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She’d only stopped caring about Colt’s colossal lack of interest when Grant Parker moved into town their freshman year of high school. Soon, it was no longer Colt’s name doodled inside her notebook,
“Wow, it’s weird not to see my mom’s name above the door anymore.”
when he’d arrived late to the festivities and caught sight of Eliza in the crowd, he’d skipped town before Harriet could shoo him away herself.
knew his mother hated Eliza for dumping him the summer after their high school graduation,
“Tiramisu,” Eliza said proudly. “Ben’s favorite and my specialty.”
“So… what if I create an entire line of coffee-infused desserts? Tiramisu, of course. And a few original recipes, too. They can be our signature.
Her first love and New Year’s Eve phantom, Grant Parker.
Colt Davis had asked her out! On a date.
when she’d abruptly ended things, without so much as an explanation. Then, when he’d found out she was having someone else’s child. How had his mother put it? Some tourist passing through town.
Book boyfriends were far less likely to break your heart than real ones.
the periwinkle-blue farmhouse. The Carter residence had
Sadie, the owner of the local candy store,
What exactly did his mother know that he didn’t?
Harriet took a step toward her, her eyes narrowing. “You remember our agreement, don’t you, Eliza?”
If not for their sakes, then for her parents’.
“Show me a person without sin, and I’ll show you a catfish that barks like a dog.”
“Oh, sweet girl. Living with shame is a lot like baking with arsenic. The cupcake may look beautiful on the outside, but inside…”
“I wanted to tell Grant about Ben as soon as I found out. I—I went to his house right after I took the test. But…”
“As soon as Harriet saw me, she knew something was wrong. She… she made me tell her.”
“She told me Grant had a promising future and she wouldn’t let… someone like me ruin her son’s life.”
“I told her Grant had a right to know. And to make his own decision. But…”
“Grant’s father is my parents’ accountant. According to Harriet, my dad never paid taxes on any of the handyman work he did around town.”
“Harriet said if Stan turned him in to the IRS, my parents would lose everything. And my dad could go to jail.”
“Harriet’s threat kept me quiet for years. But on Ben’s third birthday, when Luke gave him his first baseball mitt… I broke down. Grant should’ve been there. I knew it wasn’t right that I’d been sacrificing my son’s relationship with his father so I could protect my parents. And I’d resolved to tell him everything. But that’s when the article came out.”
“Grant’s company got a write-up in a magazine. Everyone in town was talking about it. The headline was ‘Superstar Startup.’
‘The secret to my success? Zero distractions. No ballet recitals or Little League.
“He also said, ‘I’ve always known a family wasn’t in my future. And it’s allowed me to take certain risks. And those risks have paid off.’” Eliza recited Grant’s interview with uncanny accuracy, having read and reread the article a thousand times
“Every spring, they get another chance. It’s the same bulb; it can’t change where it’s been planted. And yet, it’s technically a brand-new bloom. Pretty neat, huh?”
While she had no idea how things would turn out, she was certain of one thing. The truth was long overdue.
Drawing her gaze to meet his, Eliza forced her lips to part, willing the words to slip past her fear. “Ben is… your son.”
the flicker of realization blazed across Grant’s face. His features settled into a heart-wrenching mix of anguish, shock, and fear, leaving her winded like a blow to the stomach.
And regardless of what Eliza thought—or anyone, for that matter—Grant would do whatever it took to be the best father possible… For his son.
Sylvia whipped around, her dark eyes blazing. “That woman lied to you. Your father wasn’t going to report the money he made from odd jobs. But after we had a long talk about it, he brought all the receipts to Stan and had him amend the tax paperwork.”
What about networking? Client lunches and wooing new accounts?” Looking visibly ill, Harriet clutched the opal pendant at her throat. “You know it takes more than good work to get ahead in this world. It takes sacrifices. Like—” “Your family?” Grant stared at his mother with startling clarity, harsh reality gripping his heart with cold, cruel hands. All this time, he’d resented his father’s blind ambition to climb the ladder of success no matter the cost, never once realizing he had someone dragging him up the rungs by his collar. Why hadn’t he seen it sooner?
Grant slammed his car door and took a deep breath. While he was thankful his dad had informed him of his mother’s ludicrous plan, he hated having to confront her. They’d been on icy terms since their argument yesterday, and Grant couldn’t believe she’d stooped so low. Being upset was one thing, but protesting Eliza’s grand opening was beyond petty. Not to mention she’d roped a few of her friends into her juvenile scheme.
“I… want to take Ben back to San Francisco with me when school is out. I’ll bring him back for the wedding, but I’d like to keep him for the summer. I’ve already looked up a summer art program I think he’ll love.”
Grant’s pulse slowed to a standstill. Where was the promise ring?
You can take Ben for the summer. I’m glad you want to get to know him. And I don’t want to get in the way of that. I’m so terribly sorry I hurt you. I pray that someday you can forgive me. Love, Lizzy
“So, you’re telling Ben today?” Cassie
blond hair
Eliza had given Ben his middle name.
“Colt? What are you doing here?”
Your mom blackmailed Eliza into keeping quiet about Ben. I don’t know how or why, but that’s the truth. I overheard her talking to Luke and Cassie about it the day of the carnival.”
“It’s a key to the cottage.” Cassie beamed, bouncing on her tiptoes in her excitement. “I’d like you and Ben to live here, rent free, for as long as you’d like.”
No, that happened far, far away from the revelry. In the hidden corners and crevices of a person’s life, where light and beauty were hard to find. In the places where secrets were exposed and scars were made. That’s when marriages either thrived or failed.
