Blinding Trust by Jennifer Foor Page B

really kid friendly. What made him come around again?”
    “He was in town and said that he’s trying to turn his life around. I get that. I can’t imagine what it’s like to not have family. I just wish he didn’t want to be a part of mine. I sound like a selfish bitch don’t I?”
    “No! You sound like you don’t want to share your son with someone you don’t trust. I know exactly how you’re feeling.”
    I smiled and looked up at him. “Colt said you would.”
    “That’s surprising, considering that when you last visited he practically ripped my head off for teasing you.”
    “He knew about Zeke and hadn’t told me. I guess he had a lot on his mind and you were an easy target.” I almost felt bad for Ty, except he was forever tormenting poor Colt.
    “He’s doing that shit again, where he shuts you out. You’d think he’d learn.” Ty shook his head and patted me on the l eg. “Maybe if you performed annilingus once in a while, he’d be more open.”
    “Anni what?”
    “You know, where you lick each other’s assholes.”
    I slapped him in the arm. “You are so sick!”
    “Come on, Van. Don’t even tell me you never did it before.”
    Whether I had or hadn’t, it was none of his business. Besides, Ty knowing my sexual secrets was not a good way to keep Colt happy.
    “No comment!”
    “It’s all good.” He stood up and put his hands in his pockets. “I don’t know if Miranda told you, but today is the church picnic. I think Amy and Conner already told Addy she could go with them. I know the pastor would love to see you.”
    I shrugged and stood up with him. “That sounds like fun. I mean, what else am I going to do if you’re all there?”
    I hadn’t been back for the church picnic since before my parents had moved to Kentucky. One thing was for certain. The people would still be the same ones that attended when I was a little girl.
    After calling Amy, and finding out that they were already getting ready to head there, I agreed to catch a ride with Ty and Miranda and meet them. I guess they knew all along that I would want to go, or maybe they weren’t really going to give me the option to decline.
    When we first got there , I was surrounded by a bunch of elderly people that remembered me, but I had no clue who they were. All of the children congregated on the big playground, while the adults mingled around evenly lined up picnic tables on the grass.
    It was a perfect day for a picnic. The sun was shining and there were just enough clouds to give us random breaks from the hot rays. I got myself comfortable at a table with my family. Watching them all interact with their children was still a hoot, considering that Ty and Conner were never the type of guys that anyone could see being in devoted relationships and raising families.
    I happened to look over at Ty, just as he spotted someone that he obviously didn’t care too much about. “ Look what the damn cat drug in. Miranda is going to flip her lid.”
    I followed his eyes across the lawn to a blonde looking down and talking to a boy that was about the age of Addy. It wasn’t until the woman looked up that I realized who it was and why Ty had made his comment. I kept my voice as low as possible. “Oh my God, is that Heather?”
    She didn’t look that much different. She gained maybe ten pounds, but was still skinny and her hair was as perfect as it always had been. She was too caught up in the conversation with the child to notice Ty and me looking at her.
    I turned around and looked at him instead. “I thought she moved far away?”
    “As far as I know she did. Her mom still lives here. She must be visiting.” Ty kept looking at Miranda, just waiting for her to notice Heather.
    After the whole episode with Amy’s ex, she and I had forgiven Heather for her flaws to the extent of being able to tolerate her. She had risked her life for our family, but no matter how hard she tried, Miranda would never forgive her for what she had