Baby, Come Back Read Free Page B

the bedroom. Right? I wasn’t too young for you there. I wasn’t too philosophically distant then.”
    â€œI didn’t come here to get into this.”
    Of course not, she thought. He’d never cared enough about her to come after her. She stiffened her spine. “And what you did come for is inappropriate for me to discuss. Please leave.”
    He took a step toward her, hand out. “These kids are too young to be thinking about marriage, let alone starting a family.”
    â€œBy ‘these kids’ you mean your son?”
    Hayes nodded. “He is my main concern. He’s the one I care about.”
    â€œAnd I care about Sheri.”
    â€œThen help me help them.” Hayes made a sound of frustration and turned away from her. For long moments he said nothing, then he turned back to her, his expression strained. “He’s infatuated with this girl. He’s not thinking clearly.”
    Blood rushed to Alice’s cheeks. And what had been his father’s excuse, all those years ago? Had he been infatuated? Had he, too, been confused, his thinking muddled?
    â€œSo, you’ll think clearly for him,” she said, her voice tight with anger.
    â€œIt sounds arrogant, but...yes. And I’d like your help convincing Sheri to do the right thing.”
    â€œWhat you think is the right thing.”
    Hayes groaned. “We are the adults.”
    Alice crossed to the door and swung it wide. “I’m sorry, but you’ve wasted your time. I believe Sheri and Jeff are old enough to make their own decisions.”
    â€œIf you were a parent, you’d understand.”
    Pain at the blow shot through her, and she caught her breath. She had dreamed of being a parent. Once she’d even come close.
    Hayes closed the distance between them. Stopping in front of her, he met her eyes. His were dark with regret. “I’m sorry, Alice. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Not then. And certainly not now.”
    She searched his gaze. She didn’t want his apologies. Didn’t want— or need— his regret. She was doing just fine. And if he hoped for forgiveness, well, some wounds went too deep to heal or forgive.
    She narrowed her eyes, pushing aside her hurt, marshaling her anger. “If I were a parent I’d understand? Tell that to the kids I work with here, the kids I try to help deal with the way their older and wiser parents have screwed up their lives and their heads.”
    His mouth tightened. “That’s different. Those aren’t the kind of parents I was talking about.”
    â€œOh, I forgot. You’re one of those infallible, perfect parents.” She drew in an angry breath, then let it out in a rush. “Let’s be honest here, Hayes. Your concern has a lot to do with what you think of Sheri. You’ve tried and sentenced her, yet you know nothing about her. She’s intelligent and courageous. And she’s been through a hell of a lot. You’d be playing a different tune if Jeff had gotten the daughter of one of your precious senior partners in trouble. Well, I’m not going to help you discriminate against Sheri Kane. Now— ” she indicated the door, her hand shaking so badly she knew he could see “— please leave.”
    He opened his mouth, and she fisted her fingers. “Now.”
    â€œFine.” He plucked his coat from the chair and strode to the door. There he stopped and once again met her eyes. “Are you so sure it’s me who’s letting preconceived notions cloud my judgment? Are you sure it’s me who’s discriminating? Think about it, Alice. I’ll be in touch.”

Chapter Two
    A lice did think about it. In fact, in the three days since their confrontation, she’d been able to think of little else.
    Alice gazed out her office window at the gloomy February day. It seemed impossible to her that spring waited just around the corner. Mardi Gras had come