True Summer Love

Everything around Tiffany was bright, loud and full or energy. From up here on the Ferris wheel, one hundred feet above the carnival below, she could see the bright lights of the games and the rides. She could see young kids carrying big sticks of cotton candy and clutching tightly to balloons. She could see parents clapping and cheering as their children won games and laughed excitedly as they went around and around on rides.

Music was blasting from a tiny stage where a local band was playing covers of all the popular songs and the hillside in front of the stage was full of people dancing or sitting around in lawn chairs or on blankets. Lovers holding each other and mothers rocking their children to the beat of the music.

Tiffany felt her heart breaking apart in her chest as she looked at Lance out of the corner of her eye and saw him picking at his jeans uncomfortably. She let her gaze travel up to his sad face. He was looking out into the dark night, staring at the stars. His normally smiling face was pale and drawn tight. His lips were drawn in a thin line and his blue eyes were red and wet though he had yet to let any of those tears fall.

Tiffany wiped her hand quickly across her own wet cheeks and then dried it on her denim shorts. She heard Lance sigh.

“Please don’t cry, Tiffany. We both knew the summer was going to end.” he said quietly, the warmth of his deep voice and southern accent washing over her body and causing her heart to speed up the way it always did.

“I know.” her words came out as little more than a choked sob. Lance reached out and took her hand.

“You always knew I wasn’t going to stay, Tiffany. I’ve got dreams that I’ve gotta chase, sweetheart.” Tiffany covered her stomach with her hand and she took several deep breaths to fight the nausea that came over her.

’ What about my dreams?’ She wanted to scream at him. ‘What about the fact that in about eight months I’m going to have your baby?’ Tiffany did not say any of this out loud. Lance did not know about the life growing inside of her and she was not about to tell him. Not when it would destroy any chance he had of happiness.

Lance had been dreaming since he had learned to talk of being a country star. He had been on his way to Nashville when his truck had broken down in this tiny eastern Kentucky town and since Lance was only nineteen and had no way of paying for the repairs her father had done, he had agreed to spend the summer working off the debt in her fathers garage.

The two of them falling in love had not been a part of Lance’s plans. It hadn’t been a part of Tiffany’s plans either. She was nineteen and had dreams of becoming an author and publishing books that would be read by thousands. She could easily fit Lance into her plans for the future but she knew that his future had no room for her or for their baby.

If she tried to tie him down with the baby he would resent her for it and he would always feel trapped. She did not want that for him. She loved him too much to tie him down to her and squash his dreams.

“Even though I knew this was coming….” Tiffany paused to sniff and swipe her hand quickly across her cheek again. “It doesn’t make it any easier.” Lance helped her out of the car as they came to a stop at the bottom and then they stood face to face under the glow of the Ferris wheel lights.

“I’ll come back for you, once I’ve made it big. I’ll…..” Tiffany shook her head and smiled a sad ghost of a smile.

“Don’t do that, Lance. Don’t make me promises that you won’t keep.” she begged. She could tell that her words made him angry when she saw the color in his cheeks.

“You don’t know that I wouldn’t keep it.” he said. Tiffany sighed and laid her hand on his arm. She had to end this now and get away from him before she broke down completely.

“Just go live your life, Lance. Be happy.”

“You live your life and be happy.” he replied smoothing some of her dark blond hair from her face. Tiffany caught the scent of honeysuckle on the breeze and was reminded of all the nights they had spent together camping under the stars at the tiny pond hidden out in the mountains.

They had held each other tight those nights whispering words of love on the warm summer breeze. Why oh why did summer have to end? Why couldn’t Tiffany just go back in time to one of those nights and live it forever. Why did life have to change?

“Who knows….” Lance said pulling her from her thoughts. “Maybe one day people will be able to walk into a store and buy one of my CD’s and one of your books at the same time.” Tiffany forced another smile and she could tell by the look in his eyes that he knew it was fake.

“I’ll miss you, Tiff.” Lance said and she heard his voice break for the first time. She wasn’t sure where she found the strength but somehow she managed to look into his sad blue eyes.

“I’ll miss you too.” she replied.

“I’m leaving in the morning.” he added. Tiffany bit the inside of her lip and nodded.

“Be careful and good luck.” she said.

“Good luck to you too, sweetheart. Your life is going to be incredible.” He bent slightly and laid a gentle kiss to her forehead before turning and walking quickly away.

Tiffany watched his back until he disappeared into the crowd. She covered her stomach with her arm and began to sob. She leaned against the metal platform of the Ferris wheel for support as the tears fell. There went the boy that had her whole heart. He had walked away from her and never even looked back.

“Tiffany.” Tiffany heard her best friend Erin’s voice and looked up to see her looking down at her with concern. Erin didn’t say anything else just held her arms out and Tiffany went to her and let her best friend wrap her in a tight hug. Erin held her gently for a long time while Tiffany cried into her thick red curls. Finally when Tiffany felt like the worst of the tears had passed she pulled away dried her face the best she could with her hands.

“So Lance left?” Erin asked gently. Tiffany took a deep shuddering breath and nodded. “Did you tell him?” Erin asked looking down at Tiffany’s stomach and then back into her eyes.

“No.” Tiffany replied quickly. “No one knows other than you.”

“You should have told him.” Erin scolded. “He loves you. He would have stayed. Did you even ask him to stay with you?”

“No.” Tiffany said kicking at a clump of mud with her sandal. “I am not going to be the one responsible for getting in the way of his dreams.”

“Dreams change.” Erin said. “And now you need a pedicure.” she added looking at the mud on Tiffany’s foot.

“I don’t want to talk about this.” Tiffany said stubbornly.

“He deserves to know that he’s going to be a dad.” Erin said in her best stern authority figure imitation. She wasn’t very good at being the responsible one but she was trying.

“I didn’t want him to stay because he felt obligated to. I wanted him to stay with me because he wanted to. Obviously he didn’t want to. He’s gone now and I will be fine. This baby will be fine.”

“Okay. I’ve used up the grown up part of my brain for the night.” Erin said wrapping her arm tight around Tiffany’s shoulder. “You want to stay with me tonight?” she asked. Tiffany nodded. Erin had her own place in the apartment complex in town and Tiffany did not feel like dealing with her well meaning but nosy parents tonight.

“Yes. Thank you.” she said. Erin just shrugged and started leading Tiffany back toward the field that was serving as a parking lot while the carnival was in town.

“What are best friends for?” she asked. “And I am going to be one hot aunt.” she added and Tiffany smiled her first real smile of the night.

888

Lance punched the steering wheel for the tenth time that morning as daydreams of Tiffany again caused him to drift into the wrong lane of the highway and nearly crash into oncoming traffic.

He didn’t know why leaving her was so hard. Why had he let himself fall in love with her when he knew he wasn’t going to stay? He had dreams. Dreams that had meant everything to him for as long as he could remember and still did.

But now his heart wasn’t in it as he drove toward Nashville. His heart was still back in Hardan County with that blond haired angel he’d left behind. If only she had asked him to stay. But then again what would he have done if she had? Would he have stayed? He wasn’t sure but he thought the answer was yes.

But she hadn’t asked and he hadn’t offered so here he was, broken heart and all, with his guitar in the passenger seat of his beat up Chevy truck, headed for Nashville. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders.

A part of him would always love that girl but life had to go on. He was going to make a name for himself and become a star and one day maybe he’d make his way back to Hardan County to check on Tiffany. He knew she’d have a good life. She was going to be a famous author one day. He had read her stories and though he had always hated books, he had loved every word she had written.

Lance nodded as he turned the radio up and rolled his window down the rest of the way to fight the early September heat. He and Tiffany would both be just fine. And they would have the memories of the incredible summer they’d shared together to carry with them forever.

Chapter Two

Seven years later

“Retiring! You can’t retire. You’re at the peak of your career!” Thomas Blane bellowed. Lance hoped the man would calm down. His big belly was shaking and his face was bright red under his white mustache. He was about ten minutes away from a massive coronary if he didn’t get control of himself.

“I can do whatever I want, Tom. It’s my career and my life remember?”

“Yes and you wouldn’t have this career if it wasn’t for me.” Thomas said slamming his meaty fist down on his desk. Lance sighed and looked out the window of the giant high rise office. He looked at the crowded city streets below and his nose curled. New York City stunk. Bad. He missed the country. He had always been a country boy and while he had thought that his life would be in Nashville, it hadn’t turned out that way.

Shortly after arriving in Nashville he had met Thomas Blane who had insisted his career would be better if he would stay up in New York and Lance had listened. And Lance’s career had exploded fast and it had been very successful. But it had not been what Lance had expected.

Lance found that he hated performing in the big arenas. He was always attacked by stage fright that very nearly killed him each and every time. His heart would race, his head would get foggy and his chest would tighten until breathing was nearly impossible.

He hated the fact that fans and cameras followed him everywhere he went. He had always thought he wanted to be famous. But now that he was famous, he just wanted to disappear.

“I already had my lawyers look it over for me. I’m free to retire whenever I want.” Lance said leaning back in the chair and crossing his arms over his chest.

“You’re serious about this aren’t you?” Thomas demanded incredulously as his second and third chins bounced up and down. Lance nodded.

“Yes I am. I still want to keep you on as my manager. I would like to do small county fairs a couple times a year and little performances like that but I won’t tour anymore.”

“Not even a farewell tour?” Thomas demanded.

“I just got done with a tour. I won’t go on another one.”

“You can kiss the big money goodbye.” Thomas grumbled as he settled back in his chair and shook his head sadly.

“I have enough money saved up to last me ten lifetimes. I’m just a simple guy, Tom, and I thought this big life was what I wanted but it’s not…. I want my simple life back.” Thomas stared at the man in front of him. He had found him as barely more than a boy wandering from bar to bar in Nashville hoping for a break and he had helped him find that break. Now Lance Asher was a grown man and Thomas had known this day was coming. Lance wasn’t cut out for this life.

“Fine. Not like I can talk you out of this. I know better than anyone just how stubborn and hard headed you can be.”

“Thanks, Tom.” Lance said relieved that the big man wasn’t going to put up more of a fight.

“You headed back to Georgia?” Thomas asked knowing that that was where Lance was from. Lance shook his head.

“Don’t see any reason to. My folks are dead and I didn’t have any other family I was close to.”

“Where are you going then in case I need to get in touch with you?” Thomas asked. Lance stood up and stretched out his long legs.

“You have my cell phone number. I’ll probably just travel around for a while. Don’t worry I’ll check in now and then.” he added with a wink when he saw the panicked look on Thomas’s face, then Lance made a quick escape from the overbearing mans office before he had a chance to speak again.

As Lance stepped out into the early September sun he felt free for the first time in as long as he could remember. His future was completely up in the air. He had no home (having sold his new york apartment the day before), he had no clothes other than what was in the small suitcase in the back of his truck and the only personal possession he still owned was his guitar, but he had never felt better in his life.

He walked down the street to where he had parked his truck and hopped in. He smiled at the picture of the blond haired, green eyed angel he had taped to his dashboard. He didn’t know where he would eventually settle down but he knew where he was heading to first. Hardan County, Kentucky. He had left his heart there seven years ago and he needed to go get it back.

888

Tiffany slid herself out from under the old ford van she was changing the oil in and wiped her hands on an already grease stained rag she’d laid under the hood. She was just filling the oil reserve back up when a familiar voice came out of the radio and she froze as her heart began to beat faster.

Why after seven years did his voice still do that to her? She turned the song up that was playing and let herself get lost in his words of love and promises of forever. There had been a time when he had spoken those words to her. Maybe not the part about forever but his deep soothing voice had claimed to love her with all of his heart.

“Too bad you loved your dreams more.” she said out loud and she noticed the look her brother sent her way from where he was working on a car beside her. She blushed red and slammed the hood shut on the van.

She was happy when the song ended and her heart started to slow back down.

“ That was Lance Asher and I hate to have to inform all of you ladies out there that dream about his dreamy voice and amazing good looks but it seems we have heard the last of him. His manager announced yesterday that he has chosen to retire…“ Tiffany quickly turned the stereo off, cutting off the heartbroken woman and then slammed her fist down on the tool shelf.

“You okay?” her brother Steve asked. Tiffany glared over at him.

“I’m just fine. I am not that young girl anymore that worshipped the boy. I am a grown woman. I am a mother. I am independent. Why do I care that after seven short years he has abandoned the dream that meant so much to him that he left me for it?” she demanded. Steve knew there was no right answer and that no matter what he said he was going to end up in trouble so he just rubbed the back of his greasy neck with his greasy hand and went back to work.

Tiffany walked into the bathroom and pulled off her dark blue, grease stained coveralls. She scrubbed her hands as clean as she could get them and smiled when she thought of what Erin would say about her nails. Erin was gone though. She had met her prince charming four years before and gotten married and moved to a bigger city about five hours away.

Tiffany smoothed out her pink t-shirt, fixed her denim shorts, changed into her sandals and then walked back out. She didn’t bother with fixing her hair, which was up in a sloppy ponytail with strands hanging loose around her face, or her make-up which was nonexistent.

She said a quick goodbye to her brother, her fathers office door was closed so she knew he was busy, she grabbed her purse off the hook by the door and went out to her chevy truck. She drove to the school with ten minutes to spare before school let out. She parked beside the curb and then got out of the truck and leaned against the passenger door to watch for Parker.

The kindergarten and first grade released first and Tiffany scanned the crowd of five and six year olds pouring out of the tiny school and she smiled happily when she saw him. His jet black hair, bright blue eyes and deep dimples. Sometimes her heart broke just looking at him because he looked so much like his father.

“Mommy, look what I made!” he yelled with excitement as he ran to her. She dropped to her knee and ruffled his dark hair.

“What did you make?” she asked. He pulled his Transformers backpack off and opened it. He pulled out a picture that he had obviously drawn himself and for the life of her she didn’t know what it was supposed to be. She smiled proudly.

“I really like it.” she said hoping he would tell her what it was.

“It’s a guitar like the one you said my daddy plays.” he explained. Tiffany felt tears fill her eyes but she fought them back and kissed her sons forehead.

“It’s wonderful.” she said. “We’ll put it up on the fridge when we get home.” Parker smiled proudly and put the picture back in his backpack. Tiffany opened his door and he climbed up in his booster seat. She buckled him up and then walked around to the drivers side and got in.

“When is my daddy going to come see me?” Parker asked as they drove down the back road toward their tiny house. Tiffany let out a long breath at the familiar question.

“I don’t know, baby boy.”

“I’m not a baby.” he reminded her. She smiled.

“No you’re not.” she admitted. “Your daddy is a busy man. He is busy playing music that helps people feel better.”

“Doesn’t he love me?” Parker asked as he kicked the dashboard with his Lightning McQueen sneakers.

“Of course he does.” Tiffany lied. She prayed that God and her son would forgive her for the many lies she had had to tell over the last few years to explain Lance’s absence. Parker didn’t even know his fathers name because he had never asked for it and Tiffany did not know what she would do when he finally did want to know.

“Guess what, mommy?” Parker said suddenly full of excitement again. Tiffany breath a sigh of relief that the conversation about Lance was over and smiled.

“What?”

“Mrs. Gibson said I can be in the school play this Halloween. We’re putting on a spooky play with bats and witches and everything!”

“That’s great.” Tiffany replied and she laughed as Parker explained to her all that went into putting on a play in the first grade.

Chapter Three

Lance put his truck in park outside the garage that Gary Fields owned and wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans. He had worked at this garage every day for almost three months seven years ago. He had fallen in love in this garage and he had busted a lot of knuckles and learned about hard work in this garage.

He didn’t know if Tiffany would be here but he had driven out to her parents house and no one had been home. By now she was probably married and moved away but he had to know. She still had his heart and he knew he had to at least see her, speak to her, and know that she was okay before he would ever be able to move on with his life.

His biggest regret in life was walking away from her that September night so many years ago. But he had been a kid… He hadn’t realized just what he was giving up. He realized it now. Love, true love, was hard to find and he had simply walked away from it like it had been nothing.

He walked through the open garage door and looked around. It hadn’t changed much in the last seven years. There were three lifts and all three had a vehicle on them. He looked at the office door but saw that it was closed.

“Hello.” he called out.

“Hang on.” a voice called back from underneath a large white van. Lance picked at a string hanging off his t-shirt and then with a whoosh of wheels across concrete the man pushed himself out from under the van. He stood up and grabbed a rag, wiping his hands clean as he walked up to Lance.

“Hello, what can I do for….. What the hell are you doing here?” Steve demanded as he recognized the man standing in the garage. Lance swallowed hard as he too recognized who he was talking to. Steve had never been known for his patience and his protective nature toward his younger sister often bordered on the edge of being dangerous.

“I came to see Tiffany.” Lance replied squaring his shoulders. Steve walked over and stood toe to toe with him. At six foot two, and athletically muscular, both men were evenly matched in both height and size.

Lance was expecting Steve to argue with him but what he wasn’t expecting was for Steve’s fist to fly up and connect squarely with his jaw. Lance staggered backward and grabbed his jaw convinced that it must be broken because it couldn’t possibly hurt this bad and be fine.

“What the hell was that for?” he demanded as he wiped away some blood from his split lip.

“For breaking my sisters heart, you son of a bitch. Now get your ass out of here and leave her alone. You’ve caused her enough damn pain!” Steve yelled shaking his hand and Lance was pleased that at least Steve had hurt himself as well.

“What are you talking about? Your sister and I agreed it was over.” Lance replied. Steve glared at him and forced himself to remember that Lance had not known about Parker at the time. His stubborn sister had never told her lover that he was also her babies father.

“My sister has cried enough tears over you, Lance Asher. Big time country music star who just couldn’t bring himself to make a single sacrifice for the girl that gave him a…”

“Steven!” Gary Fields stern voice cut Steve off just before he was able to spill the beans about Parker. Steve wanted Lance to know just what he had put his sister through. He wanted the selfish bastard to know that she had been raising his son alone.

“What?” Steve demanded looking back at his father. Gary pointed at the van.

“You aren’t done with that van yet. Get back to work.” he said and the sternness in his tone left no room for argument. Steve pointed one grease covered finger toward Lance.

“If you hurt my sister again, I won’t just punch you for it. I’ll kill you.” he said and then he walked back over to the van and slid himself beneath it. Lance rubbed his jaw one last time and realized that if anything Steve’s overprotective nature toward Tiffany had gotten worse. He turned his attention back to Gary.

“Hello sir.” he said. “I was hoping to speak with Tiffany.” Gary looked Lance up and down and shook his head.

“She’s not working today. She’s at her house.” he replied simply. Lance nodded and realized that Gary had not gotten any easier to read in the last seven years. He was still very reserved and kept his emotions well hidden.

“Could you tell me where she’s living at?” Lance asked and then he winced when the sound of a wrench hitting steel with a lot of force came from under the van. He knew that if Steve had his way that wrench would be hitting his head. He didn’t understand just why Steve hated him so badly for what had happened seven years ago but then again Steve had always been high on temper and low on common sense.

“No.” Gary replied to his question. “If you want to see her then you can come back in here tomorrow. Hopefully she’ll be working.” Lance wanted to argue. He’d been waiting seven years and he did not want to wait another second but he could tell by the look on Gary’s face that he wasn’t going to change his mind.

“Thank you, sir.” Lance said. “See you later, Steve.” he added as he turned and walked back out to his truck. Once he was settled in the drivers seat he ran his finger over the picture on his dash. His heart hurt to know that he had caused her so much pain that her brother still hated him for it. He drove to the hotel and got a room. Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough. He had to see her with his own eyes.. He just prayed he still stood a chance with her.

888

“Mommy, my throat hurts.” Parker said as he snuggled closer to her on the couch and she wrapped the blanket tighter around them.

“I know it does, my boy. The doctor gave you medicine and he promised you’d be feeling better by this afternoon.” After Parker had finished telling her all about first grade plays the night before he had started running a fever. Tiffany had rushed him to the doctor who let her know that her son had strep throat. He had given Parker some antibiotics and had assured them both that after a day of rest, Parker should be feeling back to normal and be able to go back to school.

“Can I got to school tomorrow?” Parker asked her before sticking his popsicle back in his mouth.

“If you’re feeling better you can. You haven’t had any fevers today.” she said kissing his dark hair. Last night had been a long night. She had not been able to keep his fever down very well and she had paced the floors all night chewing her fingernails down to the nubs as he had slept peacefully. It was times like those when being a single parent was the hardest.

She envied those mothers that had a partner to pace and worry with them. She knew she could have called her mother but Tiffany had gotten herself into the position of single parenthood and she didn’t want to lean on her parents for help.

“I want to watch sponge bob.” Parker said, interrupting her self pity. She grabbed the remote control and turned the channel. She sighed when the big yellow sponge and his fat pink friend came on the screen. She had seen enough of this show in the last few years to last her a lifetime. She laid her head back and closed her eyes deciding that rest sounded like a good idea. As she lay there she couldn’t help but wonder what Lance was doing right now and whether or not he had ever had to suffer through thirty minutes of sponge bob.

“What’s for dinner, mommy?” Parker asked, jerking her back to consciousness. She sighed as she pulled herself up off the couch and watched him stretch out and snuggle under the covers.

“What would you like?” she asked and even as he answered she mouthed the words,

“Chicken nuggets and French fries.” She smiled and tousled his hair. A mothers work was never done but she wasn’t going to complain. At least he still had an appetite.

Chapter Four

Tiffany dropped a happy, healthy Parker off at school the next morning and then drove back home. She had a phone conference with her editor in New York that was sure to last until lunch and then she hoped to get into town and get a few hours of work in at the garage before Parker got out of school.

She had an hour before her conference call so she got busy trying to get her house cleaned up. It wasn’t hard since the house was tiny. Just two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bathroom. That was all the space that she and Parker needed.

She was just finishing up cleaning Parker’s room and wondering how one kid could make such giant messes when her cell phone rang. She sighed. It was time to get to work.

It was nearly one in the afternoon before Tiffany walked into the garage. She would only be able to work about an hour and a half before she had to go pick up Parker but at least she could get a little bit done. She saw Steve’s legs sticking out from under a car and said a quick hello which earned her a grunt as she walked into the bathroom.

She came out several minutes later in her boots and coveralls to find her father waiting for her. She gave him a hug and kissed his weathered cheek.

“Hi daddy.” she said.

“Hi my girl.” he replied. “How is Parker today?” Tiffany smiled.

“Good as new.” she replied and then she yawned loudly into her hand. Gary frowned.

“You’re tired.” he said matter of factly. “Why don’t you go home and rest?” Tiffany raised her brow.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” she asked. Steve pushed himself out from under the car and stood up.

“Yes.” he said. “You work too hard and you don’t have to. Go home and rest.” Tiffany looked at both men as if they had lost their minds.

“You both know that I don’t know how to rest or relax.” she said as she grabbed a toolbox and walked over to a truck.

“What’s it need?” she asked her brother. Steve sighed and threw his hands up in defeat.

“Brake change.” he replied. Tiffany nodded and went to work. Gary motioned for Steve to follow him into his office.

“I don’t want that jackass coming in here and talking to her.” Steve said once the door was closed.

“If he does come, you stay out of it. Whatever happens is between Tiffany and Lance.” Steve grumbled under his breath and kicked at the metal leg of his fathers desk.

“He’s already come in twice today, maybe he’ll grow some sense and he won’t come back.” he said. Gary looked out the tiny window and shook his head.

“No such luck. Looks like speaking of the devil made him appear.” he said. Steve started for the office door but Gary grabbed his arm.

“Let them have some privacy.”

Lance walked into the garage for the third time and looked around. He could hear someone on the other side of the truck in front of him and he hoped it wasn’t just Steve again. He was getting tired of the mans hostility.

“Hello.” he called out.

“Just a minute.” A familiar feminine voice replied and Lance felt his heart constrict in his chest. Then she walked around the truck and he realized without a doubt in that instant that he was still very much in love with Tiffany. His feelings had not changed in the last seven years. If anything they had gotten stronger.

She hadn’t changed much. He could tell that her body had filled out and become more womanly beneath her big dark blue coveralls. He could tell that her dark blond hair was longer and it was pulled back in that familiar messy ponytail that she had always worn. Her deep green eyes were the same though they were wide as she stared at him and her lightly freckled face was pale. He noticed that she looked tired.

“Hi Tiffany.” he said in an attempt to end the silence. Tiffany felt her head swimming and she grabbed the truck beside of her to keep her balance. This could not be happening. Lance was not here in this garage. He was not looking at her with his blue eyes full of love and worry as if the last seven years had not happened.

He was just as handsome as he had always been and she realized that his voice still made her heart beat faster….. Then she cursed herself for thinking like such a love sick fool. This man had walked away from her and had not looked back for seven years. She was not going to fall at his feet now.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded as she tossed the rag she’d been wiping her hands with aside and put her hands on her hips.

“I was passing through.” he replied sticking his thumbs through his belt loops and rocking back on his heels. She nearly smiled when she recognized the nervous gesture, but managed to hold it back.

“Well you can keep on your way then. Don’t let us stop you.” she replied as she walked back around the truck and started throwing her tools back in the tool box.

“I was hoping we could talk.” Lance said patiently as he walked around the truck. He hadn’t come all this way and gotten his jaw busted by he her brother just to be yelled at and forced to leave.

“What could you possibly have to say to me?” Tiffany asked as she stood straight and faced him. “You left me seven years ago and never even looked back. What do you want now?” Lance winced at the anger in her tone and in her eyes.

“Why are you all so mad at me?” he asked. “I know I left but it’s not like you tried to stop me.”

“Is that all you wanted to say?” Tiffany asked as she felt the pain in her heart from the blow his words had delivered. Lance let out a long breath and shook his head.

“No. I have been gone a long time, I know that. Seven years was too long. I thought that freedom and fame was what I wanted but it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Please Tiffany, can’t we go down to the diner or something and talk. I’ve missed you.” Tiffany stared at him for a long time and Lance prayed that she wasn’t going to turn him away. Finally she nodded and pointed outside.

“Wait for me outside. I’ll be out in a minute.” Lance could barely contain his excitement as his legs wanted to jump up and down with joy.

“Thank you. There is so much I want to say to you.” he said and then he quickly walked outside to wait for her on the sidewalk. Tiffany smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear as she watched him walk out.

“There are some things I need to say to you too.” she said quietly. She walked over to the office door and jerked it open, rolling her eyes when Steve nearly toppled over on her without the door to support his big nosy ear.

“How’d it go?” Gary asked as Steve grinned sheepishly.

“We’re going to the diner to talk.” she replied. Steve opened his mouth to protest but Tiffany shut him up with a look. “Steve, I need you to go pick Parker up from school when it’s time and take him to my house and wait on me to get back.” she said. Steve sighed and nodded.

“Be careful, baby girl.” Gary cautioned. Tiffany nodded.

“I will daddy. I’m not a girl anymore. He can’t hurt me.” she replied and then she turned and walked toward the bathroom to wash her hands and take off her coveralls. Gary watched her go and sighed.

“Yes he can, my dear. Yes he can.” he said quietly as he rubbed his graying mustache.

“I’ll kill him.” Steve growled. Gary just shook his head at his oldest child and walked back over to his desk.

Chapter Five

“You look good.” Lance said hoping to end the awkward silence as the two of them sat across from each other in the diner booth. Tiffany snorted and pushed more stray strands of hair behind her ears and ran her hands over her blue t-shirt that was slightly stained and two sizes too big.

“I look like hell.” she replied. She had nearly backed out of coming when she had seen herself in the bathroom mirror. She was pale and tired with dark circles under her eyes from not sleeping much the last few nights.

“No, you’re beautiful.” Lance assured her. Tiffany blushed and then cursed herself for falling for his charm. They each ordered burgers, fries and a pop and then they sat there looking out the window in silence.

“How have you been?” Lance finally asked.

“I’ve been good.” Tiffany replied. She didn’t want to tell him about her life because her entire life revolved around Parker and she wasn’t ready to tell Lance about him yet. “How have you been?” Lance traced shapes on the orange Formica table top and Tiffany recognized it as another one of the things he did when he was nervous or unsure.

“I made it.” he replied looking over at her. She knew what he was talking about and she couldn’t help but smile. She had always known that he would make it. He had always brought his guitar along when they would camp out under the stars and he would sing to her and melt her heart and she had never had a doubt that he would make it in Nashville.

“I always knew you would.” she replied. She looked at him then and realized that instead of looking proud his eyes looked sad.

“I hated it.” he added.

“What do you mean? I thought it was your dream and it was what you wanted.” she picked at a tear in the leather seat of the booth. “More then anything.” she added. She regretted the words almost instantly because she had not wanted him to know just how badly she’d been hurt by his leaving, but it was too late to take the words back now.

“I did. Dreams change.” he replied quietly as he tore the corners of his napkin and stared down at the table. Tiffany was surprised by the amount of anger she felt at those words. What did the man think? That he could just come back here after all this time and she would fall into his arms and be so grateful that he finally considered her to be worth some sacrifice?

““I still don’t understand what you came back here for.” she said after the waitress had set their plates down. The waitress stared hard at Lance for several moments before finally walking away and Lance breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing he needed was for somebody to recognize him.

“I missed you Tiff. I wanted to come see you.” he replied. Tiffany snorted.

“It’s been six years Lance. Not once in six years did you act like you missed me so why now?” Lance looked down at his hands. How could he explain to her that he had missed her every single second he had been gone? She had been on his mind everyday. So much so that he had turned away every single woman that had come along the last six years and that had been a lot of women.

“Why are you so mad at me?” he asked. “It’s not like you asked me to stay back then. You told me goodbye too.” His reminder of her stupidity did nothing to help her temper. She pushed her plate aside and stood quickly.

“Since I said goodbye once, then I believe I will say it again. I am not the same girl that fell in love with you back then Lance. I have had to grow up a lot since you left me and I don’t have time for this…. Whatever this is.” she added pointing back and forth between them. “I don’t know if you thought you could just come back here and I would be so thankful to finally be worth your attention that I would just fall down at your feet but you were wrong.” She turned on her heel and stormed out of the diner with everyone’s eyes on her and Lance sitting in the booth slack jawed.

He had always been a very patient man and he knew that Tiffany had always been a firecracker with one heck of a temper but for the life of him he didn’t understand why she and her family were so hostile toward him. Yes he had left six years ago but it’s not like he had left her while she begged him to stay. As a matter of fact she was the one who told him goodbye and to have a good life.

He threw a twenty down on the booth to cover the food and the tip and then went out the door. He wasn’t going to let her throw her temper and then walk away from him that easily.

He found her back at the garage sitting inside her truck pounding her hand on the steering wheel as she turned the key and the truck refused to come to life. He walked over to her window and tapped on it with his finger. Tiffany glared through the glass at him. His patience irritated her when she was this aggravated.

Lance jumped back quickly when she threw the door open and jumped out.

“Truck won’t start?” he asked. She rolled her eyes.

“Duh.” she replied and then winced when she realized she sounded like an angry teenager instead of a mature grown woman. Just then Gary came out of the garage.

“What’s wrong with it?” he asked nodding at the truck. Tiffany shrugged.

“I don’t know.” she replied. Lance looked at the truck and came to the quick conclusion that it had simply died of old age. Tiffany looked at her watch and realized that Parker and Steve were probably at the house waiting on her by now.

“I don’t have time to fix it today. I need to get home.” she said. Before Gary could reply Lance spoke up.

“I’ll take you.” he said. A panicked look came to Tiffany’s face but Gary nodded.

“That sounds good to me.” he said. He figured it was about time that Lance met his son. “I’ll get your truck fixed and Steve and I will bring it out to you tonight.” he added looking at Tiffany.

Tiffany felt like she must be asleep and having a nightmare as Lance let her to his truck. She looked at the brand new, bright blue Silverado and had to admit that it was nice. She was surprised when he opened the passenger door for her and she blushed as she felt his eyes on the back of her jeans as she climbed up into the seat. He shut the door and hopped in the drivers side.

Tiffany felt the familiar quickening in her pulse as her arm brushed his and she quickly puller her arm off of the center console and laid it across her lap. She spared a glance at him from the corner of her eye as he started the truck and headed down the road. She had been so shocked to see him earlier that she hadn’t taken the time to really look at him but she was looking now.

His body had changed in the last six years. He no longer had the body of a boy just becoming a man…. He now had the body of a man. Broad shoulders, lean hips and long legs. He had lean muscles and tanned skin and Tiffany realized that he desire for him had not changed. He had taken her innocence six years ago and he was the only man who had ever had her body or her heart.

“Where are we going?” he asked. “I don’t know how to get to your house.”

“It’s on the road before you get to the pond road. Do you remember where that is?” she asked. Lance remembered all right. He remembered every single second they had spent together at that pond and his body remembered too as it heated and his pulse quickened at the images that raced through his mind. He cleared his throat and nodded.

“Yeah I remember.” he replied. Tiffany was about to say something else when she noticed the picture taped on the dashboard and her heart nearly stopped beating. That was her. It was an old picture from the summer they had spent together. She was laughing in the picture and she recognized the sparkle of the sunlight on the pond behind her.

Lance followed her gaze and his face reddened. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and yanked on his seatbelt that suddenly felt too tight on his chest.

“Why do you have that?” Tiffany asked once she found her voice again.

“Another one of my dreams.” he replied looking straight out the windshield and keeping his gaze locked on the road ahead of them. Tiffany felt a tear come to her eye and she blinked it away. She laid her head back on the headrest and looked out the passenger window.

Lance still loved her. She was sure of it now. Despite her anger with him she knew that he had not really left her all those years ago. She had not asked him to stay… As a matter of fact she had told him to leave. She had wanted to see his dreams come true and they had. But now he was back and she was scared to death. How was she going to tell him about the secret she had kept from him that night, all those years ago.

Once he learned that he had a six year old son that she had hidden from him he would hate her. That love that she saw in his blue eyes would not be there anymore and she would have no one to blame but herself. She prayed she would be able to make him understand but even though Lance was the most patient and understanding man she had ever met, she doubted he would understand this.

They pulled into the driveway behind Steve’s red ford truck and Lance put his own truck in park and turned off the ignition. He looked over at Tiffany.

“I think we have more to say to each other.” he said softly. Tiffany nodded and took a deep breath. She needed to tell him about Parker.

“I think we do too.” she replied but before she could say anything else she saw the door to the house fly open and Parker ran out. She cursed quietly and got out of the truck. She vaguely noticed Lance do the same.

“Mommy! Guess what happened today!” Parker yelled as he ran to her. She dropped to her knee and tousled his thick dark hair.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Mrs. Gibson said that I get to be the ogre that scares away the witches in our play.” Parker replied his blue eyes shining with excitement. Tiffany smiled proudly though her mind was on Lance and wondering whether or not he noticed the similarities between himself and the boy. She didn’t dare look over at him because she did not want to see what kind of expression was on his face right now.

“That is great my boy. How is your throat? Are you still feeling good?” she asked. Parker rolled his eyes and opened his mouth wide as if showing her that his throat was indeed fine.

“My medicine made me all better.” he said. “That means I don’t have to take it anymore.” Tiffany shook her head as she stood up and put on her best stern face.

“That means you have to keep taking it so it can keep helping you.” she replied. Parker made a face and gagged.

“But mommy it’s nasty.” he whined.

“Parker don’t whine.” Tiffany scolded and he crossed his arms over his tiny chest and looked over at Lance.

“Who are you?” he asked. Tiffany finally looked at Lance and saw the look of disbelief and shock on his pale face.

“Uh…um… I’m…” Tiffany stepped in when she realized Lance was in no shape to answer the question.

“He’s my friend.” she replied. “Now go back in the house and tell your uncle Steve that he has to go into town and help grandpa fix our truck.”

“Okay mommy. Can we have meatloaf for supper?” he asked and Tiffany marveled at the ability of the six year old mind to jump from topic to topic without missing a beat.

“Sure.” she replied and Parker ran quickly across the gravel driveway and back to the house. Tiffany did not want to look at Lance so instead she looked out at the mountains surrounding them. It was the middle of September and the mountains were losing their green color and becoming orange, brown and red as the colors of fall took the place of the colors of summer.

“Tiffany.” Lance said and she could hear the confusion in his voice. She turned to face him and saw that he was leaning against his truck with his arms straight and he was gripping the hood with white knuckles while staring down at the gravel at his boots.

“What do you want to know Lance?” Tiffany asked as she tugged awkwardly at the bottom of her shirt and chewed on her lip.

“That was your son?”

“Yes.”

“What is his name?” he asked still looking down at the ground. Tiffany crossed her arms and rubbed her hands up and down them, suddenly feeling very cold.

“Parker. His name is Parker.” Lance nodded slightly.

“How old is he?” Tiffany shifted her feet.

“Six.”

“He’s mine isn’t he? He looks just like me.” Lance said, remembering the boys messy black hair, blue eyes and dimples that had all been identical to his own. Tiffany nodded.

“Yes he’s yours.” she replied. “He’s ours.” she amended quickly.

“Did you know about him the night of the carnival?” Lance asked and he prayed that the answer was no. If she hadn’t known about the baby then, then Lance could see her not telling him about the boy the past six years. She would have had no way to let him know. He hadn’t ever contacted her and she would not have had a clue how to contact him. Surely she hadn’t known. Tiffany would not have kept something like that from him.

“Yes I knew.” she said softly and Lance felt the pain of her betrayal deep in his gut. He had a son and Tiffany had kept it from him on purpose. He didn’t trust himself to speak. He didn’t even trust himself to look at her. He was angry and hurt and he didn’t want to say or do something that later he would regret so he simply got into his truck, brought the engine to life and drove away.

Tiffany wanted to cry. She wanted to fall to her knees and beg the Lord and Lance for forgiveness for the lies she had told but she didn’t have time. She had homework to go over with Parker and a meatloaf to cook. She smoothed out her hair, straightened her shirt, took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and walked to the house.

Chapter Six

The next day Lance put his truck in park outside of Tiffany’s house. He had stopped by the garage first but Gary had told him that she had taken the day off. He looked at her picture on his dash. He had wanted to rip it off and throw it away last night. Every time he looked at it the sting of her betrayal tore at his heart.

He didn’t understand how Tiffany of all people could have hidden something like this from him. He had confided in her about his own father, who had abandoned him and his mother before he’d been born. She was the only person he had ever fully told about all the hurt he held inside. Now she had made him no different from his own father.

He had a son. A six year old son who did not even know he was his father. He had not been able to hold the boy as a baby. He had not been there for his first steps, first words, first day of school. Tiffany had stolen all of that from him and he wanted to know why.

He knocked on her door and heard the sound of her footsteps coming through the house. When she opened the door he felt his anger falter momentarily. Clearly she had not slept the night before. Her face was pale and her eyes were surrounded by bruise like shadows. She looked as if she had been crying.

He forced himself to remember why he was here and felt the edge come back to his anger.

“I wondered when you would come back.” Tiffany said quietly. She moved aside and let him enter the house. He walked into the tiny kitchen and looked around. The room was spotless. The white linoleum tile was sparkling and the oak table and gray faux marble countertops didn’t have a bit of clutter.

“It doesn’t usually look this nice.” Tiffany said noticing the way he was looking around. “Six year olds aren’t known for their cleanliness but I’ve had all morning here to myself so I’ve been cleaning.” She looked around uncomfortably. She knew why he was here and she wondered how long it would take him to start the conversation that was bound to lead to a lot of tears on her part.

She motioned for him to sit down at the table and while he did that she poured them each a glass of lemonade and sat down across from him. She took a sip of her lemonade and waited on him to speak. He looked tired. His blue eyes were dull as they looked at her and his dark hair was even messier than usual.

“Why?” he asked. Tiffany knew what Lance wanted to know but she was not yet sure how to answer so she sipped her lemonade again and looked down at the table top.

“Why what?” she asked. Lance felt his temper flare but pushed it back down. Yelling and getting angry wouldn’t accomplish anything and would end their conversation before it even started.

“Why didn’t you tell me that night that you were pregnant?” Tiffany picked at the leg of her gray lounge pants and forced herself to meet his gaze.

“I didn’t want to be responsible for getting in the way of your dream, Lance. I wanted to see you go out and make all your dreams come true and I knew that wouldn’t happen if I told you about the baby.”

“You know what my father did to me, Tiffany. You made me do the same thing to my son. You made me no different from my father.” Lance said, the accusation clear in his voice. Tiffany shook her head in stern protest.

“No, you’re not like your father. He knew about you, you didn’t know about Parker.”

“Because of you!” Lance yelled. He slammed his hand down on the table and his face flushed red with anger. Tiffany shrank back in her chair and felt tears fill her eyes. Lance had never been one to lose his temper and she realized just how angry he truly was.

“I am sorry, Lance. I know that doesn’t make up for keeping my pregnancy a secret from you that night but please try to look at it from my side….” She waited to see if he would tell her to go to hell or if he was willing to listen. When he just sat there silently and stared at her she decided to continue.

“I was nineteen. I was a kid. I was scared to death when that test said positive. At the time I thought my life was over because I knew I wasn’t willing to give up the baby. I knew I was going to keep him.

“I wanted to tell you, Lance. I loved you so much and I needed you. I needed your support. At the time though I felt like if I told you about the baby I would be being selfish. I knew how much your dream meant to you. I knew that you wanted to prove yourself to your father and I knew that you wanted to make a lot of money and help your mother. I didn’t want to take that away from you.” Lance looked at her long and hard. It was hard for him to stay mad at her.

Everything she said made sense. He had talked constantly back in those days about his dreams of making it big and Tiffany was the type of person to sacrifice anything to make those she loved happy.

True, part of him wanted to scream and yell. Part of him wanted to hurt her the way that he was hurting but he knew that wouldn’t solve anything. The time he wasted being angry was time that he could spend getting to know his son.

He looked at her wide green eyes that were full of tears and he let out a long slow breath before taking a drink of his lemonade.

“You should have told me, Tiffany.” he said and Tiffany was happy that his voice was calmer. His blue eyes had lost their angry edge and his face was not as drawn or as pale. She knew she didn’t deserve his patience but she was glad for it all the same.

“I know that now. I knew it almost the instant that you left. I held out hope though that you would call or that you would write and I would know how to get in touch with you and I could let you know. But you never did.” Lance felt guilt replace the hurt. He had abandoned her and their child for a selfish dream that he didn’t even care about anymore.

He had no doubt that if he had contacted her again, she would have told him. Her own guilt and pain was clear enough in her eyes. He looked around the kitchen and his eyes landed on the refrigerator and the many pictures and drawings that were on it. He stood up and walked over to look at them more closely.

“He loves to draw. I told him that I’m going to have to get a second fridge just to hold his pictures.” Tiffany’s voice came from beside of him. He hadn’t even heard her get up and walk over.

“What are they?” Lance asked as he looked at the scribbles and couldn’t seem to make out a single thing. He recognized the occasional stick figure. And he was fairly certain that he saw a dog or two but other than that he was lost. He looked at Tiffany who was standing beside him and she shrugged.

“I’m not sure what most of them are. He just brings them in and hangs them up.” She pointed at one of the pictures. “This is his newest. He said it’s a guitar like the one his daddy plays.”

“He knows about me?” Lance asked. Tiffany nodded.

“Kind of.” she replied. “He doesn’t know your name. I wanted to give him your last name when he was born but they wouldn’t let me since you weren’t there to sign the papers.”

“What does he know about me then?” Lance asked turning his eyes back to the many pictures.

“He knows that his daddy is a good man. He knows that his mommy and daddy loved each other and that his daddy has been very busy playing music that makes people happy.” Tiffany replied as she readjusted the already perfectly adjusted apples in the bowl on the counter.

“What is he like?” Lance asked as he walked back to the table and sat down. Tiffany leaned against the counter and he saw the proud look in her green eyes as she smiled brightly. He felt his heart beat a little faster at the sight of her smile. It made her whole face light up.

“He’s like you.” she replied. “For a six year old he is very patient and very smart. He loves music and he loves guitars. He even has one but no one around here knows how to play so no one has taught him. He would live off of chicken nuggets and french fries if I would let him. He has seen and can quote nearly every episode of spongebob squarepants, as can I. He is the sweetest kid you’ll ever meet and he has a great sense of humor.” Tiffany paused and Lance couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You sure you’re not a little biased?” he asked. Tiffany’s smile became even bigger.

“I probably am.” she said.

“At least I know that Parker has such a good mom.” Tiffany blushed and bit her lip.

“I’m sorry, Lance. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that night.” Lance just shook his head and stood back up.

“We were young, Tiff. We both screwed up back then and I am sorry too.” he said and Tiffany nearly cried with relief. He wasn’t angry with her anymore. Though there were times when his patience and understanding nature had gotten on her nerves, right now she was eternally grateful for them.

“I would like to meet him.” Lance said nervously. “I want to get to know my son.” Tiffany nodded.

“Of course. I didn’t keep him from you all these years on purpose. I had no way to let you know.” she said. “I want Parker to have his dad.”

“When would be good?” Lance asked as he blinked back a tear that threatened to enter his eye. He might be patient and understanding but that did not mean that he wanted to cry in front of anyone. Especially Tiffany.

“He has a soccer game tomorrow morning at ten. It’s his last one of the season actually. Would you like to come?”

“Where?”

“At the field outside of town. You remember where the carnival was?” Tiffany replied. Lance nodded.

“I’ll be there.” he said. “Thanks for giving me a chance to be a dad now.” Before Tiffany could reply Lance was out the door and it was shutting quietly behind him. Tiffany collapsed in a chair at the table and buried her face in her arms. She cried for a long time, her sobs the only sound in the otherwise silent house.

She cursed when the phone rang and she was forced out of the chair. She could barely see where she was going through her red swollen eyes and though she did her best to sound normal when she said ‘hello’ she knew that her recent tears could still be heard in her voice.

“What is wrong?” Erin’s voice came through the phone and Tiffany nearly cried again because she was so relieved to hear her best friends voice.

“You won’t believe me if I tell you.” she replied.

“Try me.” Erin said.

“Lance is back. He showed up at the garage yesterday. He knows about Parker now and I just feel overwhelmed and guilty and sad and I….”

“I’m on my way.” Erin said, interrupting her.

“No, no, no.” Tiffany said quickly. “You don’t have to come.”

“Yes I do. You’re my best friend and you need me. Don’t worry about Jeff, he’s in Iraq remember? Is your couch available because I might just decide to stay a while.” Tiffany didn’t have the strength to offer any other argument. She needed her best friend who had always been more like a sister.

“Yes. You know my couch is always free for you.”

“Cool beans.” Erin said happily and Tiffany smiled. Erin had to be the only twenty six year old woman who still said ‘cool beans’ on a regular basis. “I’ll pack a suitcase, hop in my car and be there sometime tonight.”

“Thank you, Erin.”

“What are best friends for?” Erin asked and Tiffany could hear the smile in her voice. “Besides, Lance is hot and I miss Parker.” she added and Tiffany was laughing as she hung up the phone. She called her mom and talked to her for a long time about what was going on, even though her mom had already known that Lance was in town because her father had filled her in.

Once she was done with her phone conversations she looked around her clean house and realized she had an hour to kill before going to pick up Parker from school and she had nothing to do. She looked down at her grease stained fingernails and winced.

“Erin will kill me if she sees these things.” she said matter of factly to the empty house and then she headed for the bathroom to do what she could to fix them up.

Chapter Seven

“You told him it started at ten, right?” Erin asked as she readjusted the hair tie holding back her mass of red curls. Tiffany looked toward the parking lot and nodded.

“Yes I told him.” she said.

“Well it’s ten and he’s not here.” Erin replied matter of factly. Tiffany rolled her eyes as she adjusted Parker’s shin pads.

“Thank you, captain obvious.” she said causing Parker to laugh.

“Captain obvious.” he repeated with a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes. Tiffany sighed and kissed his dark hair causing him to squirm. “Mommy people can see you.” he said.

“Sorry.” she replied feeling that familiar pain in her chest as she realized her baby was growing up.

“Come on team! Gather up around me!” Parker’s coach called from down the field.

“Go get ’em, tiger.” Erin said with a wink. Parker laughed again and ran off as fast as his six year old legs could carry him.

“I thought you were in love with Lance.” Erin said once the two women were alone and waiting on the game to start. If anyone else had said this, Tiffany would have denied it but there was no point denying it to Erin.

“I am.” she said instead. Erin looked over at her and wrinkled her nose.

“No make-up, your hair is in that damn messy ponytail again, you’re wearing a baseball cap and a plain green t-shirt that is too big… Not exactly the sexiest of looks.” she said. Tiffany rolled her eyes.

“I never have cared about looking sexy.” she replied. “My jeans fit nice.” she added in defense of herself.

“Too bad you’re wearing those plain sneakers.” Erin replied looking down at the gray and pink shoes on Tiffany’s feet.

“I cleaned my fingernails.” Tiffany said holding up her hands. Erin feigned shock and put her hand over her chest.

“Yay for small miracles.” she said. Tiffany looked at her best friend and sighed. Erin looked like she had just stepped off a magazine of course. Tight fitting designer jeans and a dark green t-shirt that molded to her body and seemed to have been made just for her, to accent her large chest and narrow waist. She was wearing brown high heeled boots and her make up was flawless.

“Hush about my lack of personal style and let’s watch my son kick some butt.” Tiffany said as the referee blew the whistle and the game began. As always the five and six year olds playing soccer was more a comedic event than it was a real game.

Parents laughed and yelled out as their kids would miss the ball, become distracted by their surroundings or seem to forget that they were playing a game all together. Tiffany was watching Parker run down the field after a very tall six year old who had the ball when she felt Erin’s elbow dig into her ribs.

“Ow.” she said rubbing her side, which she was sure would bruise.

“He’s here.” Erin said. Erin was a good four inches taller than Tiffany’s five feet four inches without her heels on and so with them on she towered over Tiffany.

“Where?” Tiffany asked trying to look over the heads of the crowd around them. Erin pulled her away from the crowded sidelines and pointed toward the parking lot.

“There.” she said. “I would recognize that strut anywhere. It’s one of those casual struts. A confident without being cocky strut. I wonder if he even knows that he does it?”

“You have a husband.” Tiffany snapped. “Quit looking so hard at Lance.”

“Jealousy does not suit you.” Erin said with a grin. “He does look awfully good though in those dark jeans and boots. The boy grew up into one good looking man.” Tiffany glared up at Erin and shoved her back into the crowd.

“I’ll make sure he see us.” Tiffany said. Erin laughed.

“Oh he’s already seen you.” she said. “You have always dressed like a boy and worn those stupid hats and sloppy pony tails and he has always had eyes only for you…. That’s how you know it is love.”

“Did I really want you to come?” Tiffany spat.

“You know you love me.” Erin replied. “I’m shutting up now.” she added when she saw the deadly look in Tiffany’s eyes. Tiffany looked back at Lance and realized that he had indeed noticed her and was walking straight toward her with a smile. She felt her knees grow weak at the sight of his smile. It made his strong jaw and cheekbones look a bit softer and his big dimples gave him a boyish charm.

Erin was right about him looking good in his jeans and boots. He was wearing a blue t-shirt and a base ball cap too and Tiffany could hear Erin mumbling about how the two of them were made for each other because neither had any fashion sense.

“Sorry I’m late.” Lance said once he got to Tiffany. “I was kind of nervous.” he added honestly. He didn’t tell her that he had changed outfits twice before leaving the hotel and had nearly lost his breakfast on the ride to the field.

“That’s okay. He’s out there playing right now.” Tiffany replied. She grabbed his hand to lead him to the sidelines and quickly let go when she felt sparks of awareness shoot through her. She could tell by the way his eyes had darkened that he had felt it too but he didn’t say anything. She pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and bit her lip as she prayed her hand would cool off… It felt as if the feel of his hand against hers had branded her.

She walked to the sidelines and she could feel his presence behind her.

“He’s number seventeen on the green team.” she said. Lance looked out over the crowd of running kids and he caught sight of his son… His son. The truth of those words still hadn’t quite sunk in yet.

Tiffany smiled when she looked up at Lance and saw that his eyes were locked on the game. He had the proudest look on his face that she had ever seen as he watched Parker run up and down the field.

“He’s a good dad already.” Erin whispered to Tiffany. Tiffany put he finger to her lips as a sign to hush and nodded.

“Of course he is.” she whispered back. Just then the crowd on their side of the field started cheering and Lance’s cheers were the loudest of all.

“He did it! He scored!” he yelled. Tiffany looked out at the field and cursed when she realized she had missed Parker scoring a goal. She clapped loudly anyway but kept herself from yelling his name. Parker had let her know quickly that it embarrassed him when she yelled from the sidelines.

“Yeah! Go tiger!” Erin yelled and Parker’s face turned blood red as he looked their way.

“He doesn’t like it when you yell.” Tiffany reminded her. Erin just shrugged.

“I don’t care. Aunts get to yell if they want to.” she replied. Lance seemed to notice Erin for the first time and he smiled at her.

“Hi Erin. How are you?”

“Doing pretty darn good.” Erin replied. “I’ve got a husband now.” Tiffany stood to the side feeling very much like a third wheel as Lance and Erin talked.

“Where is he?” Lance asked.

“Iraq.”

“Ran him off already huh?” Lance asked. Erin laughed loudly and slapped his arm. Tiffany felt jealousy spark in her and wondered why these two of them acted so comfortable with each other after all this time. As far as she could remember they hadn’t liked each other very much six years ago.

“So what brought you back to our small town after all these years?” Erin asked. Tiffany felt her face flame red and tried to act like she wasn’t paying attention to them as she watched the game.

“Tiffany.” Lance replied honestly. He wouldn’t have been so honest if he had known Tiffany was listening but she seemed to be focused on the game. Erin smiled and nodded.

“You gonna hang around for a while?” she asked. Lance looked out at the field and caught a glimpse of the number seventeen among the crowd of children.

“Yes.” he said. “I’m gonna stick around.”

“Good.” Erin said. “Parker and Tiffany both need you.” Before Lance could respond to this the referee blew the whistle loudly signaling the end of the game. Parker and his team cheered when they realized they had won the game three to one but they were the picture of good sportsmanship as they shook hands with the other team.

“Did you tell him about me?” Lance asked Tiffany, bending down so his lips were near her ear. She felt her knees grow weak at the feel of his breath on her tingling ear and shook her head.

“No not yet.” she replied. “I thought that was something we should do together.” Lance nodded and she nearly yelped with shock when he wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a sideways hug and kissed her temple.

“Thank you.” he said. Then he let go of her quickly because Parker was coming their way. Tiffany swore that the day had suddenly gotten a lot hotter as she blew out a long breath and tried to shake off the nerves that his touch had stirred up in her stomach.

“We won mommy!” Parker yelled happily. Tiffany hugged him tight.

“I know you did, I saw you!” she replied.

“I saw you too, tiger.” Erin added. Parker made a face.

“You yelled too loud when I made that goal.” he said. Erin looked broken hearted.

“But I am your favorite aunt and I don’t get to see you very often. Can’t you let me cheer for you?” she asked. Parker sighed and nodded.

“Fine.” he said. Tiffany put her hands on her hips.

“How come she can but I can’t?” she demanded. Parker looked at his mother calmly and Lance felt like he was looking in a mirror.

“Because mommy, you always call me baby boy and she calls me a tiger.” Parker said as if this should have been obvious to her. Tiffany studied him for a moment and then shrugged.

“Fine then, I’ll yell tiger from now on.” she said.

“Mommy, Ben’s mom and dad are having a party because today is his birthday so I’m leaving with them.” Parker said. Erin saw the look on Tiffany’s face and quickly excused herself. She wasn’t grown up quite enough yet to deal with conflict.

“You don’t tell me what you’re going to do young man. You are supposed to ask me.” Tiffany scolded.

“Fine. Can I got to Ben’s party?”

“No, not today.” Tiffany replied as she helped Parker take off his shin pads and cleats and change into his sneakers.

“Why not?” he demanded with a whine. “You told me I could go the other day!”

“There are some things that came up, Parker, and mommy needs to have a talk with you at home after we go eat lunch. You can go to Ben’s next weekend.”

“That’s not fair and you know it.” Parker yelled angrily. “You promised!”

“Parker, you heard me.” Tiffany said tiredly as she finished tying his shoes and stood up. Parker’s outbursts and rebellions had been becoming more common lately and she was getting too tired to fight back.

“You’re a liar.” Parker accused as he glared up at her. Lance had heard enough.

“Parker, don’t speak to your mother that way.” he scolded in a deep voice that left no room for argument. Parker looked up at him as if he were some sort of alien.

“Fine.” he pouted and then he stomped away toward Erin who was waiting halfway to the parking lot. Tiffany sighed as she stuffed Parker’s cleats and shin pads in a bag and threw the bag over her shoulder.

“So that’s what it feels like to have backup.” she said. Lance looked guilty.

“Sorry if I overstepped a boundary.” he said. He wasn’t sure just how big of a role Tiffany would want him to play with Parker. After all she had been doing the job on her own for six years.

“You’re his father. Trust me, you won’t hear me complain about having help. Raising a kid alone is hard work.” she said and then she bit her lip when she realized that her words could quite easily be taken the wrong way. Thankfully though Lance was an understanding enough man to know that her words had not been an insult towards him.

“Haven’t you had any help with him from your family?” he asked as they started toward the parking lot. Tiffany shrugged.

“A little. I refuse to let them do more than just keep him now and then or babysit when I need them to. It’s my fault I was a single mother and I’ve never tried to make anyone else pay for my mistake.”

“It wasn’t all your fault.” Lance replied quietly. “But that’s the past and we can’t change it. All I can say is that I’m here now and whenever you need anything you just have to ask.”

“Thanks Lance. Most men would have hated me forever.” Tiffany replied as she looked down at her feet.

“And most women would have hated me forever.” he countered. “I guess neither of us are like most.” Tiffany looked up at his smiling face and felt her heart skip a beat. No, he definitely was not like most.

Chapter Eight

A few hours later Tiffany, Lance and Parker were all sitting around the kitchen table in Tiffany’s house. Tiffany was sitting next to Parker and Lance was sitting across from them, watching them both.

“What’s going on?” Parker asked and Tiffany knew he was picking up on the tension that had been growing since they had left the restaurant. Erin had gone to visit some other friends in town and give them some privacy and Tiffany was trying desperately to think of how to tell her son about his father.

“Lance and I need to tell you something.” Tiffany replied. Parker had actually formed a slight bond with Lance already over lunch. At first he had been angry because Lance had scolded him at the soccer field but they had laughed and talked over lunch and Parker seemed to have forgiven him and accepted him as a friend. Tiffany just hoped he would accept him as a father.

“What?” Parker asked while shifting uncomfortably in his chair. He kept looking at the sunlight and blue skies outside and Tiffany knew that he was dying to go out and play.

“Do you remember what I told you about your daddy?” Tiffany asked and Parker nodded as his blue eyes shone proudly.

“My daddy is a singer and he plays a guitar and makes people happy.” he replied as if wanting Lance to know how cool his daddy was. Lance somehow forced a smile though his stomach was tied in knots.

“Yes and remember how I told you that one day your daddy would come back to us?” she asked. Parker nodded and sighed as he looked longingly out the window.

“Can I go play now?” he asked. Tiffany shook her head and tapped her short fingernails on the table.

“Not yet.” she said. “Your daddy has come back to town.” This got Parker’s attention and he looked at her with excitement.

“Where is he? Can I go see him?” he asked as he quite literally bounced up and down in his seat. Tiffany took a deep breath and pointed at Lance.

“He is right here, Parker. Lance is your daddy.” Parker’s eyes widened as he looked at Lance and Lance felt like he was being appraised like a cow at auction. He wondered what was going on inside the boys mind. Was he old enough to hate Lance for not being around or was he young enough that he wouldn’t have any of those doubts or hard feelings toward him?

“Can you really play the guitar?” Parker asked and Lance felt his tension melt away as he laughed.

“Yes I can.” he said. He looked over at Tiffany and saw the relief and happiness on her face as well.

“Hold on.” Parker said and he jumped up from the table and ran back to his room.

“That’s it? He’s not going to yell and get mad at me?” Lance asked with disbelief. Tiffany shrugged.

“Not today I guess. It doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen but right now he is just happy that you’re here. I’ve always made sure that I told him that his daddy loved him and would come back one day.”

“What if I hadn’t ever come back?” Lance asked. Tiffany pushed her hair behind her ear and looked down at her hands on the table.

“I would have been a liar but at least our son would have loved you.” she replied. Before Lance could reply to her honesty, Parker came running back into the kitchen with his guitar. It was a smaller acoustic guitar made for a child and he held it out to Lance.

“Can you play my guitar?” he asked. Lance took the guitar from him and nodded.

“Well let’s see.” he said. He strummed his fingers across the strings and Parker’s eyes lit up. Lance had never felt more proud than he felt in that moment. He strummed out a song that he had written and Parker watched him intently with a smile on his face.

Tiffany was overcome with emotion as she watched them. She had worked hard to make sure that Parker worshipped his father and by watching them both now it was clear that her work had paid off. Parker and Lance were looking at each other with love and pride and this made Tiffany happy. However watching Lance play that guitar filled her mind with memories of that summer they had spent together.

The two of them sitting on a blanket in the moonlight beside the pond. Frogs and crickets chirping all around them while the campfire crackled and Lance playing his guitar and singing her words of love. Suddenly Tiffany had to get away from the table. The tears forming in her eyes could not be stopped.

She rose from her chair and didn’t spare Lance or Parker another glance as she quickly went to the privacy of the hallway. She crossed her arms over her chest, pressed her forehead to the wall and sobbed silently as memories of the love they had shared and what could have been ripped her heart apart.

She didn’t know how long she stayed that way and she didn’t hear the footsteps walking up the hallway behind her, when a big hand was on her shoulder turning her around and two strong arms wrapped tight around her. She buried her face in his broad chest and breathed in the scent of his Stetson cologne. The smell of that cologne broke through her sadness for a moment and she was surprised that he still wore it. She had bought him his first bottle of the stuff seven years ago.

“Why are you crying Tiff?” Lance’s soothing voice washed over her and his warm breath caressed her hair. Tiffany sniffed and fought to keep her own arms from wrapping around his waist. She did not need to feel this comfortable in his embrace. After what she had done to him, the two of them had no future together. He would never want to be any more than friends with her.

“I’m just happy.” she said and this was half of the truth. She was truly happy that Lance and Parker finally had each other.

“I don’t think these are just happy tears.” Lance replied as he breathed in the scent of her coconut shampoo.

“I’m fine, I promise.” she said pulling out of his arms and drying her face with her hands. Lance raised his brow but said nothing. He knew that when a woman said she was fine, that meant she really wasn’t, but he also knew how stubborn Tiffany had always been and that trying to talk to her would be pointless.

“Parker is already outside getting his ball and glove from the garage. He wants me to play catch with him.” Lance said and Tiffany smiled at the child like excitement in his eyes.

“That’s great.” she said.

“You coming?” Lance asked. Tiffany shook her head. The less time she spent with Lance the better. Her heart and her body still wanted him too much.

“No I have some phone calls I need to make.” she lied. Lance wondered what those calls were on a Saturday afternoon but it wasn’t any of his business.

“Okay.” he said and though he wanted to stay and make sure she was okay he could hear Parker calling to him from outside. Lance had never thought much about being called daddy but the sound of Parker’s voice calling him daddy made his heart swell with more love then he thought was possible. Already, he knew he would die for that boy.

Tiffany found herself alone in the house and the quiet felt like a blanket weighing her down and trying to smother her. She had never thought about how Lance coming back would effect her. She had always thought about how great it would be for Parker but she had never imagined it would be this hard for her.

In her dreams however she had let her mind wander and explore the possibility of the three of them being a family. She knew that was only a dream though. Lance might be patient and understanding but he was only human and there was no way he would ever love her again… Not after she had stolen six years of his sons life away from him.

888

“So how did it go?” Erin asked that night after Lance had gone back to town and Parker was tucked into bed. Tiffany grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl, sitting between the two women on the couch and shrugged.

“It went good. Parker warmed up to him instantly and Lance seemed to fall into the ‘daddy’ role instantly. I’m sure eventually issues will come up but for now everything is great.” she said before stuffing the handful into her mouth. Erin rolled her eyes and threw a piece of popcorn at Tiffany’s head.

“I already knew that. What about you and Lance?” Tiffany looked down at the floral patterned couch and bit her lip.

“What about us?”

“Didn’t you talk about the two of you?” Erin asked though she could tell by the look on her best friends face that the answer was no.

“No we didn’t. He focused on Parker and that’s the way it should be. Lance and I have no future together other than when it comes to being parents to Parker.”

“Bullshit.” Erin spat. “You and Lance loved each other a lot seven years ago and from the sparks I could see shooting between both of you today, that hasn’t changed.”

“There is no way he still loves me.” Tiffany argued. “Before he found out about Parker I think he did love me but what kind of man would still love the woman who had kept his child a secret from him?”

“Lance.” Erin replied as she picked popcorn crumbs off of her shirt and stuck them in her mouth. Tiffany rolled her eyes and sagged back into the big cushions of the couch.

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” she said. “It makes me sad.”

“Okie dokie. What do you want to talk about?” Tiffany sighed and tried to think of something but her mind just kept going back to the way Lance’s arms had felt wrapped around her earlier today. The way his heartbeat had sounded beneath her ear and the way his dark blue eyes had looked deeply into hers.

“Actually I think I’m ready for bed.” Tiffany said standing up and setting the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. Erin nodded.

“Cool beans.” she replied. Tiffany started out of the room and Erin sighed. “Tiffany, everything is going to work out fine. Just have faith.” Tiffany gave a small smile and then walked back to her room.

As she slid beneath the covers and curled up to her pillow she thought about her faith. She had always had a strong faith in God no matter how hard her life had gotten. She was grateful to Him for bringing Lance back into Parker’s life and she would not be selfish enough to ask Him for anything more.

Chapter Nine

The next week passed slowly for Tiffany. She kept as much distance between herself and Lance as possible and since both Erin and Parker were around in the evenings when Lance came to visit, she hadn’t had much trouble.

But at night when she would curl up in her big bed alone she would cry silent tears into her pillow. She had not cried like this over Lance in years. Somehow missing him when he had been gone was easier then having him close enough to touch, yet being unable to touch him.

She was sitting in her kitchen alone Saturday after lunch when the telephone rang. She jumped up and answered it quickly.

“Hello?”

“Hey Tiff.” Lances voice replied. Tiffany felt that familiar quickening in her pulse and cursed herself.

“Hi Lance. Parker isn’t home today. He went to his friend Ben’s house for a sleepover.”

“That’s okay, I was actually wanting to talk to you. Is Erin still there?” he asked.

“No, she drove out to her parents house for the day.”

“Good. I’ll be there shortly.” Lance replied and then he hung up. Tiffany stared at the phone in her hand for several long minutes thinking about the conversation they had just had. He wanted to talk to her alone? She felt hope blossom inside of her. Maybe Erin was right and Lance still loved her despite the horrible mistake she had made six years ago.

She looked down at her gray lounge pants and stained up black t-shirt and knew she had to make herself more presentable. She ran back to her room to raid her closet only to discover that she couldn’t find a shirt that wasn’t either too big or stained with something. She had always worn baggy t-shirts and long sleeves, even as a teenager, but suddenly she wanted to look more feminine for Lance.

She saw Erin’s suitcase lying in the corner and smiled. She could always count on her best friend to come through for her.

Lance knocked on Tiffany’s door thirty minutes later and though he swore he should be too old for butterflies, they swarmed in his stomach. He loved her with a passion that had only gotten stronger in the six years they had been apart. The difference now though was that the love was more grown up and mature then it had been at nineteen.

He hated that they would never be together. It ate at his very soul that Tiffany would never love him back. How could she? He had left her alone to raise their son for six years.

He felt his breath catch in his throat when the door opened and he was sure his jaw hit the floor. Tiffany had always been a bit of tomboy. Ponytails, baseball caps, baggy shirts and jeans. She’d always worn sandals or sneakers with never a heel in sight but right now she looked different.

Not better, just different. Her hair was loose and hanging in waves down her back (he liked that), she was wearing make up and he didn’t like that because it hid her tiny freckles and he liked those. He was sure the shirt she was wearing must belong to Erin because it looked like the kind of thing she would wear. The red shirt was tight in the chest and waist but the long sleeves were loose and flowy. It was cut low in front and showed off Tiffany’s cleavage, which had filled out quite nicely in the years he’d been gone. Her jeans fit tight on her feminine hips and she had high heel sandals on her feet. She looked damn good but he couldn’t help thinking that he liked his Tiffany better… Of course he could get used to the low cut shirt.

Lance knew he should say something but the sight of her damn cleavage had his brain on sensory overload and he couldn’t seem to form words. He came to the quick conclusion that he had been too long without a woman. He had been six years without a woman as a matter of fact because there had been none since Tiffany.

“Are you okay?” Tiffany asked awkwardly as she smoothed out the sleeves of Erin’s shirt. Judging by the look on Lance’s face she had chosen her outfit well and she could feel her body heating up in response to his obvious attraction to her.

“Yeah. Yeah I’m fine.” Lance replied slowly as if coming out of a trance.

“Are you going to come in or stand on the step all day?” she asked with a nervous smile. Lance smiled as well and Tiffany cursed her knees of jello.

“It’s a pretty day. Why don’t we go for a walk?” Lance asked. He knew if he was in the house alone with her, there was no way he would be able to think or speak straight. He didn’t want to say or do the wrong thing with her and ruin the friendship they were building. Though he wanted more then friendship he wasn’t willing to risk losing her completely and that was surely what would happen if he admitted his feelings for her… After all, he knew there was no way she would feel the same about him.

“A walk?” Tiffany asked looking down at the high heeled sandals on her feet. Lance nodded, knowing that he was pathetic and weak for not wanting to be in the house alone with her but it was too late to take back the walk idea now.

“Yeah, it’s not too cold today and soon winter will be here and it’ll be too cold to be out.” he replied. Tiffany shrugged.

“Let me change my shoes.” she said and walked back into the house. Lance waited on the step for her to come back and soon they were walking in the afternoon sunlight down the gravel road she and Parker lived on.

“Don’t you ever worry about living way out here alone?” Lance asked looking around at the surrounding forests and mountains.

“No.” Tiffany replied breathing deep. “I love it out here.” Lance nodded and they walked in silence a while longer.

“The main reason I came by today was because I wanted to talk to you about Parker’s birth certificate and his name.” Lance said as he scooped some gravels up in his hand and began throwing them one by one into the woods as they walked. Tiffany felt a sting of disappointment. Of course this was about him and Parker, not about him and her. She had been foolish to think it was anything else.

“What about his birth certificate?” she asked as she picked a leaf off of a tree and began tearing it into pieces.

“Am I on it?”

“No. We weren’t married and you weren’t there to sign a paper accepting paternity so I had to leave it blank. That’s why he has my last name.” Lance nodded.

“If I make an appointment for this week to sign the papers can we get my name put on the birth certificate? I’d like him to have my name too but I want to leave that up to him.”

“That’s fine with me.” Tiffany replied quietly. She was happy that Parker was getting the father he had always wanted. But what about her? When was she going to get the man that she had always wanted? She looked over at him and saw that he looked thoughtful and his strong jaw was tense as he stared down at his feet.

“It’s colder then I thought it was.” Tiffany said as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. Lance quickly pulled off the flannel shirt he’d worn over his t-shirt today and put it over her shoulders.

“You’ll freeze.” she scolded.

“I’ll be fine.” he said with a grin. “Besides what kind of man would I be if I let the mother of my child freeze just because I wanted to go for a walk?”

“Not a very good one I guess.” she replied smiling at the good natured twinkle in his eyes.

“Let’s head back before you start chattering.” Lance said wrapping his arm tight around her shoulders and causing her stomach to flutter around inside of her.

“I don’t chatter.” she replied matter of factly as they turned around and headed back toward the house.

“Your lips are turning blue.” he countered. Tiffany ran her finger over her lips and Lance had the urge to replace her finger with his own.

“They are not.” she argued. “I can handle the cold just fine.”

“I haven’t ever seen you in the winter.” Lance replied and she could hear the regret in his voice. Or maybe she was just imagining regret because she wanted it to be there.

“What are you plans for this winter?” she asked cautiously. Lance opened the door since they had arrived back at the house and she walked in.

“I’m planning on staying here.” he replied as he walked in and shut the door and then he quickly added. “You know in town.” just so she wouldn’t think he meant in her house.

“Are you thirsty?” she asked as she pulled a water from the refrigerator for herself. He shook his head.

“Actually I was hoping maybe I could look at some pictures of Parker when he was younger.”

“Of course.” Tiffany replied scolding herself silently for not showing them to him sooner. “Just go sit on the couch and I’ll get them.” Lance went to the living room and sat down on the big floral couch. He looked around the room as he listened to Tiffany moving things around in her bedroom in her search for the photo albums.

The living room was decorated sparsely without very many frills or decorations. The furniture was simple but seemed to all be in good condition. Lance was happy to see that Tiffany had been able to provide Parker with a good home but he also felt guilt that he hadn’t helped out. He guessed that child support was something they needed to talk about.

“What are you thinking about so hard?” Tiffany asked as she walked into the living room and sat down beside him on the couch with three big photo albums on her lap.

“I’m wishing I could have helped you raise Parker… Not just the normal daddy stuff but financially. It must have been hard for you on your own.” Tiffany thought back to the first year of Parker’s life. Times had been hard then and she had made them harder with her pride and her stubborn streak when she had refused to accept any help from her parents.

“It was hard for a while but we made it.” she said, setting the photo albums on the table with a thud.

“I know you’ve been making it on your own so far but I just want you to know that anything you guys need, all you have to do is tell me. I want to….” He stopped talking when he saw the look on her face. It was a cross between irritation and amusement.

“Do you think we’re poor and struggling?” she asked while picking at the big sleeves of her shirt. Lance back peddled quickly.

“No it’s not that… It’s just.. .Well. I mean..” He looked around helplessly. He didn’t want to fight with her and he knew that if she felt he was insulting her it would cause a fight. Then she surprised him when she started laughing. Lance swore the room got brighter as her soft laughter filled the air.

“Calm down Lance.” she said laying her hand on his arm. “I’m not mad, just amused. What makes you think we’re poor?” Lance knew that by answering he was quite possibly digging his own grave but if he didn’t answer then he would be in just as much trouble.

“Well I just noticed that you drive that old truck and this house is nice but it’s small…” he stopped talking and waited for her to start yelling.

“I’m not poor Lance. Not even close. I have a brand new truck in the garage but I like my old one better. Besides I am almost always covered in grease so I’d just end up ruining the interior. The house is small because it’s just Parker and I and we don’t need a lot of space and I know there aren’t a whole lot of decorations but Parker is just now getting out of the rambunctious, breaking everything stage.”

“I didn’t mean to insult you.” Lance said as he gave her a sheepish look and picked up one of the photo albums. Tiffany shrugged.

“I’m not insulted. I think it’s safe to say that I probably have almost as much money as you do.” she replied. Lance’s eyes widened with disbelief.

“The garage…” Tiffany laughed and he stopped talking again.

“No. I just work at the garage to help my dad and give me something to do. I’ve always loved that place.” she replied. “If you remember, you weren’t the only one with dreams back when we were teenagers and I made mine come true too.”

“You published a book?” Lance asked proudly. Tiffany nodded.

“Ten of them actually. Six of them became bestsellers.” Lance smiled and took Tiffany by surprise when he wrapped her in a tight hug.

“That’s great! I always knew you could do it.” He breathed in the scent of her hair and suddenly realized he’d made a mistake by pulling her this close to him. He could feel the curve of her breasts pressed against his own chest. She fit against him perfectly just the way she always had.

He pulled away from her quickly and quickly opened the photo album, happy that it was in his lap and hiding his bodies reaction to holding her.

“But if you’ve published that many books then how come I haven’t ever seen them?” he asked with confusion as he looked back over at her. “For the last six years I have gone into every bookstore in the country looking for your name and I’ve never seen it.”

“You’ve checked for my books?” Tiffany asked surprised at how much this touched her. Lance nodded.

“Of course.” he replied. “You have a lot of talent.” Tiffany quickly grabbed another photo album and opened it just to keep her hands busy.

“Well I published under a different name.” she replied as her face colored with embarrassment. She hadn’t really thought when she had signed the name to her first manuscript and now she was scared to admit to him the name she had chosen.

“What name?” Lance asked as he wondered why her face was so red.

“I didn’t really think when I chose it…. Um.. I stole your last name and put my middle name with it.”

“Abigail Asher?” Lance asked with a grin. Tiffany blushed a deeper red and wished she could sink into the couch cushions and disappear.

“Yes.” she replied. “And why do you remember my middle name?” she asked hoping to turn the attention away from the fact that she had used his last name.

“I remember everything about you Tiffany.” Lance replied and their eyes locked together. Sparks flew and the very air seemed to crackle with electricity.

Lance decided that he had to kiss her. If she slapped him then he would deal with it but judging by the look in her green eyes, the way her lips were parted slightly and the way her small tongue darted across her lips leaving them shining and moist, he didn’t think that she would slap him.

Tiffany was sure that her body was going to melt into a puddle right there on the couch because there was no way it could feel this hot and not melt. As Lance leaned into her and she saw his blue eyes darken with passion she felt her heart speed up to an impossible rhythm.

Just before their lips met they heard the door open and they jumped apart.

“Honey, I’m home!” Erin called from the kitchen. “What is Lance doing here? Did Parker come home early….” her voice trailed off as she walked into the living room and saw Lance and Tiffany sitting on opposite ends of the couch with guilty looks on both their faces as if they were teenagers caught being naughty by their parents.

“Awkward.” Erin said as she sat her purse down by the wall and flipped her hair over her shoulder.

“We were just looking at pictures.” Tiffany said quickly as she held up the photo album in her hands. Erin knew better but she wasn’t going to embarrass her best friend by saying so. Erin knew she should leave but the urge to protect Tiffany was stronger. Until Erin knew that Lance was around to stay and that he was serious about being with Tiffany, she wasn’t going to let him get too close to her best friend. Tiffany’s heart couldn’t handle being left behind by him again.

“Cool beans. I want to look too.” she said and plopped herself down in between the two of them on the couch. She smiled and pretended not to notice the glares they both sent in her direction.

After about an hour of laughing and stories as they looked through the photo albums, Lance decided it was time to go. Erin obviously wasn’t going to leave and Lance knew she was doing her part to keep Tiffany safe from him and he didn’t blame her.

“You can stay for dinner.” Tiffany said as she walked him to the door. Lance shook his head.

“Naw.. You finally have a free night without Parker and Erin is here. You two have fun.” he said. Tiffany nodded and tried hard to hide her disappointment from him. Lance bent down and kissed her forehead leaving her stuttering and speechless.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asked.

“Nope. We’re spending tomorrow at her parents house. Of course I’m sure you could come. Steve would probably love to see you again.” Erin said as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the counter on the other side of the kitchen.

“No that’s okay.” Lance replied quickly as he remembered how Steve’s fist had felt when it had made contact with his face. “I’ll just see you and Parker Monday.” Tiffany still couldn’t seem to form words so she just nodded. Lance gave a nod in Erin’s direction and then he walked out. Tiffany waited until his truck was out of sight before shutting the door and turning to Erin who was smiling like a crazy fool.

“So, what exactly did I interrupt earlier and why are you wearing my shirt?”

Chapter Ten

Lance got out of the bed with a curse as the knocking on his door grew louder. Who would be bothering him at ten in the morning on a Sunday? He walked over to the door and looked through the peephole to see Erin standing there looking back at him. She gave a little wave and he shook his head as he opened the door.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. She walked into the room and flopped herself down in the hard floral arm chair next to the couch.

“Be nice to me, Lance.” she replied.

“How did you know what room I was in?”

“Bradley told me. I dated him in high school and he can’t resist it when I bat these big green eyes…. Plus the fifty dollars I stuffed in his palm might have helped loosen his tongue.” Lance made a mental note to have a talk with Bradley.

“So what brings you to my hotel room at ten in the morning? I thought you and Tiffany were spending the day at Gary and Laura’s house.”

“We are. I told her I had some errands to run first.” Erin replied as she smoothed her hands over her knee length black skirt.

“You hated me six years ago so what’s up with you hanging out with me and Tiffany yesterday and then showing up today?” Lance asked as he rubbed some sleep from his eyes and flopped down on the couch.

“I never hated you, I was just jealous because my best friend loved you so much.” she replied matter of factly. Lance shook his head and let out a long breath.

“Why are you here?” he asked again and even he could hear the impatience in his voice. He was still mad at her for interrupting his and Tiffany’s kiss the evening before. Erin laughed lightly.

“You have Tiffany fooled into thinking you’re some kind of patient saint but you don’t have a bit of patience with the rest of us.”

“The difference is that I love Tiffany.” he replied and then his cursed when he realized what he had just said. He definitely hadn’t wanted to say that to Erin before he said it to Tiffany. Erin just smiled knowingly.

“And that is why I am here. You see Tiffany still loves you very much and she wants you in her life as more than just Parker’s father. As a matter of fact having you around this last week has driven her crazy because she doesn’t think that there is any way you’ll ever love her back now that you know about Parker.”

“Is that what you wanted to tell me?” Lance asked refusing to let her see just how happy the news that Tiffany still loved him made him feel.

“Not all of it. I also want to say that if you hurt my best friend again, I will skin you alive… Or better yet my husband is a sniper in the marines and I will get him to kill you and make it look like an accident. I want to make sure that you are sticking around and that you aren’t just going to take off and leave her again with a broken heart.”

“I’m staying here.” Lance promised. “I would never leave my son.”

“And what about Tiffany?” Erin asked. Lance stood up and walked back over to the door. He opened it and signaled with his hand that he wanted her to leave.

“Goodbye Erin.” he said. Erin shrugged and stood up. She stopped in the doorway and pointed her finger at him.

“Don’t you hurt her.” she warned. Lance sighed and pointed out into the hallway.

“Goodbye Erin.” he repeated. Erin gave him one last hard look and then walked out.

888

Tiffany leaned against her truck, waiting for Parker’s class to come out of the doors of the school. The early October air was chilly and she buried her hands deeper into the pockets of her hoody sweatshirt.

She couldn’t seem to get Lance off her mind. She had seen that look in his eyes Saturday. The look that clearly told her that he loved her still. Hope had lodged itself firmly inside her heart. Maybe God had heard what was in her heart even though she had refused to pray for her own happiness. Maybe she was going to get the family she had been dreaming about having for the last six years.

“What are you thinking about so hard?” Lance’s voice came from beside her and made her jump with fright. She looked over at him and saw his blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

“You scared me.” she scolded. He shrugged and held his hands up.

“I wasn’t sneaking.” he promised. “You were just so caught up in your thoughts that you didn’t hear me.”

“I was just thinking about how funny life can turn out sometimes.” she said and then she shivered as a gust of cold autumn wind blew. Before she had time to realize he was going to, Lance had his arms wrapped tight around her and her back pulled against his chest. He rested his chin on her shoulder and his warm breath caressed her cheek and caused her entire body to tingle.

“Thought you said you can handle cold weather?” he teased. Tiffany looked around and saw the eyes of many of the mothers on them and she realized that they were starting to whisper excitedly to each other.

“I can… It’s just going to take my body a while to adjust after being hot all summer is all.” she replied as she snuggled deeper into his arms. She couldn’t help herself. Standing here with him made her feel like she was nineteen again and she just wanted to enjoy his warmth and strength.

“How long do we have before Parker gets out because I really want to talk to you about something.”

“About ten minutes or so,” Tiffany replied after looking at his watch.

“I would like to go out to dinner with you one night this week.” Lance said and Tiffany tried to keep herself from jumping up and down with happiness.

“I would like that.” she replied. She felt Lance smile against her hair.

“Can someone watch Parker tomorrow night?” he asked.

“Erin is staying until this weekend. She’ll watch him.”

“It feels good to hold you like this.” Lance said as he squeezed her tighter. Tiffany suddenly wondered how she could have been so cold a few moments ago when she was on fire now. “I’m sorry that we haven’t had a chance to talk much about us since I came back.”

“You’ve been focusing on Parker, that’s the way it should be.” Tiffany replied and she noticed that a group of women kept edging closer and closer to them while they whispered excitedly. She wondered what in the world they were up to.

“Speaking of Parker… I made that appointment to get the birth certificate changed Wednesday at ten.” he said. Tiffany nodded and pulled away from Lance as the three women walked up to them. Lance was irritated to have his conversation interrupted as he looked at the three ladies.

“Lance Asher?” The tallest of the three asked timidly. Lance sighed and nodded.

“Yes ma’am. I’m Lance Asher.” he replied knowing that he’d been recognized. He had known it was going to happen sooner or later. He was lucky it hadn’t happened as soon as he’d gotten to town.

“Oh my gosh! This is amazing. I’m a huge fan!” another of the women said. Lance went into ‘star dealing with fan’ mode and signed a few autographs before finally wrapping his arm around Tiffany’s shoulders and smiling apologetically.

“I hope you understand ladies, but I’m just here to pick my son up from school.” he said. The ladies understood they were being dismissed.

“Tiffany, this is Parker’s dad?” the first lady spoke up again. Tiffany nodded.

“Yes.” she replied. The ladies all threw a jealous look in her direction and then one more look of longing at Lance before walking back to their cars slowly.

“Guess I’ve been found out.” Lance said with a sigh.

“So what, is the paparazzi going to come after you now?” Tiffany asked and Lance chuckled.

“No. I’ve never had problems with paparazzi. I’m just a retired country singer after all… But there will be the occasional reporter, fan or photographer that’ll pop up now and then.” Before Tiffany could reply, kids began pouring from the school.

“Daddy!” Parker’s voice carried over the noise and Tiffany’s eyes quickly picked him out of the crowd. He was running toward them as fast as his legs could carry him. Lance wrapped him in a big hug once he got to them.

“Did you have a good day squirt?” Lance asked he released him. Parker nodded.

“Yes. I have homework though.” he added making a face of disgust. “Are you picking me up from school?” he asked. Lance nodded over to Tiffany who was standing there patiently, waiting for Parker to notice her.

“Your mommy was here first.” he said. Parker smiled up at Tiffany.

“Hi mommy.” he said. “Can daddy take me to the house today?” Tiffany nodded. She was just happy that Parker was asking today instead of demanding.

“Sure. You can ride with your daddy.”

888

Lance woke up the next morning with his stomach tied in knots. He had a date with Tiffany…. He could hardly believe it even though he had been there when she had said yes.

He looked at the clock and decided that he needed to call Thomas Blaine and let the man know where he was and that he had a kid. He didn’t want his manager to have to hear about it in a magazine or on the internet and this was the kind of news that was going to leak out soon, especially now that people were starting to recognize him.

He had done a lot yesterday before meeting Tiffany at the school. He had called the bank in new york and had most of his money wired to a bank here in town. He had found a piece of land not far from where Tiffany lived and was just waiting on the deal to go through with the real estate agent. He had already talked to an architect over the phone and had him drawing up plans and once those were done he was going to find a local contractor to help him build his house. He was hoping to have the house started by next week.

He grabbed his cell phone off the bedside table and used speed dial to call Thomas’s office.

“Hello Thomas Blaine’s office, may I help you?” Thomas’s longtime assistant Peggy answered.

“Hey Peggy. I need to talk with Tom if he’s not too busy.” Lance replied.

“Mr. Asher! He’ll be happy to hear from you. Hold on and I’ll put you through.” Lance waited for several long minutes and then Thomas’s voice came over the line.

“Where in the world are you? Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah Tom, I’m fine. I just wanted to let you know that I’ve found the place where I’m settling down. I’ve already bought me some land.”

“Where?’

“Hardan County, Kentucky.” Lance replied.

“Where?” Thomas asked again. Lance laughed.

“It’s a small town.”

“Thanks for letting me know, kid. I’ve been worried sick about you.”

“There is more you need to know actually. I want you to hear it from me instead of from some reporter.”

“What?” Thomas asked suspiciously.

“I have a son.” Lance replied and he could practically hear Thomas’s brain explode.

“A son?” he bellowed. “How did that happen?”

“Do you really need a sex ed lesson?” Lance asked with a chuckle but Thomas clearly was not in the mood for jokes.

“How old is he?” he asked.

“Six. I had a girlfriend before I came to Nashville and I left her to go after my dream… Turns out she was pregnant.” Thomas snorted.

“Yeah like I haven’t heard that one before. You gotta be careful Lance. You’re a rich guy and I wouldn’t put it past that woman to lie about you being the father just to get a piece of the pie.”

“Tiffany would never do that.” Lance replied calmly. He knew that Thomas was just trying to look out for him.

“Did you get a paternity test?” Thomas asked.

“I don’t need one. I trust Tiffany and besides the kid looks just like me.”

“Lance….” Thomas started but Lance cut him off.

“I just wanted to let you know Tom, I don’t need your advice or two cents on the situation.” he said and he hung up before Thomas could say anything else.

Thomas slammed his phone down and sat there fuming. He would be damned before he let some slut take advantage of Lance. Lance was too trusting for his own good. Thomas had seen many a man be taken advantage of by scheming women just out to make some money.

He paged Peggy and had her look up the number to a hospital in Hardan County, Kentucky. He would just take matters into his own hands if Lance wasn’t willing. He dialed the number once Peggy had brought it in to him and smiled when the phone was answered on the second ring.

“Hi, my name is Lance Asher and I need to look into getting a paternity test.”

Chapter Eleven

Tiffany walked into the house after work the next day and was greeted by Erin holding up two dresses.

“What in the world?” she asked.

“I brought these with me and you need to pick one.” Erin said matter of factly. Tiffany shook her head as she sat her purse down on the counter.

“Lance is taking me bowling, Erin. Why do I need a dress?”

“So you look really good when you roll all one thousand gutter balls you’re sure to roll.”

“I’ll try the black one on but that doesn’t mean I am wearing it.” Tiffany said since it looked like it had a bit more fabric than the red one. Erin handed her the black dress and then looked at the door.

“Where’s Parker?” she asked.

“He stayed after school to practice for the play they’re doing next weekend. I actually need you to go pick him up around six if you can.”

“Cool beans.” Erin said with a nod. “Now go get ready, you smell like a muffler.” Tiffany found herself giggling like a teenager as she started toward the bathroom. The phone rang as she passed through the living room and she grabbed it quickly off the side table.

“Hello?”

“Hi I need to speak with a Tiffany Fields.” a feminine voice replied. Tiffany thought about hanging up since it sounded like a sales person but she decided to be polite.

“This is her.” she said.

“Hi ma’am. My name is Rita Hanson and I work with the hospital. We got a phone call from a Lance Asher today requesting a paternity test done between himself and your son. I wanted to make sure the appointment time he scheduled is okay with you.” Tiffany felt her heart breaking apart in her chest. Why would Lance do this? He knew damn well that Parker was his son and even if he had had doubts in the beginning he had formed a bond with Parker over the last few weeks. It wasn’t fair to Parker to question his paternity now.

“When is the appointment?” she asked fighting to keep her voice calm.

“Tomorrow at nine in the morning. It won’t take any longer than ten minutes. All we have to do is swab your sons mouth.”

“Thank you.” Tiffany said and she hung up quickly. She threw the black dress down on the couch and went back to the kitchen.

“What are you doing? You have to get ready because Lance will be here in less than an hour.”

“I am not going anywhere with that son of a bitch.” Tiffany spat, her hurt quickly turning to anger as she slammed herself down in a chair at the table.

“What happened?” Erin asked sitting across from her.

“Apparently Lance is having doubts now and scheduled a paternity test for tomorrow.”

“But I thought he was going to sign the birth certificate and ask Parker about changing his name tomorrow.” Erin said with confusion.

“So did I.” Tiffany replied as she tapped the phone on the table. “How could he do this? If he wasn’t sure about being Parker’s dad then he shouldn’t have jumped into the role until after the paternity test. How am I supposed to explain this to Parker?”

“This doesn’t sound like something Lance would do.” Erin said in an effort to remain diplomatic.

“Well he did! The woman from the hospital said he scheduled the appointment. I don’t care how much I love the man, I will not let him hurt my son.”

“Why don’t we wait and give him a chance to explain himself?” Erin asked gently. Erin would kill Lance herself if he was really putting Tiffany through this but for some reason she knew there had to be more to the story. Lance had seemed sure that Parker was his son and there had to be an explanation for the sudden doubts.

888

Lance wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans and cursed at the way his heart was hammering in his chest. He was a twenty six year old man but right now he felt like a nervous teenager as he walked up to Tiffany’s door. He knocked and then waited for someone to answer.

He raised his brow when he heard angry whispers coming from the other side of the door and knew there was an argument going on between Tiffany and Erin. Lance was wondering if he should knock again when the door opened and Erin was looking at him with a tight smile.

“Come on in.” she said in a tense voice. Lance stepped into the kitchen and saw Tiffany sitting at the table with a tear stained face and anger in her green eyes.

“What’s wrong?” he asked starting toward her. He stopped suddenly and ducked when the telephone she had been holding in her hand passed dangerously close to his head, before bouncing off the wall and crashing to the floor.

“How dare you!” Tiffany demanded angrily as she rose from her chair and pointed an angry finger at him. Lance took a step back and held his hands up.

“How dare I what? And why did you throw the phone at me?” he asked. He knew how bad her temper was and right now she was clearly very angry.

“I thought you were a singer, I never realized you were such a good actor! All this time pretending to believe that Parker was your son when really you didn’t believe me from the beginning. You really had me fooled, Lance. You even had me starting to believe the three of us were going to be a family!”

“We can be a family, Tiffany, I love you.” Lance said as his brain tried to wrap around everything she was saying. “And I know Parker is my son why are you saying this stuff?” Tiffany’s mouth quit working momentarily as her brain registered the fact that he had just said he loved her and wanted the three of them to be a family.

He was more cruel than she would have ever guessed. She had always thought he was one of the most kind and gentle men she had ever meant but now she was seeing the real him. He was a liar and a selfish jerk.

“Stop saying what you think I want to hear!” Tiffany said and Lance saw her face flame red as she stomped her foot and put her hands on her hips.

“I don’t understand what you’re mad about,” Lance said as he looked at her and Erin helplessly and wished one of them would explain.

“You don’t understand why I am mad?” Tiffany demanded. “How about I explain it to you.”

“Please do.” Lance said, keeping his voice calm and quiet in hopes that that would soothe her anger.

“All this time you’ve been playing daddy and then you go behind my back and schedule a paternity test at the hospital? What do you think I am, some gold digging slut who is lying about you having a son just so I can get my hands on your money? I don’t need your damn money, I have plenty of my own! How dare you make my son love you and then pull something like this!”

“I didn’t schedule a paternity test, Tiffany. I know Parker is mine.” Lance said as a nagging suspicion in the back of his mind told him exactly who had caused all this trouble.

“Well the hospital called me, Lance, and they said that Lance Asher scheduled a paternity test for tomorrow morning.” Tiffany replied feeling doubt creep into her at the helpless look on his face.

“It wasn’t me, Tiff. I wouldn’t do that to you or to Parker. You should know me good enough to know that I wouldn’t do that.”

“I know what I heard.” Tiffany replied as her anger deflated and tears filled her eyes. “Now leave.”

“Tiff please….” Lance started but Erin opened the door and motioned for him to leave.

“I think you should go for now. She’s not in the mood to talk anymore.” she said as Tiffany sat back down at the table and buried her face in her hands. Lance felt his heart break as he watched her shoulders heave up and down and he knew she was crying.

“Tiffany, I’m going to fix this. I didn’t call that hospital but I know who did. I love you. I have loved you since I was nineteen and I love that boy and I know he’s mine. Just forget about the appointment at the hospital because I don’t need some damn nerd in a lab coat to tell me that Parker is my son.” When Tiffany didn’t look up or acknowledge that he had spoken he felt his heart break. He wanted desperately to walk across this room, take her into his arms and kiss her senseless until she knew without a doubt how much he loved her.

“Just go, Lance. Give her some space.” Erin said gently.

“I didn’t do this. It was my manager. I’d be willing to bet my life on it.” Lance replied angrily. Erin nodded.

“I believe you and Tiffany will too. She’s just hurt right now.” Lance nodded. He spared one more glance at Tiffany and then walked out the door. As he fired his truck to life and headed down the road he felt his anger growing. Damn Thomas Blaine for sticking his big red nose where it didn’t belong.

He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Thomas’s office. When Peggy answered, Lance didn’t even try to be friendly.

“Where the hell is Thomas?” he demanded. Peggy stuttered several times before she finally found her voice again.

“He is out of the office for a couple days, Mr. Asher. I believe he is coming your way.”

“Thanks Peggy.” Lance said and hung up the phone. Lance was growing angrier by the second as he pulled up to the hotel and saw the reporter sitting outside.

“Lance Asher!” the short, nerdy man said as Lance got out of his truck.

“I’m not in the mood right now.” Lance replied and the man seemed taken aback for a moment. Lance had always been friendly with reporters and worked hard to maintain a friendly image. Right now however he was dying to break something and the mans little voice recorder was fixing to get shattered on the sidewalk if he didn’t get it out of his face.

“Please just give me an interview. I’m with Country US magazine.” Lance was about to tell the man to go to hell when he realized that this would be the perfect time to let the world know about his son. He let out a long breath and nodded.

“Come on up to my room and I’ll give you an exclusive. There is some news that I would like the world to know.”

Chapter Twelve

Tiffany dropped Parker off at school and then somehow managed to drag herself into the garage. She had spent the night in her bed crying into her pillow. She was foolish to think that Lance really loved her, especially since he had gone behind her back to question Parker’s paternity, but her heart just kept holding onto those words.

’ I love you Tiffany. I’ve loved you since I was nineteen’. Erin had tried to tell her that she thought Lance was telling the truth about his manager and Tiffany wanted to believe it too but what if he was lying and had made up the manager story just to cover himself?

It really didn’t sound like something Lance would do. He had always been honest and straightforward and he truly did seem to love Parker. He and Parker had a bond that anyone could see and Tiffany’s mind just couldn’t make her heart believe that Lance would go behind her back and question whether or not he was Parker’s father.

She yanked her coveralls on and then rubbed her hands roughly over her face as she let out a frustrated growl. She prayed to God then that He would show her the truth and guide her down the right path. Should she follow her heart and believe Lance, or follow her mind and tell him to get lost? She just didn’t know.

She walked out of the bathroom and grabbed her toolbox, slamming it on the ground in front of the car she was supposed to change the oil in. Steve came out from under the van next to her and looked at her questioningly.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Nothing.” she said quickly as she pulled out the tools she would need.

“Don’t lie to us.” Gary said walking out of his office. “It’s obvious that something is wrong with you.”

“It’s nothing that you two need to worry about.” Tiffany replied. Gary shook his head at her stubbornness.

“You never know my baby girl. Maybe we can help.” Tiffany let out a long breath and nodded. After all, hadn’t she just prayed to God for guidance? Maybe her dad and brother could guide her in the right direction.

She told them the story about Lance’s actions with her and Parker since coming to town, then about the phone call from the hospital and Lance’s reaction when she had confronted him. When she got to the end she realized that telling Steve had probably been a mistake. He was rolling up the sleeves of his coveralls and muttering angrily under his breath.

“What are you doing?” Tiffany asked him as he started for the door with a large wrench in his hand.

“I’m going to kill him. I vowed I’d kill the man if he hurt my sister again.” he replied. Gary shook his head and grabbed the wrench from Steve. “You’re not going to kill anybody.” he said to his oldest child and then he turned his attention to Tiffany. “Baby girl, I know it’s easy for you to doubt Lance since you never thought he would come back and it all seems surreal to you but I think I’m on his side with this one. I don’t think he called that hospital behind your back. If he says it was his manager then I’m inclined to believe him.” Tiffany nodded and leaned against the car.

“Thank you, daddy. I am too. I was just so angry and hurt yesterday that I wasn’t willing to listen. I guess I owe him an apology.” she said. Steve snorted.

“Apology! Dammit, I say we owe him a punch and I’ll be more than happy to deliver it!” he grumbled as he walked back over to the van. Tiffany grabbed his arm and then surprised him when she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

“I love you, Steve. You always try to look out for me, even though sometimes your methods aren’t quite right… or legal.” she added. Steve patted her back.

“You’re my little sister. When someone messes with you they have to answer to me.” he replied. Tiffany kissed his greasy, stubble covered cheek and then pulled away.

“Well let’s get back to work.” she said. She wanted to talk to Lance but she would wait until later. He was supposed to come pick her up today to go sign the birth certificate. If he showed up, she would apologize then.

888

Thomas Blaine stood outside the garage and shook his head. He had asked around town about this Tiffany Fields and was told that she worked here with her father and brother. He had known she would be some poor woman looking for a meal ticket… But he wasn’t about to let her use his friend to get it. He smoothed out his suit jacket over his large belly and walked inside.

“Can I help you?” A man in blue coveralls asked. Thomas looked at the man. He was probably around thirty with sandy blond hair and green eyes. He was covered in about a weeks worth of dirt and grease.

“I am looking for Tiffany Fields.” Thomas replied and then he noticed an older man standing in a doorway to his right.

“What do you want with my sister?” The first man asked and Thomas saw his jaw tense and his fists clench. Thomas swallowed hard and shook his head, making his double chins quiver.

“I need to speak to her.” he replied keeping his voice even. He would not let this grease monkey hick scare him away from what needed to be done.

“Steve, leave him alone.” a feminine voice came from underneath the car in front of Thomas and then suddenly a long slender body slid out from beneath it. She stood up and wiped her greasy hands on her coveralls as she looked at him.

Thomas saw why Lance was so taken with the woman. She was very pretty despite the grease marks on her cheek. She had her long blond hair pulled back, big green eyes and light freckles along her tiny nose and cheekbones. Though she was wearing dirty blue coveralls, he could tell she had a very womanly build. The kind of body that many men could be tricked into loving.

“Tiffany?” he asked. Tiffany forced a friendly smile onto her face as she looked at the man. He didn’t look to be quite six feet tall and he was one of the biggest men she had ever seen. His belly was pressing against the straining buttons of his suit jacket. His gray hair was thinning and combed over on top and his face was a deep shade of red and Tiffany wondered if he was angry or just had high blood pressure.

“Yes. Do I know you?” she asked. He shook his head.

“I am a friend of Lance Asher’s and I’ve come to tell you to end this little charade and leave the man alone.” Tiffany’s eyes widened with surprise and she saw Steve stiffen out of the corner of her eye.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.” she replied.

“My name is Thomas Blaine. I’m Lance’s manager. He called me the other day and told me that he has a son…. Just like that.” Thomas added with a snap. “Right out of the blue the man has a son. A six year old son that he never knew about. This isn’t my first rodeo darling. I know what woman like you are after and I can assure you that you won’t get a single dime of his money unless you let that boy have a paternity test. There is only one reason to cancel it the way you did and that is because you know the boy is not Lance’s.”

“Mr. Blaine, I can assure you that Parker is Lance’s son. I did not cancel the appointment, Lance did. I can also promise you that I am not after Lance’s money. I don’t need his money I have my own.” Tiffany replied and while she was angry with this man for coming in here and saying these things she was also thanking God for letting the truth be known.

“Yes I can tell you must be a wealthy woman, covered in grease and working as a regular old grease monkey. Leave Lance alone. He is a good man and doesn’t deserve to be taken advantage of by a gold digging little slut like you.” Thomas knew his anger was not completely justified but he couldn’t help it. He would not let this woman hurt Lance. Tiffany gasped with shock at his words. She saw both Steve and her father start toward the man with their violent intentions clear on both of their faces but they stopped when Lance’s angry voice filled the garage.

“Thomas!” he yelled. Thomas swallowed hard and turned to face Lance who was standing behind him and seething with rage.

“I’m just looking out for you, Lance…” Whatever else Thomas was going to say was lost when Lance’s fist connected squarely with his jaw and the big man went down hard on the oil stained concrete of the garage floor.

“Lance, what did you do?” Tiffany demanded with shock as she stared at him. He had always seemed so calm and patient. Right now he looked pissed and angry.

“He did what I was about to do.” Steve said cracking his knuckles. Tiffany rolled her eyes at the amount of testosterone in the garage and walked over to Lance.

“Why did you do that? You could go to jail if he wakes up and presses charges.”

“He’s not going to press charges. He knows he deserved it… Or at least he will when he regains consciousness.” Lance replied and Tiffany couldn’t stop the laugh that came out of her and she heard Steve and her father laugh as well.

“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you yesterday.” Tiffany said laying her hand on his arm. Lance looked at Steve as if judging whether or not it was safe and then he pressed a kiss to her blond hair.

“I wouldn’t have listened to me either.” he said and it dawned on Tiffany that he suddenly seemed the picture of calm and patience again. She realized for the first time that he was only that calm, patient and understanding with her and Parker and not with everyone else.

“You amaze me sometimes.” Tiffany said honestly. “You forgive me for things that I have trouble forgiving myself for.” Before Lance could reply Steve spoke up.

“That’s because he knows what an incredible woman you are.” he said. “And not to interrupt y’alls touching moment but I think the fat guy is waking up.” Lance looked down at Thomas and saw that he was indeed coming too.

“I’ll be right back.” Lance said to Tiffany as he drug a groaning Thomas to his feet and pulled him out into the sunlight outside.

“You hit me.” Thomas said with disbelief as he raised his hand to his mouth and checked for blood.

“Yes I did. You called Tiffany a gold digging slut. Now Thomas I told you to keep your nose out of this. You called that hospital and pretended to be me and you caused an awful lot of trouble between me and my family.”

“Family! Are you telling me that you want to have a family with that woman and her son?” Thomas demanded. Lance growled under his breath and struggled for patience.

“Yes. I want to have a family with Tiffany and our son. I love her, Thomas, so you need to back off. I believe that Parker is mine and that’s all that matters. I even did an interview with Country US magazine and it will be out next week.”

“You did what?” Thomas demanded and for a moment Lance feared he’d have a heart attack.

“You heard me, Tom. Now you need to back off.” Lance replied.

“I was just trying to look out for you, Lance.” Thomas said realizing now that nothing he said was going to make Lance realize the foolishness in taking Tiffany’s word and not seeking proof. “Would it really hurt to have proof that he’s yours?”

“I feel it right here that he’s mine.” Lance said putting his hand on his chest. “That’s all the proof I need.”

“Alright… Alright kid, I’ll back off. I was just trying to help.”

“When I want your help, Thomas, I’ll ask for it. If you overstep your boundaries again, I will fire you.” Lance said and his tone of voice left no room for argument.

“Fine. I’ll be going.” Thomas said and he walked away. Lance watched him until he rounded a corner and walked out of sight. He made a mental note to leave a message with Peggy that he no longer needed a manger. The asshole might have been trying to help but Lance didn’t need people in his life that were going to go behind his back and cause trouble.

When Lance walked back in the garage he found Tiffany standing there in her jeans and a sweatshirt. She had scrubbed the grease from her face and hands and had her purse over her shoulder.

“Come on beautiful.” Lance said holding out his arm for her. “Let’s go make all this father/son stuff official.”

“I’ll be damned.” Steve said after Lance and Tiffany had left. “I guess I was wrong about him.” Gary nodded and patted his son on the back before walking back toward his office.

“You oughta be used to that by now.” he said with a chuckle. Steve nodded as he rubbed the back of his neck and turned to the van he was working on.

“Yeah, I’m getting pretty damn used to it.”

Chapter Thirteen

“He did what?” Erin asked as the two women sat on the porch swing and watched Parker and Lance toss a ball back and forth in the evening light.

“He punched him right in the face. Then he drug him outside and sent him on his way.” Tiffany replied as she picked some grease out from under her fingernail.

“You really need a manicure.” Erin said wrinkling her nose. “And I never pictured Lance as the violent type but I guess hearing someone call his woman a gold digging slut would turn any guy into a cave man.”

“It was kind of sexy really. And it was nice to finally see him lose his cool.” Tiffany added with a grin. “Lance did sign the paper today so I’ll be getting Parker’s new birth certificate in the mail soon with Lance as the father.”

“That’s great.” Erin replied as she started covering her long fingernails with bright red polish. “Have you all talked to Parker about changing his last name?” Tiffany shook her head.

“No, but I think Lance is going to talk to him tonight.”

“Hey, squirt, I wanted to ask you something.” Lance said as he tossed the ball to Parker who caught it. The boy was actually pretty good at playing catch and Lance wondered if he’d be good at sports like he had been.

“What daddy?” Parker asked as he tossed the ball back.

“Your name is Parker Fields but my last name is Asher. How would you like to be Parker Asher?”

“Can I still go to school? And be in the play? And have the same friends? And wear….” Lance chuckled as he tossed the ball back.

“Yes, you can still do all of the same things. You would still be you, the only difference would be you’d have the same last name as your daddy.” Parker seemed to think hard for a while as they tossed the ball back and forth.

“I’ll have to ask mommy.” he said finally.

“Your mommy already said it was okay but you can ask her if you want to.” Lance replied. Parker nodded and smiled happily.

“Okay. I’m Parker Asher now.” he said with excitement. Lance felt his heart fill with pride.

“Alright Mr. Asher, lets go in out of this cold and tell your mommy.” Lance and Parker walked into the kitchen where Tiffany and Erin had already taken refuge from the cold wind outside.

“Guess what mommy?” Parker said bouncing up and down as he stood in front of Tiffany.

“What?” Tiffany asked with a smile.

“My name is Parker Asher now!” he replied sticking his tiny chest out proudly. Lance shrugged as Tiffany looked up at him.

“It will be just as soon as we get to the social security office.” he amended. Parker nodded.

“Just as soon as we get to the social curity office.” he agreed. Lance laughed and got down on his knee.

“Give me a hug. I gotta get going, it’s almost time for you to go to bed.” Parker hugged him tight.

“Oh daddy I almost forgot!” he said loudly. Lance rubbed his ear that was now ringing and pulled away from Parker so he could look at his face.

“What did you almost forget?” he asked.

“Tomorrow everybody’s daddy is coming into our class to talk about their jobs. Can you come? And can you bring your guitar because I told Ben that you can play the guitar.” Lance nodded happily.

“Sure I’ll come and I’ll bring my guitar.” Lance replied and he was walking toward the door when Parker spoke up again.

“I just thought of something.” he said and all three adults turned to look at him. “If my last name is Asher now then is mommies last name Asher? She can’t have a different last name than me.” Erin started whistling a tune and quickly walked out of the kitchen to the living room. Lance shifted his feet awkwardly while Tiffany flushed red and let out a nervous laugh.

“You’ll have your daddies last name, my boy. Mommy will still have the same name I’ve always had.”

“But everybody elses mommy and daddy have the same last name.” Parker said with confusion as his six year old brain tried to wrap around the concept of parents and names.

“Your mommy and daddy aren’t married, Parker. That’s why we have different names.” Tiffany said wishing that she could think of something to take the boys mind off of her and Lance’s relationship.

“Why aren’t you married? Don’t you love each other?” Parker asked wrinkling his brow and raising his hands as he shrugged. Tiffany looked at Lance helplessly but he was looking at her with an odd expression on his face that she couldn’t read.

“What time does your daddy have to come to the school tomorrow?” Tiffany asked hoping to change the subject.

“Ten o’clock.” Parker said and she could tell he was proud that he remembered.

“I’ll be there, squirt.” Lance said and then his gaze locked with Tiffany’s again.

“We never did get to go on that date.” he said. She bit her lip and shook her head.

“No we didn’t.” she agreed.

“Tomorrow night okay with you?”

“Tomorrow night is fantastic!” Erin shouted from the living room. Tiffany saw Lance throw a glare in the direction of the living room and she smiled.

“She means well.” she said. “And tomorrow is fine.”

“See you tomorrow then.” Lance said. He gave Parker’s hair one last tousle and then walked out.

---

Lance let out a deep breath to fight his nerves as he stood outside Parker’s classroom. He kept telling himself he had no reason to be nervous but for some reason this performance seemed even more important than the time he had been asked to sing the national anthem at the super bowl. He didn’t want to do anything to let Parker down.

He adjusted his guitar on his back and then walked into the room. He stood with the other fathers against the back wall and Parker’s blue eyes widened when they saw him.

“That’s my daddy!” he said excitedly to his friends.

“Eyes up front, Parker.” his teacher Mrs. Gilbert called. She was trying to finish the spelling lesson but quickly realizing that was not going to happen with all of the fathers here already. The children just would not focus on her.

“Well why don’t we get started?” she said. “Ashley, your daddy is first.” Lance stood there feeling his nerves get worse as all the fathers went before him. There were carpenters, mechanics, plumbers, lawyers and even a police officer and a military man.

“Ben, is your father coming?” Mrs. Gilbert asked the red haired boy that was sitting next to Parker. Ben blushed deep crimson and shook his head.

“No, my mommy is too sick so my daddy couldn’t come.” he said. Mrs. Gilbert suddenly looked embarrassed and nodded.

“Of course dear. I hope your mommy feels better soon.” she said fussing with her bright purple blouse. “Parker, your daddy is next then.” She said. Lance stood up from the wall. He was the last father left in the room since the others had left after their speeches.

“Hi kids, my name is Lance Asher and I’m Parker’s dad.” Lance said as he shifted his feet and tugged at the bottom of his flannel shirt. He heard Mrs. Gilbert gasp and realized that the chubby middle aged woman must have finally recognized him.

“Oh my! It’s an honor to have you here.” she said. Lance gave her an embarrassed grin… He had never been told that his presence was an ‘honor’ before.

“I play music for a living. I play the guitar and sing songs.” he said moving his guitar off of his back and holding it in his arms. “This is my favorite guitar, I’ve had it since I was in school…” Lance wasn’t sure what else to say and he looked over at Mrs. Gilbert for help. She was staring at him wide eyed and was fanning herself with a piece of paper.

“Play us a song.” she said breathlessly. Lance looked at Parker who was nodded in agreement.

“Play us a song, daddy!” he said excitedly. Parker clapped happily and looked more proud than any kid had ever looked before as Lance started strumming a song and singing along.

Chapter Fourteen

“Mommy, you should have seen him! It was great! He played a song and everything.” Parker exclaimed while Tiffany put in her diamond stud earrings. She smiled down at her son.

“I’m glad you had such a good time.” she said. She looked back in the mirror and smoothed out her long blond hair. She gave another tug to the low neckline of the blue satin shirt she had borrowed from Erin and sighed.

“Tiffany, hurry up! Your date is boring me!” Erin called from the kitchen where she was currently sitting at the table with Lance. Tiffany rolled her eyes, gave herself one more once over and then walked out of the bathroom.

“You better be good for your aunt Erin and make sure you finish your homework.” she told Parker as he followed on her heels.

“I will.” he said with an exasperated sigh. Lance stood up when Tiffany walked in and he looked her up and down before he could stop himself. Her long blond hair was loose and hanging around her shoulders and down her back in golden waves. She was wearing make-up but it was light and he smiled when he noticed that he could still see her light freckles.

The top, she had obviously borrowed from Erin and he made a mental note to thank the annoying red head tomorrow, when he saw that the blue satin material clung to her chest and tiny waist and showed off the cleavage that seemed to turn his brain to mush. Her jeans fit snug on the curve of her hips and her long legs and the high heeled shoes she wore made her three inches taller than her normal five feet five inches.

“You look beautiful.” he said and then cleared his throat when he heard how husky his voice sounded. Tiffany blushed and looked down at her bright red toenails that were sticking out of her peep toed heels.

“Thanks.” she said. “You look pretty good yourself.” She added as she looked him up and down. He was wearing a black button down shirt that hugged his broad shoulders and muscular arms. His dark jeans looked new and hugged his long legs and she smiled when she realized that he had polished his boots. His face was clean shaven and his black hair was messy as always, though tonight it looked as if he had run his hands through it at least one hundred times and she wondered if maybe he was nervous.

“Are you ready?” he asked as he pulled her coat off the back of the chair and helped her slip it on.

“Lead the way.” she replied as she slipped her arm through his and he led her out the door.

“Where are we going?” Tiffany asked him once they were in the truck and she realized that he was driving them further out of town instead of into town.

“There’s something I want to show you.” Lance replied. Tiffany rolled her eyes at his vagueness and was about to ask him to be more specific when she noticed that her picture was still taped to his dashboard and there was a picture of Parker next to it. Lance followed her gaze and smiled.

“Now I have my whole world with me no matter where I go.” he said. Tiffany didn’t trust herself to speak so she just smiled and nodded and looked back out the window. Sure the line was corny but Tiffany’s heart didn’t care as it filled with love.

Then her heart sped up and nerves attacked her stomach when Lance turned down the pond road.

“Lance…?” Lance just smiled and shook his head.

“Have patience.” he said. Tiffany glared at him and he laughed. He knew she didn’t have a bit of patience. Memories flooded Tiffany’s mind as the still water of the pond came into view. She looked around at the long grasses and the surrounding mountains and felt a pang of longing in her heart as she remembered all that had happened here.

Fiery kisses, passionate touches and the loss of her innocence all came back to her as she looked at the peaceful pond and the serene mountain clearing.

“What are we doing here?” she asked nervously as he put the truck in park.

“I bought it.” Lance replied looking out the windshield. Tiffany raised her brow.

“Bought what?” she asked.

“The pond and about twenty acres of land with it.” he replied. He looked over at Tiffany and saw that she was looking at him as if he had grown a second head. He laughed.

“Don’t be so surprised.” he said. “I have an architect drawing up plans for a house and he’s supposed to be faxing them to me tomorrow and I already have a contractor lined up to do the construction.”

“So you’re really sticking around?” Tiffany asked as hope again blossomed in her chest. Lance laid a gentle hand on her cheek.

“Of course I am. I couldn’t leave you and Parker again if I tried.” Tiffany smiled but then she frowned.

“What about Georgia? Don’t you miss your mom?” she asked. A sad look came over Lance’s face and he turned his gaze back out the windshield as he draped his hands over the steering wheel.

“There’s nothing for me in Georgia.” he replied quietly. “My mom passed away about a year after I left here. I was so caught up in touring and gigs and making my way that I didn’t even know about it until after the funeral.” Tiffany felt her own heart hurt at the amount of pain in his voice.

“I’m sorry.” she said as she laid her hand on his cheek and wished there was something else she could say or do to erase the pain.

Lance turned and their eyes locked together. Before Tiffany realized what he was going to do he laid his hand on her cheek, tilted her head up and covered her mouth with his own.

Sparks flew as their mouths met and flames of passion filled them both. Tiffany moaned and parted her lips to his hungry advances. The feel of his tongue against her own was still familiar after all these years. Her buried his hand in her hair and pulled her face closer as his kiss became even more hungry and passionate.

Neither knew how long they stayed this way. Touching, tasting and remembering what they had once shared as the cold October wind blew against the truck. When they finally pulled apart Tiffany looked at the fogged up windows and couldn’t help but smile.

“Just like old times.” she said and he smiled when he heard the breathlessness and passion in her voice. He shook his head.

“No, it’s not like old times, Tiffany. You have no idea how lonely I have been all these years without you. My lips missed you.” he added. Tiffany couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s quite a line, Mr. Asher.” she said.

“Line?” he asked. She nodded and then began to wipe the window clean with her hand.

“I’m sure your lips have not been that lonely without me. Not when every woman in the world would give their left leg to keep them company.” Lance bit back a laugh at the jealousy he could hear in her voice.

“Are you asking me how many women have kept my lips company?” he asked with a raised brow. Tiffany didn’t look at him and she shook her head forcefully.

“No. That’s none of my business.” she said quickly. She didn’t really want to know just how many women had had Lance while they’d been apart.

“Every part of me has been lonely for seven long years Tiffany. My lips, my body and my heart. None of them were willing to settle on anything less than you.” Tiffany felt tears fill her eyes as her heart constricted in her chest at his words. She knew that he could be lying and simply telling her what she wanted to hear but she chose to believe that just maybe he was telling the truth and that he had loved her so much that no other woman would do.

“I missed you.” she said and she had. She had missed the way his blue eyes lit up when they saw her. She had missed the sweet, sometimes corny, things that he said to her. She had missed his strong hands on her cheeks and his warm arms holding her tight.

“I missed you too.” Lance said before pressing a feather light kiss to her lips and causing her heart to jump. Then Tiffany laughed when she heard his stomach growl.

“Hungry?” she asked. He grinned sheepishly.

“A little.” he replied. He didn’t tell her that he had been so nervous about taking her out tonight that he hadn’t been able to eat all day.

“Well let’s go get some food then. You’re supposed to be taking me out Mr. country music star and showing me a good time.”

“Oh, I can show you a good time.” Lance replied raising his eyebrows suggestively. Tiffany slapped his arm playfully and shook her head.

“Food Lance. I want food.” she said. He laughed and took her hand in his, lacing his fingers through hers.

“Let’s go then.” he said and he turned the truck around and headed for town.

They were just walking up to the doors of the quiet, country restaurant when the door opened and a red haired man with big glasses ran into Tiffany. Tiffany barely managed to grab the three Styrofoam containers he’d been carrying before they hit the ground.

“I’m sorry, Scott! I didn’t see you coming!” she said as she handed him his boxes back. Scott pushed his glasses up on his face and smiled.

“No, it was my fault, Tiffany. I nearly ran you over.” he said. Tiffany realized that Scott and Lance had never met each other and so she introduced them.

“Lance, this is Scott, he’s Ben’s dad. Scott, this is Lance, Parkers dad.” The two men nodded in greeting and shook hands.

“Where are Ben and Grace at tonight?” Tiffany asked. A sad look came over Bens face as he adjusted the boxes in his arms.

“Grace hasn’t been doing very good here lately. Ben is at home reading to her because it makes her smile.”

“I’m so sorry.” Tiffany said as tears filled her eyes. “I wish there was something I could do.”

“I appreciate you offering to pay for her treatment, Tiffany. Grace just has such a kind heart and she doesn’t want to feel like she is taking advantage of you.”

“I’ll keep praying for you and your family, Scott. The Lord can work miracles you know.” Tiffany said while thinking about the way the Lord had given Parker his father back and given her the love of her life back.

“I pray everyday that the money will come in a way that she will be able to accept. But what will be will be and we just have to accept it.” he said blinking tears out of his brown eyes. “Well I hate to rush off but Grace has not had much of an appetite lately and tonight she was actually craving Gena’s pasta salad so I bought her three boxes full.” he said nodding down at the boxes in his hands.

“Take care of yourself, Scott.” Tiffany said and he bid them both goodbye and walked away.

Lance noticed the sad mood that seemed to have enveloped Tiffany as they were seated at a tiny booth in a quiet corner of the restaurant.

“Want to tell me about it?” Lance asked her gently. Tiffany forced a smile and reached across the booth to grab his hand.

“I’m sorry. We’re supposed to be enjoying ourselves.”

“I’m with you so I’m enjoying myself.” Lance replied matter of factly. “And I hope you know you can talk to me about anything.” Tiffany sighed.

“Ben’s mom has cancer. The doctors say that unless she gets a new treatment she won’t make it. The only thing is that Scott got laid off from the mill and lost his insurance and they have no way to pay for the treatment. I offered to pay but she won’t take it.”

“I’m sorry.” Lance said. He knew how much Tiffany had always tried her best to help others.

“I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to come up with some kind of charity event that would make enough money but nothing I come up with seems like it will raise enough for what they need.” Lance didn’t reply but seemed deep in thought as they waitress brought them their drinks and took their order.

“What are you thinking about so hard?” Tiffany asked him after several minutes.

“I have an idea actually.” he replied. “Do you think a concert would raise enough money for her treatment and whatever else they need?”

“Are you serious? You would put on a concert to raise money for them?” she asked.

“Yes of course. This means a lot to you and Ben is Parker’s best friend. We could do it Saturday.” Tiffany’s eyes widened.

“This Saturday?” she asked. He nodded and took a sip of his pop.

“Yeah.” he said with a shrug.

“Lance, it’s Thursday! How exactly are we supposed to have everything ready by Saturday?”

“We just have to get the word out.” he said. Tiffany’s mind was reeling. She was amazed that Lance was willing to do this to help Grace and her family. She shouldn’t be so surprised though, she knew what a good man he was.

“Okay, I’ll call the radio stations in the morning and have them get the word out.. I just have to figure out ticket prices and things.. How much should I charge for a Lance Asher concert ticket?” Lance was laughing by the time she got done rambling.

“I have a better idea.” he said. Before Tiffany could ask what his idea was he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number.

“Hey Keith, it’s Lance.” There was a pause as Keith must have responded. “How are your girls and Nicole doing?- Great. Yeah I’ve actually decided to settle down in Kentucky. I have a little boy here.- He’s six.- Yeah it is great. Listen I was actually calling because my sons best friend’s mom is really sick. She has cancer and needs a special treatment but her husband got laid off recently and they don’t insurance or money. I am going to put on a charity concert here in Hardan this Saturday and I was hoping maybe you’d be willing to come and make an appearance.- Thanks Keith. I’ll see you then.” Lance hung up the phone and before Tiffany could he dialed another number.

He repeated his conversation with someone named Jason and then again with someone named Luke. He was about to call someone else when Tiffany couldn’t handle the suspense any longer. She grabbed his hand that was holding his phone to stop him from dialing.

“What is going on? Who are these people you’re calling?” she asked. Lance grinned proudly.

“We are now having a charity concert for Grace and the performers will be Lance Asher, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan. I think that should bring in enough money.” Tiffany stared at him with utter disbelief.

“Are you serious?” she asked. Lance nodded as the waitress sat their food on the table and then she stared at him for several seconds before walking away, giggling and pulling her cell phone from her pocket.

“Yeah I’m serious.” Lance said. “I did make a few friends while I was living the big life.”

“You are unbelievable.” Lance smiled proudly and pulled his hand away from her.

“I have one more phone call to make and then everything will be taken care of.” he said. He used speed dial to call Thomas’s office and smiled when Peggy answered.

“Hey Peggy, it’s Lance. I know I fired your boss but I was really hoping I could get you to do my a favor….” Lance was on the phone with Peggy for a good ten minutes and when he finally hung up he smiled at Tiffany.

“Within the hour there will be ads on TV, internet and radio about the charity even Saturday night. The community center will be rented for the event and the decorators will be on their way with everything they need to get the place ready.”

“What do I have to do?” Tiffany asked feeling overwhelmed. Lance reached his hand across the table and smoothed her hair behind her ear.

“Eat your dinner and enjoy yourself.” he said. “Peggy will handle everything else.”

“You’re something else, you know that?” Tiffany asked as she smiled at him. Lance shifted in his seat and grinned.

“That’s a good thing right?”

“Yes. That’s a very good thing.”

Chapter Fifteen

“I didn’t know this many people even lived around here.” Erin said as she pulled the curtain back an inch and looked out over the crowded community center.

“Me either.” Tiffany replied. She could not believe how quickly all of this had come together. The community center was decorated with bright lights and thousands of chairs were squeezed into the auditorium and each one had a person sitting in it. There were even people leaning against the walls and standing in the aisles as more and more people crammed in.

“Where’s Lance?” Erin asked as she let the curtain fall back and looked around at the stage which was full of band equipment. Amps, microphones, drums, guitars and lights covered the floor.

“He and Parker are gone to pick up the other guys and bring them all back here. He’s going to sneak them through the back so that the good people of Hardan don’t have a chance to scare them away.”

“It’s not the people’s fault. I don’t think they’ve ever had one hot, famous man come here before and here we have three that are on their way.”

“Don’t you mean four? Lance is hot and he is famous and he is definitely a man.” Tiffany said thinking back to all of the hot, fire filled kisses she and Lance had shared since their date on Thursday. Her whole body seemed to fill with heat as she thought about him and she felt her heart beat faster.

“Aww, you’re in love.” Erin teased as she flipped her curly red hair over her shoulder. “Of course I think that Lance is hot and I know he is a man but he is your man and since there are three others coming I figured that I would let you have him to yourself.” Tiffany couldn’t help but laugh even as she rolled her eyes.

“I’m sorry to burst your bubble but all three men are married and for that matter, so are you!” she scolded. Erin laughed and waved her hand dismissively.

“Doesn’t mean I can’t look.” she replied with a shrug. Tiffany just shook her head and walked toward the back doors to watch for Lance and the others. Erin had always been a flirt but she was a harmless flirt who was very much in love with her husband.

888

Hours later, the concert was in full swing. Tiffany and Erin watched from backstage as Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean all took turns performing. Tiffany noticed that Lance seemed to grow more nervous by the second as his turn to perform got closer.

“Are you okay?” she asked as she saw how pale his face was growing as Jason Aldean started finished up his last song. Lance forced a smile.

“I’m fine.” he replied. Tiffany shook her head.

“No you’re not. You look nervous.”

“Maybe a little.” he said rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

“Why would you be nervous?” Tiffany asked as she raised her brow. “You’ve performed hundreds of concerts before in places bigger then this.” Lance nodded.

“Yes I have. And I already told you that I hated it. I get horrible stage fright.” Jason finished up his song and walked backstage. He patted Lance on the back.

“You’re up man.” he said. Lance just swallowed hard and nodded as Jason walked away. The crowd began chanting Lance’s name and he felt his chest tightening and his heart pounding. It was getting hard to breath and he was sure he was going to be sick when Tiffany laid a gentle hand on his cheek and turned his face toward her.

“You can do this, Lance. And I’ll be right here cheering for you the whole time.” She raised on her toes and pressed a light kiss to his lips. “I love you, now get out there and make the people happy.” Lance’s brain shut down momentarily when she said the words ‘I love you’. Though he had said those words to her several times in the past few days she had not said it back until now.

“You said you love me.” he said slowly. Tiffany smiled.

“Of course I love you.” she replied. “Now you better get out there before they come back here looking for you.” she added as the crowd grew louder.

Lance felt all this uneasiness melt away as she squeezed his hand and handed him his guitar. He smiled at her and she gave him a heart stopping smile in return and then she swatted his butt as he walked away and he was laughing as he walked onstage.

For the first time Lance did not feel the nerves and the uneasiness. He enjoyed this performance and he suddenly realized that what had been missing from his life all of these years was Tiffany. She made him a better man and gave him courage and faith in himself.

As he got to the end of the performance, he knew what he wanted to do. He just hoped he wasn’t rushing things or wrong about the depth of Tiffany’s feelings toward him.

“Thank you everybody!” Lance said as he gave a bow when he finished performing his last song. “That’s all the songs we have for tonight but there was one more thing I was wanting to do if you guys could just hang tight for a minute.”

Lance turned and looked backstage and saw Tiffany and Erin looking at him with confusion.

“Tiffany, come here.” he said motioning for her. Tiffany shook her head but Erin shoved her out onto the stage. Tiffany smoothed out the red blouse she had borrowed again from Erin and ran a hand over her hair. She looked out at the crowd of people and nearly tripped and fell before righting herself and walking stiff legged to Lance.

“Why am I out here?” Her words were a whisper but the microphone picked them up and broadcast them over the audience.

“Tiffany, you are an amazing woman. You are a strong woman. You raised our son for six years on your own and you did an incredible job. My biggest regret in life is leaving you seven years ago. I had love, true love, right there in my hands and I threw it away.

“Somehow though, the Lord has blessed me and given me that love back and I don’t ever want to lose you again. You make me want to be a better man and our son makes me want to be a better father. Without the two of you I would be nothing. Singing, performing.. None of that means anything when compared to you. I want you, me and Parker to be a real family,” Lance dropped to his knee and Tiffany gasped.

“Tiffany Abigail Fields, will you marry me?” Tiffany was too shocked to respond for a moment. This was all happening so fast and yet it felt so right. She knew that Lance was her one and only and he always had been. She was finally going to get the family for herself and her son that she had always dreamed about.

“Yes. Yes I’ll marry you.” she said in a tear filled voice. Lance jumped to his feet and wrapped his arms tight around her. He lifted her off the ground and spun her around several times as he buried his face in her hair. The crowd was cheering as he sat her back on her feet.

“I don’t have a ring yet. This was kind of spur of the moment.” he said. Tiffany looked up at his blue eyes and saw so much love and happiness in them that it made her heart swell.

“I don’t need a ring Lance. All I need is you. Do you know how long I’ve dreamed of us being a family?”

“It’s not a dream anymore sweetheart. I’m here and I’m never leaving again.”