But the doubts she’d wrestled with from the beginning crowded in. What if he guessed? Would he? Could he?
On the drive over, Angela had convinced herself that the answer to those questions was no. Matt had been with Stephanie only that one night, when they were sixteen, and he hadn’t really chosen to be with her even then. He wouldn’t expect a child from one brief encounter, especially a child he’d never heard about. Besides, Stephanie had trouble carrying Kayla and she’d delivered two months early. That alone would make it difficult to figure out the dates.
Which meant it didn’t matter that Angela had suddenly shown up with a twelve-year-old girl in tow.
Reassured by her own reasoning, Angela immediately turned to the menu. But, inside, she couldn’t help grimacing at the terrible trick Stephanie had played on Matt. Angela felt partially responsible, but once it had happened, there was no way to fix it—other than doing what Stephanie’s mother had done. Angela didn’t think she could’ve stopped Stephanie, anyway. She’d never seen a girl so single-mindedly determined to get what she wanted. And what she’d wanted was Matt.
Ironically, she’d also never seen a man, who—before and after that night—had so studiously avoided Stephanie. It was almost as if Matt had sensed the halter she had waiting to slip around his neck….
“Look, here they come,” Kayla said.
The words suddenly registered, as well as the accompanying movement behind her and, turning, Angela realized that she also recognized the second man. He was a beefier version of the boy she’d seen with Matt so often in high school—Lewis McGinness, who’d been one of the best linebackers on the football team.
A smile curved his lips as he made his way toward them. Matt followed, seeming much more reluctant.
“Hello,” Angela said warmly and stood. A lot depended on her acting ability. She wasn’t about to raise suspicion by revealing how shaken she felt. She’d wanted to figure out what kind of man Matt had become before bringing Kayla into direct contact with him. But it was too late; she had to improvise.
“Hey!” Lewis swept her into a hug as if they’d been good friends in high school instead of mere acquaintances. “What brings you back to Virginia City?”
“I’m here for the holidays.”
“Where are you staying?”
“We just got into town, so we don’t have a room yet. But we’ll probably end up at the Gold Hill Hotel.” That was the hotel owned by Danielle’s parents, but neither man brought up her name when Angela mentioned it, so she still didn’t know if Matt had ended up marrying the girl he’d dated for so long.
“They’ve made some improvements, but the new Silver Queen is closer,” Lewis said.
Angela kept her smile firmly in place, even though she was acutely aware of Matt and his steady gaze. “We’ll have to stop by and take a look.”
Lewis waved a hand toward Matt, who seemed perfectly satisfied to stand in the background. “You remember Matt, don’t you? Or maybe you don’t. He went out with Danielle all through school.”
Did that mean he wasn’t with her now? Angela knew they’d reconciled after the incident at the party, but if their relationship hadn’t progressed beyond high school, Stephanie was probably a large part of the reason.
“Hi, Matt.” She held out her hand because he made no move to hug her as his friend had.
He shook hands with a definite lack of enthusiasm. “Good to see you again.”
I can tell you’re thrilled about it, Angela thought sarcastically. But she could understand that. Because of Stephanie, she couldn’t possibly evoke pleasant memories for him.
She put a hand on Kayla’s shoulder. “This is my daughter, Kayla.”
If Kayla was surprised at being introduced like that, she didn’t let on. Nodding shyly, she slipped an arm around Angela’s waist, acting more relieved than shocked. Angela knew her real mother was an embarrassment to her.
“She’s beautiful,” Lewis said. “Like her mother.”
“Thanks.”
“How long will you be staying?”
“A couple of weeks.”
He shifted to make room for Matt, but Matt didn’t come any closer. “Are you here to see anyone in particular?”
“No, I just wanted to show Kayla the town.”
“Where do you live now?”
“In Denver. I’m in real estate.” She glanced conspicuously at their uniforms and badges. “And you’re both firefighters, I see.”
“That’s right. Matt here’s the chief. Unless he moves to Arizona.” He tossed his friend a meaningful grin. “Then I’m taking over.”
“Now you’ll never get rid of me,” Matt grumbled.
Angela tried not to notice that Matt was even better-looking up close. He’d always been attractive; that, and his popularity, was why Stephanie had wanted him so badly. But the past thirteen years had added a few finishing touches.
“So…is your husband stuck at home, working over the holidays?” Lewis asked.
She shook her head. “I’m not married. You?”
“Tied the knot nine years ago, already got three kids.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said. “And…what about you, Matt?”
“No.” He didn’t elaborate, but Lewis quickly filled in.
“He’s asked quite a few women, but the poor guy can’t get anyone to take him.”
Lewis wore such a falsely pitying expression, that Kayla laughed out loud and Angela laughed with her.
“How’s your friend?” Lewis asked. “What was her name… Stephanie?”
Kayla’s arm tightened around her, and Matt’s mouth turned grim. “She’s fine.”
“Where’s she living now?”
Angela had no idea. Stephanie partied with one person or another, then drifted on. “In…Colorado.”
“What does she do for a living?” Lewis asked.
“Um…she’s in sales,” Angela said and felt some of the tension leave Kayla as the girl smiled more easily.
Lewis stepped aside to let some people pass through to the exit. “What about Stephanie’s mother? She used to babysit me when I was four. Only for a few months, but I still remember her. Does she live in Denver, too?”
The merry music and Christmas atmosphere lost some of its charm. Angela missed Betty, who’d been such a part of this place. This Christmas couldn’t be like the ones she used to know. Not without Betty. “No. She had a heart attack and passed away a little over a year ago.”