheeks burned with a rush of heated blood when she looked at him. She didn’t know what was crazier, her sudden urge to press her lips against his, or the fact that it looked like he wanted her to do it. Surely she was imagining things. The cedar and spice scent of his cologne was messing with her judgment.

  She hugged her daughter close to her chest and stood. Resting Molly’s sleeping head on her shoulder, Olivia took a step back. “At least I got one good thing out of the deal.” She kissed her daughter.

  “I have to agree with you there.”

  Trent’s eyes were laden with a quiet sadness when he ran his hand over Molly’s silky hair. Olivia couldn’t take it anymore. She had to know how he felt.

  “Eddie wants to go to dinner tomorrow night… as a family.” The words poured out of her mouth. Heat rushed into her chest. His reaction would tell her everything she needed to know about the possibility of having a future with him.

  “Is that what you want? To be a family again?” The intensity in his eyes caused her breath to come in short, quick bursts.

  “I want her to have a father, but not just any father—a good one.”

  “Do you think Eddie is the man for the job?”

  Trent held her gaze as she searched for the right words to say. This was her moment. Their moment. A single blip in history that would determine the course of their future.

  “He says he’s changed—”

  The bathroom door opened. “Olivia.” Eddie’s voice grated on her ears and elicited a deep sigh from Trent. “Can you grab my luggage from the truck? My deodorant isn’t in this bag.”

  She rolled her eyes. Of all the times for Eddie to open his big mouth. “In a minute,” she called over her shoulder. Eddie may have changed enough to want to be a part of Molly’s life, but he could never be Olivia’s happily ever after—not when her love for Trent filled every last corner of her heart.

  “He’s got no business asking you to carry in those bags. I’ll get ‘em before I go.” Sadness filled his eyes as he gazed down at Molly. He patted her back one last time. “Goodbye, little M&M.”

  Trent’s tone had a finality to it that Olivia hated. He stepped toward the door and laid his hand on the knob to leave. He turned to face Olivia once more before opening it, flicking his gaze over her shoulder in the direction of the bathroom. “He’s staying here, isn’t he?”

  She nodded.

  “It’s not okay, you know. What he did back then? Not okay.”

  Olivia couldn’t hide the emotions welling up inside. He didn’t seem to relish the idea of her and Eddie getting together, but he hadn’t said anything to indicate that he had any interest in her either. Her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Maybe not, but that’s life.”

  He nodded in reply. Sport was at his side with a click of Trent’s tongue and they walked out the door. Trent cast one final look over his shoulder. His eyes met hers, but still—he said nothing before walking down the stairs and disappearing from sight.

  With eyes blurred by tears and a chest constricted with pain, she turned to head down the hall to the bedroom. “It’s just you and me, baby girl,” she whispered in Molly’s ear. “Just the way it’s always been.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “Don’t look at me like that, Sport. I didn’t like leaving them there with him yesterday either, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it,” Trent said. He lined up a two-by-four, completing the rough framework for one of the partitions he was building at the rescue, and shot a nail in.

  If Olivia was ready to let Eddie back into her life, who was he to stand in her way? Levi’s words from the day before haunted his mind. Eddie was Molly’s father, and apparently that did carry a lot of weight. Pain lodged in his sternum like shrapnel.

  He looked at the room around him. Work. He needed to work—to bury himself alive in it. It was the only thing that could drown out the pain from the hole left in his heart by Olivia’s absence.

  Sport’s eyes burned holes into the back of Trent’s head. “I know you didn’t sleep much last night, boy. Neither did I. But we’ve got to let them go. Olivia knows what’s best for her and Molly.” He shot another nail into the frame. “But I’ll tell you what,” Trent grumbled the words from between gritted teeth. “Eddie better treat those girls right, or he’s going to hear from me.”

  Saying Eddie’s name soured Trent’s stomach. The thought of that man making himself at home at Olivia’s place sent bile rising into his throat. He lowered his chin and rolled his head from one shoulder to the other, trying to release some of the tension binding his muscles.

  Sport perked his ears at the sound of footfalls coming down the hall. Trent paid it no mind. It wasn’t Olivia, so he wasn’t interested. He’d already received a text from her earlier that morning. She wasn’t coming to work. Molly had woken up with a fever and needed her attention.

  If it wasn’t for Olivia’s houseguest, Trent would have driven right over to see if there was anything he could do to help. But as long as Eddie was hanging around, Trent’s presence would only be redundant. He shot in a few more nails, grinding his teeth the whole time.

  “This place is really coming together, son.”

  Trent jumped at his father’s voice and turned to look at him.

  “Thanks, Dad.” That was the second compliment his father had paid him since he’d seen him the other day at the flea market. Come to think of it—it was the second compliment he could remember receiving from his father in all his life. “What are you doing here?”

  “Just seeing how things are coming along for you.”

  Trent’s shoulders relaxed and he released the breath he’d been holding. Making reports had become second nature to him while he was in the service. He could handle giving a progress report—even if the person he was delivering it to was his father.

  Putting all of his focus on the task at hand, he set the nailer down and stood tall with his hands clasped behind his back. “I’ve patched up the exterior, and all of the major repairs are done for the electrical. Just waiting on the inspector to sign off on it so I can close up the last few walls.”

  “That’s wonderful son, but it’s not really what I was talking about.” His dad’s face melted into a warm smile, with soft creases appearing at the corners of his eyes. He gazed at Trent with a look that overflowed with a quiet sort of love that unsettled him. There really might have been something to all this talk of change.

  Trent had hardly known how to speak to the person his father used to be. Now this new version had him completely off balance. “I’m sorry. I don’t follow.”

  His father removed his white cowboy hat and ran his finger along the dappled hawk feather decorating the band. He bowed his head, focusing on the feather while filling his lungs with a deep breath. “Where’s that lovely young lady from the flea market this morning? Your Aunt Kat tells me she’s not here today.”

  A small growl rumbled around in the back of Trent’s throat. He picked up another piece of lumber and tried to fit it into place in the unfinished framework, but it refused to slide in. “Molly isn’t feeling well today. Olivia’s home with her.”

  “And that other fella?” His father wrinkled his nose, the hint of a scowl narrowing his blue eyes. “Your Aunt Kat told your mother and me all about that situation.”

  “How did Aunt Kat know about all of that?”

  “One of the other young fellas that work here told her.”

  “That would be Levi.” A heavy weight settled onto Trent’s chest making it difficult to breathe. “Yeah, Olivia’s ex-husband is there, too.” He picked up a hammer and beat the wood into place.

&nb
sp; Grabbing a box of sixteen-penny nails, he fished one out. A nail gun wouldn’t get the job done anymore. He needed to pound out his emotions. He held the nail in place and drove it into the wood. It wasn’t enough. He drove another. And another. It would never be enough. There weren’t enough nails in the world to distract him from his feelings.

  His dad hummed as he exhaled a deep breath. “Kinda makes me wonder.”

  “Wonder what?” Trent stopped hammering long enough to look at his father.

  “Son, don’t take this the wrong way. I don’t mean to pry—the good Lord knows I’ve got little right to stick my nose in your business, given our past. But if Olivia is there and so is that ornery fella, what are you doing over here?”

  There had to be something in the water. Not only were Aunt Kat and Levi hounding him to make something happen with Olivia, now he had his dad to deal with, too? “Three’s a crowd, Dad.” He turned back to his work and drove another nail into place with a single hit.

  “You’re exactly right, son. And that’s why you should get on over there and crowd that boy out.”

  Trent stiffened when his father placed a hand on his shoulder. “This work will keep for another day.” His voice took on a soft quality Trent had never heard in it before. “I’d hate to see you let a good thing slip away from you because you were here working when there were more important things to be done.”

  Trent turned around and looked his father in the eye. Was he really saying there were more important things in life than work? Never in a million years would he have believed such a thing would come out of his father’s mouth. Trent’s jaw hung loose as he searched in vain for the person he once knew. It was as if his father had died and been reborn while he was deployed. His dad really was a changed man.

  “I saw you two together,” he said. “She’s good for you, and you’re good for her.” The look in his dad’s eyes matched the fervency Trent heard in his voice.

  “I think they’re getting back together, Dad.” The words tasted bitter in his mouth.

  “Has he put a ring on her finger yet?”

  “No. He just got to town yesterday.”

  “Well?” A wide smile spread across his father’s face.

  “Well, what?” Trent was too tired from tossing and turning the night before to play guessing games.

  “What are you waiting for, son? I was never in the service myself, but I imagine they taught you not to back off when the enemy was trying to push you out. Am I right?”

  “Olivia isn’t a piece of ground to be fought over,” Trent said.

  “You’re right. She isn’t, but love is definitely something worth fighting for.”

  He wasn’t wrong about that—love was worth fighting for. The only thing that had held Trent back before today was his fear of not being able to give Olivia the love she deserved. But now there was no question. She’d brought him back to life and he loved her now more than ever.

  “I seem to remember a certain young college boy who ran off and joined the army because he wasn’t about to let someone else dictate his future.” Trent’s father pinned him with a serious look. “So why back off and let some young fool move in and affect your future now?”

  Excitement surged through Trent’s veins. His father was right. There was no reason on earth he should step aside and allow Eddie to gain the high ground with Olivia unchallenged. “Dad—”

  His father raised his hand to speak, sorrow clouding his eyes. “You were right all those years ago! I was out of line—never should have done the things I did. I’m ashamed of myself. When I had that heart attack, it was like I could see clearly for the first time in my life. It took lying on my back in a hospital bed to realize that nothing mattered in this life but family, and my ambition had torn ours apart. For that, I’ll forever be sorry. But, Son, I want to mend that past.”

  Those words knocked away the final shards of resentment that still clung to Trent’s heart. He offered his hand to his father. “I’d like that, too, Dad.”

  Trent’s dad took his hand and pulled him close, enveloping him in a bear-like embrace. “I love you, son,” he said with a voice thick with emotion.

  A lump formed in Trent’s throat. He threw his arms around his father and slapped him on the back. “I love you, too.” Tears stung the corners of his eyes as he listened to his father sniffling in his ear.

  Sport trotted over and stood on his hind legs, placing his front paws on the men’s arms. Trent pulled back and laughed. “Looks like this big guy wants in on the action.” He patted him on the side and gave him a good scratch behind the ears.

  “What are you going to do, son? I may be wrong, but I don’t think you want a life that doesn’t include that sweet young woman and her little girl.”

  His father’s words ignited a fire deep inside Trent. The final piece of his heart that had remained dormant roared back to life and threatened to consume him. Dad was right. He was Sergeant Roland of the United States Army. He didn’t let life slap him around. He took it by the horns and bent it to his will. If Eddie wanted to get back together with Olivia, he’d have to prove himself to be the better man.

  He tossed his hammer to the side. “Will you watch Sport for me? I’ve got somewhere I need to be.” An irrepressible smile found its way onto his lips.

  “Absolutely.” His dad slapped him on the shoulder as he walked by, heading for the door.

  Trent paused before crossing the threshold and looked back at his father. “I’ll call you later.”

  “I’d like that, son.” A single tear shone in his eye as he rested his hand on Sport’s head.

  Trent bounded down the steps of the side porch and sprinted for his truck. The familiar sensation of adrenaline surging through his veins drowned out all fear. It was the eve of battle and Trent wasn’t about to accept anything less than Eddie’s unconditional surrender.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Olivia pushed through the screen door with Molly in her arms, fear’s merciless grip tightening its hold on her heart. Heat radiated through her daughter’s pink and white nightgown. Molly’s bare legs were hot to the touch, as was the rest of her tiny body. Too hot.

  She descended the few stairs to the driveway below, quickening her pace when her feet hit the cement.

  “Are you sure it’s bad enough for a visit to the emergency room?” Eddie’s voice called from inside the house as she hurried to the passenger’s side of her crew cab truck. She rolled her eyes, anger flaring in the pit of her stomach. That question didn’t deserve a response.

  Something between a sob and a moan escaped Molly’s lips when Olivia placed her in her car seat. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Mama has to buckle you up so we can go see the doctor.”

  A vehicle pulled up and parked in front of the house, but she didn’t bother to look up. She had to secure Molly and get going. Her fingers quivered when Molly’s fiery hand came to rest on hers. Her daughter had had her fair share of sniffles and fevers in her short life, but nothing like this.

  “What’s going on?”

  Olivia jumped at the sound of Trent’s voice close behind her. She pulled her head out of the truck and gazed up at him, drawing a sliver of comfort from his unexpected appearance. “She hasn’t been able to keep any fluids down since the wee hours of the morning. Her temperature is just over a hundred and four and its climbing. She’s been out of her head for the last few minutes.” The earth tilted beneath her feet. She grabbed hold of Trent’s solid arm for support.

  He slid his other arm around her, his face becoming dead serious as he peered in through the door. Molly sat in her seat with eyes half-closed. “Hey, M&M, how ya feeling today?”

  She didn’t respond.

  Olivia lowered her voice. “I’m starting to get scared.” The world blurred as she fought to keep her tears at bay.

  “Are you going to the emergency room?”

  “Yes.”

  “Climb in. I’ll drive so you can sit next to her.”

  Molly reached
for Olivia’s hand. “Mama.” Her voice cracked as she broke out into a soft whimper.

  Olivia’s throat ached from the strain of keeping her emotions in check. Every cell in her body wanted nothing more than to take her baby’s pain away, but she was powerless to do anything more than wish. She glanced up at Trent and mouthed the words, thank you, before climbing into the vehicle and tossing the keys into the front seat. He shut the door behind her and was in the driver’s seat only moments later.

  “Are we waiting for her father?” he asked, turning the key in the ignition.

  “He’s not coming.” Olivia had been up since three in the morning and was too exhausted to offer an explanation. A simple answer would have to do for now.

  Trent gave a single nod of his head and clamped his mouth shut, the muscles along his jaw twitching. Olivia wasn’t sure what thoughts were churning in his mind, but she was pretty sure she agreed with each and every one of them where Eddie was concerned.

  “Which hospital do you want to go to?”

  “Let’s go to St. Francis. It’s a bit farther away, but they’ve got a great children’s wing. There’s bound to be a pediatrician on duty at a big city hospital like that.”

  “Sure thing.” Trent gazed at Molly in the rearview mirror before pulling onto the main highway. Though his face was set with determination, his eyes were clouded with a mixture of concern and urgency that Olivia had hoped to see in Eddie’s—for Molly’s sake.

  But that hadn’t happened.

  Kids get sick all the time. The memory of Eddie’s voice stirred ragged emotions within her. All he’d cared about was not wasting an afternoon at the emergency room so he could prepare for his big interview in the morning. Never mind that their daughter had been taken suddenly and seriously ill. Olivia’s heart thumped so hard in her chest it hurt. For all his talk of change, he was proving to be the same man who’d left them years before.

  She squeezed her eyes shut and leaned back. Forget Eddie. Right now was not about him. All that mattered was getting Molly seen by a doctor. She caressed her daughter’s hand with the pad of her thumb and melted into the worn fabric of her seat.