“Mitch is serious about being present in Leo’s life,” Zoe said.
“Are you surprised?” Bethany placed another O in Leo’s hand and clapped when he clumsily tossed it in his mouth. “This is a big shock for him.”
“Yes, but he’s never wanted to hang around Cypress Pointe before.” Which, when translated by Zoe, meant he hadn’t wanted to hang around her.
“He’s never had a child before.”
Zoe ran a hand through her short hair. “I can’t believe this whole thing is happening.”
“You’re going to have to deal with this whether you like it or not.”
“I know.” Zoe stopped and sank down to the carpet to join them, smoothing a lick of hair standing straight up on her son’s head. “I’m just not entirely sure how I feel about the sudden change.”
“Since I’m usually the outspoken one, I’m gonna say it.” Bethany placed a hand on Zoe’s arm. “No matter what happens with Mitch, you can handle it. When you set your mind on a task, you can accomplish anything. I’ve been telling you this our entire lives. Why do you think I pushed you to run for mayor?”
“Accomplish anything? I barely leave Cypress Pointe.”
“It’s not that you can’t. More like you won’t.”
Zoe absently rubbed the scar on her arm. The physical reminder of why she worked hard to make Cypress Pointe a safe place to live. “Why would you say that?”
“Because things in life happen.” Bethany nodded at Leo. “You have to be prepared.”
“I’m always prepared.”
“Okay, that may be true.” Bethany ran a finger over Leo’s hair. Nodded her head at Zoe’s arm. “But you have to stop blaming yourself.”
“Who else is there? It was my idea to go shopping. I ran us straight into danger.”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time. And in the end, we were safe.”
“Tell that to your parents.”
Bethany frowned. “It’s time they stopped treating you like some kind of evil person. You didn’t force me to go along with you the day of the robbery.”
Zoe could barely look at her friend. “No, but it still haunts me to this day.”
“Bad things happen everywhere, Zoe. We witnessed a bank robbery sixteen years ago. We survived.” Bethany sent her a probing look. “You’re going to have to deal with the phobia at some point in your life.”
Yes, Zoe knew that. She just didn’t want to face the truth.
“There’s going to come a time when Leo is going to want or need to leave Cypress Pointe. What will you do then?”
Zoe didn’t have an answer.
“It’s time, Zoe.”
She blew out a breath. Her doubts lingered.
“You’ll figure this out, my friend, because this little guy is going to force you to.” Bethany chucked Leo’s chin and cooed in baby speak. “Won’t she, buddy?”
Zoe laughed at her friend’s ease at doling out serious adult advice, then switching to sweet baby talk.
Bethany glanced up. “Face it, Zoe. Leo will get you to confront your fears in ways Mitch never could.”
In her eyes, Mitch had been in such a hurry to get away from her. Or had he just gotten tired of her refusing to do anything about those fears? It had been easier to blame him than consider she didn’t have the backbone to stare her demons straight in the face.
“When did you become so smart?”
“Since you gave me this beautiful godson. I get to spoil him and give him back to you.”
“Thanks so much.”
“You’re welcome.”
The evidence of spoiling lay scattered all over the carpet: toys in all shapes and sizes and brightly colored clothing. Bethany had gone out of her way to bring lots of goodies for Leo.
“You might be looking at this from the wrong angle,” Bethany said as she handed Leo a block.
“Do tell.”
“Embrace that Mitch is back. Help him recover. It’s not like that isn’t in your wheelhouse. You help everyone.”
“In my position as mayor.”
“Please, you’ve been coming up with ways to better people’s lives since we were kids. Always planning fund-raisers or donating time and energy to other organizations. Remember our first lemonade stand?”
Zoe chuckled. “If I recall, all the proceeds went to the animal shelter.”
“Sounds right. We were in our save-the-mutt phase.”
“You always went along with me.”
“Because you always had a compelling argument to do good. Who could resist?”
“We did make a good team.”
“Until Mitch came on the scene.”
Zoe held back a smile. More like Mitch had made a grand entrance into her life.
She’d been at the park, checking off names for a 5K run to support cancer research. The runners had lined up at the start line when all of a sudden a guy with long shaggy hair came careening through the crowd on a skateboard. He barely missed the runners, hopping off the board right in front of her table, stomping his foot on the edge to make the board fly up into his hands. With an unrepentant grin, he asked if it was too late to sign up. She was speechless, but had nodded. After the race, he sought her out and their relationship developed from there.
So long ago. Where had that young love gone?
“He does have a way of making a statement,” Bethany continued.
Yes, he did. It served him well when he went hunting for big profile stories to document.
“I suppose I should hear him out. See what he has in mind. You’re right. I can’t run from this. Now that Mitch knows about Leo, he’ll never let me keep him out of his son’s life.”
“And you shouldn’t.”
True. But she couldn’t stop the worry and the excuses filling her mind since she’d laid eyes on him yesterday.
“Can I risk him taking Leo off on his own? In his current condition?”
“Do you think he’s even gotten that far in the process? From what you said, he’s dealing with physical limitations. Mitch may have taken off at a moment’s notice to cover an event or a story, but he isn’t unrealistic. He’s got to know that becoming a father to Leo will take time.”
Guilt washed over her. She’d been so overly concerned about how Mitch’s return would impact her and Leo’s life, she hadn’t really focused on him. The man who needed a cane to walk. Whose scalp looked like a jigsaw puzzle of scars. Who needed serious medical support. If she’d let herself dwell on his condition, she’d probably have broken down on the spot. Her once healthy, vivacious husband had been reduced to a shadow of the former man. Why hadn’t she been more sympathetic?
Because you don’t want him to hurt you again.
Maybe. But what person didn’t at least try for a little more compassion in a situation like this? Certainly not a selfish person. Is that who she’d become?
“I should ask him more questions when I see him again. He mentioned