Frigid Affair (10 page)

By this point my knees were shaking. No longer was I angry that I was some kind of mistake. What this guy was implying was that he'd known me before the fire. I stopped thinking about the theft, or what my neighbors were accusing him of. I had to know how he knew who I was. "Why? Who the hell are you?”

He paused, took in a deep breath, and then finally replied in a sorrowful tone. “My name is Jensen Weatherly.”

Right when he said it I knew there was something familiar, though it took me a few more seconds to put two and two together.

Jensen Weatherly. I kept repeating it in my head. How did I know this name? Why was he telling me as if I was suppose to know?

When the truth hit me I almost lost my ability to remain standing.

It wasn’t his first name that I recognized. It was the last.

I struggled to respond. “Alice Weatherly? Is that why you’re here? Are you related to the person who drove onto the tracks that caused the train wreck?” It wasn’t possible. It had to be a coincidence. But if that was so, how in the world would he have known who I was? Why did he make the trip to see me? Why would he lie about his name? What the hell was he doing in Alaska?

His eyes were pained as he struggled to talk about it. “Amantha, she was my wife.”

I dropped the wood and brought one hand up to my mouth. “No. That’s not…”

“Just let me explain. Give me five minutes. Please. I came all this way. I need you to hear me out.”

I began shaking my head, as well as other extremities. “No.” I pointed. “You need to leave, right now. I want you off my property.”

“Amantha, I can’t.”

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Get out of here.” His visit was a waste of time. I hated him. He’d lied to me, repeatedly. He’d made me think I was some weak victim, when there was probably nothing wrong with me.

How could I have been so naïve to think a saint of a man would fall from the Alaskan sky during a blizzard?

I was fighting the tears from falling down my face. He’d taken advantage of me. I’d probably never understand why he’d come, but I wasn’t sure I even wanted to.

This hurt.

This was like waking up after a good dream to your house being blown to smithereens by a tornado.

Now more than ever, I needed to get him off my property. He couldn’t know about Christopher. That child was mine, and I wouldn’t let some con-artist anywhere near him.

“I think you need to hear me out. Don’t you want closure?”

Since running away to start over I’d assumed I had enough closure, at least to get me through the rest of my life. I’d lost everything, only to start over with Christopher. This man, whoever he was, posed a direct threat to my livelihood. If he discovered his child was only yards away, the consequences could be devastating for me. “I’m not going to ask again. If you don’t turn around and start moving I’m getting my gun. You’ll never be anything more than a liar to me. Never.”

He threw up both hands, his pained eyes never leaving mine. “Fine. I can understand why you’re angry. I’ve been beating myself up for two years about it. I tried to visit last year, but you weren’t here. Your cabin was closed up. I thought you might have moved away.”

“Where I went was none of your business. Like I said before, we’re done here.”

He began backing away. “I get it. I know I fucked up, but in all fairness, you didn’t give me much choice when I found you in that house. I refused to let you die, not before I made sure you were okay.”

“Oh, is that what guys like you call what you did?”

“I saved your life!”

“You lied to me from the moment you opened your mouth. I let you into my home, my pants even. Clearly you let me believe the lie to make that happen.”

He kept shaking his head, coming off as if I didn’t understand some big picture. I had my own dire reasoning for making sure he exited promptly and never came back.

“I’m sorry, Amantha. I really am. I wish I regretted feeling you in my arms that night. You’ll never know what it was like to be with you; to be with anyone.”

After he said it he left without further explanation. I was too flustered to consider it had meaning, not that I would have even contemplated retracting my threats. This was no longer about me and my wellbeing. My son was my world. My whole life revolved around him. Biological father or not, that man wasn’t going to step foot in my home and think about taking him away from me. I’d commit murder before I let that happen.

Chapter 10

It took me
nearly five minutes to realize he hadn’t appeared out of nowhere. If Easton, or Jensen, whatever his name this time was staying close, there was only one place it could be. There was snow on the ground, and since my neighbor’s house was about a quarter mile down the mountain, I figured he’d come from there.

I wasted no time locating my cell phone and turning it on. Then with shaking fingers I called my neighbors. They were in Florida for the winter and would want to know one of the so-called fireman were back for more goods.

Eve picked up on the second ring. “Amantha, is that you? Is everything okay?”

“I have reason to believe someone is headed to your house. Do you want me to call the police?”

“Handsome fellow, big muscles, killer smile?” She asked.

“What? You know him?”

“His name is Jensen Weatherly. He contacted us several years ago about renting the house for the winter. We didn’t want to do it at first, but Bob called him a few months back to see if he was still interested. We think it would be best if someone was staying there when we can’t. Did he introduce himself? We told him you were up there all alone with your son.”

“You what?” I was immediately beginning to have a panic attack. This couldn’t be happening to me. “I have to go, Eve. I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t robbing you.”

“Heavens no. We don’t have anything of value there anyway. We learned our lesson. He seems like a nice guy. He paid six months rent in advance. Maybe you two will have something in common.”

This was a freaking catastrophe. How in the world was I supposed to face him? He’d figure out Christopher was his. He probably already had.

I suppose I could have told her he was one of the men who broke into her house, but now I wasn’t so sure. It would have been an easy way to get rid of him, but something in my heart wouldn’t let me do it, not yet at least. As much as I hated the idea, I needed more answers, and it was going to require us to come face to face again.

“I’ll keep in touch, Eve. Christopher just woke up.”

I didn’t wait for her to respond. I closed out the call and turned my phone off again.

“This can’t be happening.” I said out loud.

Not only was this man staying close, but he also knew I had a child.

His child.

I sunk down to the floor and started bawling. I’d slept with the man who was married to the woman who caused my families’ deaths. It was convoluted, and unbelievable.

Why was it that the only man to come in contact with me was the last person I’d ever want to be involved with?

The more I thought about it, the harder it was to grasp. It was obvious Jensen had sought me out, and now more than ever I needed to know why. What did he have to gain?

Before I could fly out the door and yell his name down the mountain, I heard the sound of little feet running. Christopher was awake and he’d climbed from his lowered bed and come down the stairs. I’d taught him to do it on his butt, because I was petrified he’d fall down them and hurt himself. With Ava following behind, he rounded the corner and stopped when he spotted me. “Mama.”

I wiped my tears away. “Hey, buddy. I didn’t know you were awake.”

“Mama cry?” He noted.

“I’m okay. Are you thirsty? I’m sure you need a diaper change.”

“No!” He took off, trying to climb back up the stairs. If the child could live in a soiled diaper he would. It was disgusting. I found it hysterical when I knew he’d pooped and he would steady deny it, even after I removed it and showed it to him. I’d picked up a potty chair in hopes he’d learn, but all it did was collect dust. Sometimes my little smarty pants kid would pour juice in it and show me, like I’d think he used it.
What kind of baby genius had I created?

“Come back here, you little turd,” I called as I ran after him.

Hiding behind the hamper is where I found him. It wasn’t difficult considering he was unable to gather what the word quiet meant. The moment I scooped him up into my arms I knew I had to handle Jensen. He wasn’t going to go away with a firm threat. Like it or not, he knew what I was hiding and it was only a matter of time before he returned.

I decided instead of dwelling on the things I couldn’t change, I’d focus on what I could control. There was a man down the hill that posed a threat to my future. If he was a criminal, and he wanted to, he could harm me and take my child away without anyone finding out until they were long gone. I couldn’t risk it. Even if my instincts were off base, I had to make sure it would never happen.

After getting my son changed and bundling him up, we headed outside to take a short ride down the mountain trail. I didn’t know what I would say when I saw him opening the door, but I needed answers. Sitting less than a quarter mile from me incognito seemed immature and a waste. If I wanted to put my mind at ease, I had to discover what else he was hiding, and the real reason why he’d returned.

Packing up a kid and taking him out into the frigid temperatures wasn’t exactly easy. He’d gotten too big to leave in the house while I fetched the snowmobile and let it warm up. With Ava attached to him like glue, we headed out into the cold. I ran as fast as I was able to in the few inches of snow on the ground, while he could only make it a few steps without struggling. Ava knew where I was headed and stayed with Christopher, thankfully.

I could see them as I hurried to turn the mobile on and drive it out of the covered shed. When Christopher saw me his face lit up, what little I could see of it. He loved taking rides, and since it was getting bitter cold outside, I hadn’t done it at all lately.

“Want to go for a ride, buddy?”

He held his arms up in the air. “Go. Ride.”

Behind him, Ava jumped and scurried with excitement. Apparently I wasn’t the only one with cabin fever.

After going back inside and gathering a few items I might need for the boy, plus my father’s only pistol just in case, I got us both situated, him sitting in front of me with a homemade strap keeping him secure. Before having him I would have hurried down the mountain as fast as the snow mobile would allow, but with him onboard I went as slow as possible, following the tracks Jensen had made earlier.

I didn’t anticipate to threaten him, not unless I felt it was necessary to do so. I wasn’t a monster, however, this man held all the answers. He was also the only person who could take everything away from me. I would protect my child, even if it meant doing something drastic and inconceivable.

The moment we approached the house I saw the front porch light flicking on. I turned off the ignition and watched as the man who’d fathered my child stepped outside and met my gaze. He wasn’t wearing a coat, but simply crossed his arms as if he wasn’t bothered by the temperature.

I expected him to say something first, though it didn’t happen. With Christopher squirming in his snowsuit, I unfastened us and climbed off first. I peered down at my son; the little guy I couldn’t leave at the cabin alone while I figured this out. I hated him being with me. I hated knowing the man standing on the newly built porch could take the only thing left dear to my heart.

Once I picked him up and carried him almost to the porch, I stopped and addressed my reasoning for the visit. “I’m ready to listen, but it’s going to be on my terms. You stay away from my son, do you hear me?”

Jensen was no longer looking at me. He was staring into his own eyes. For a second I felt vulnerable, like I’d give in and beg him to be a part of our lives. It was desperate and out of line. I was already being irrational and he hadn’t even responded to my terms. “Are we clear?” I said adamantly.

“Come inside and get warm,” was all he said.

I followed behind him, remaining on high alert the entire time. He sat down in the great room, watching as I managed to sit Christopher down and start removing all his cold weather gear. Ava was sauntering around checking out the place, every once in a while shaking, her collar making a jingle sound.

The large size of the new family room took my breath away. I still couldn’t get over all the changes in design.

“What changed your mind?” He asked.

I held my son tightly and gathered a couple small toys out of the back pack I’d brought. He took a little truck and sat down on the floor in front of me while I removed my coat.

It was hard looking at Jensen. There were a lot of things I wanted to scream at him. He’d lied. He’d used me. He’d lied some more. Yet he’d given me the greatest gift. He gave me a miracle I never knew I needed.

“I know this is unconventional, Jensen, but it’s not like I could call a sitter.”

He kept watching Christopher, never taking his eyes off him as he replied. “When Eve mentioned her neighbor lived on top the mountain with her kid I thought maybe you moved away and someone else moved in. I’d come around sometime last year to explain myself, but you were nowhere to be found.”

“I had to move closer to town while I was pregnant. I couldn’t risk anything happening.”

“Smart.” He kept staring at my son. “He has my eyes.”

I nodded, a burning forming in both of mine. “I’m not here to talk to you about Christopher. I’m here to listen and to tell you I want you to leave us alone.”

He clapped his hands together and finally looked away. I could tell my words hurt him, though I didn’t care. Nothing was going to change my mind. He was a bad person, and I wanted him to steer clear of my child.

“You’re wrong about me, Amantha.”

“Oh really?” I laughed. “How could you even think anything you have to tell me will change my opinion? You are living in the house you set on fire and robbed. You’re a criminal, not to mention a liar. If that’s not bad enough you were married to the person who killed my family. You’re nothing but evil. That’s why I’m here. You will never take this boy from me. I don’t know why you came back, or what you thought you’d find, but I haven’t exactly been waiting around for your return. If anything, I’ve only grown more furious with the whole situation.”

“You have every right to assume I’m all those things. There was a time when I felt like I was the devil. God knows I would have made a deal with him if he could make all my troubles go away, but we both know that’s not the case.”

“Maybe you do,” I reminded him.

“Fair enough. You have a right to your opinion. First and foremost you need to know I’m not a criminal. You don’t have to be afraid of me, Amantha. If I wanted to harm you in any way I would have let you burn to death in the fire. I think you know that.”

“Do I? You and your friends stole things. You’re lucky I didn’t tell Eve who you really were.”

“Eve knows who I really am. It was you who I lied to, and only because I knew you wouldn’t let help you if you found out who I was and where I came from.”

“You’re damn right about that too. I wouldn’t have.”

“What’s done is done. You lived. You look like you’re doing well.”

“I don’t have a choice. Will you get to the point already? It’s getting dark soon and I don’t want to have to take a fifteen month old baby up that mountain at night.”

“I’m not a criminal,” he repeated. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ve made mistakes in my life, but I didn’t steal from your friends.”

“What about your friends? Doesn’t that make you an accomplice?”

He chuckled, like I was too airheaded to understand. It annoyed me. “Not if they forced my hand.”

I rolled my eyes. “Give me a break. That’s what you want to say?” I stood. I’d heard enough. He was blowing smoke and I wasn’t having it. “This was clearly a big mistake.”

“Amantha, please. Just wait a minute. I’ve had years to think about what I wanted to say to you, but every time I get the chance I can’t find the words.”

“Spit it out, or I’m leaving.”

“I’m trying to. Damn. Stop being stubborn and give me a second. Has anyone ever told you how difficult you are to talk to?”

I shrugged. “My parents, but we both know it’s been a while since I’ve been reminded.”

Christopher stood up and carried his truck over toward Jensen. He held it up for him take. I gasped. I didn’t want them touching, and I hadn’t expected how speechless it would render me.