Fox River by Emilie Richards Page B

marriage, even though it was built on a secret, was solid.
    “She has never been my child.” His tone was bitter. “You’ve never let her be my child. I’m as much your prisoner as Christian is the state’s.”
    She was suffused with guilt, even though she didn’t know if it was deserved. Her head was ringing with his words. “If you’re trying to make me come back to Millcreek, you’re your own worst enemy. We shouldn’t be living together. Not with all this between us.”
    “We aren’t going to fix anything with you living here. It’s the next step toward a divorce. Is that what you want?”
    She was saved from having to answer by Callie’s voice floating up from the barn. She lowered hers again. “If you want to see Callie tonight, this is your chance. And we’ve said enough, don’t you think?”
    “Not nearly.”
    “She’ll know you’re here. She’ll see your car. You can’t ignore her.”
    “Fine, Julia. I’ll go see her. But you stay here until Maisy comes to rescue you. For once, let me be her father without your help.”
    “Bard…”
    “Save it.”
    A cool breeze fanned her side where he had been sitting, and leaves crackled under his feet. “Tell you what, if you can think of any reason to see me again, you know where to reach me. I’ll wait for instructions.”
    She heard his footsteps on the cobblestone path. She lowered her chin and stared sightlessly at the ground.
     
    Maisy watched her granddaughter run to her father, then stop several feet away, as if she was aware he might not want to see her.
    “Hi, Daddy.”
    “Callie.” He nodded his head. He didn’t reach for her, but he didn’t move away, either. “Your mother said you were checking on Feather Foot. She’s doing all right in there?”
    “It’s so neat. Jake works there every day, and he can keep her company while I’m in school. She has everything she needs.”
    Bard looked at Maisy. “Sounds like you have my family all tucked in here.”
    Maisy didn’t take the bait. “We’re glad to lend a hand.”
    “I made a B on my history report.” Callie moved a little closer. “The one about Mosby’s Rangers.”
    “That’s good.” He sounded neither critical nor enthused. Clearly his mind wasn’t on the conversation.
    Callie tried again. “A B is good. It’s better than last time, right?”
    “That’s not the way to look at it, Callie. A B is okay. An A would be better.”
    Callie didn’t seem surprised. She made a face. “You mean I’m not supposed to be happy?”
    “You can be happy.” He seemed to focus on her. “A B is good enough to be happy about.”
    “Did you always get A s?”
    “Pretty nearly all the time.”
    Her face fell. “Maybe I’m not that smart.”
    Maisy was angry enough at this exchange to intervene, but his next words stopped her. “You’re smart enough to make me happy.”
    Callie giggled. He stepped forward and smoothed her hair. “Walk me to my car.”
    “Where’s Mommy?”
    Maisy frowned. Where was Julia?
    Bard turned to her. “Julia’s sitting in the garden. It’s getting colder. She’ll need some help getting back inside.” He started toward the black BMW, which was parked near the barn, and Callie tagged along beside him.
    “He looks like he ran into a hornet’s nest,” Maisy said when Jake joined her. “He left Julia in my garden.”
    “He’s a man with a number of strengths. Dealing with feelings isn’t one of them.”
    “I want to slap him when he makes Callie ashamed of herself.”
    “Maisy, he struggles. Anyone can see that.”
    She felt reprimanded, and it wasn’t the first time. Lately she had felt the subtle sting of Jake’s disapproval more and more. “She’s just a little girl.”
    “She’s a lot stronger than you give her credit for. They have to work out their own relationship.”
    “I know that.” She sounded hurt, although she had hoped not to.
    “Do you? You protect everyone you love. Some people would say you smother