Part 17 (1/2)
”It's only natural to wonder,” Bethanne said.
”You were pregnant with Dad when you married Grandpa?” Annie said. ”Wow. I never added up the dates before.”
”Annie.”
”Grandma.” Annie ignored Bethanne. ”I meant what I said-I bet Royce is just as anxious to see you again. You're probably the reason he's attending this reunion.”
”I hope so, but I can't be sure.”
”You should call him and at least let him know you'll be there.”
”I can't,” she said adamantly.
”Why not?”
”For one thing, I wouldn't know what to say. Besides,” she said as though this was a more convincing excuse, ”I don't have his number.”
”That's easy.” Annie pulled out her cell phone. ”Tell me his full name and I'll get it for you.”
Frowning, Ruth turned to Bethanne, her face creased with doubt and indecision. ”Do you you think contacting Royce before I arrive is a good idea?” think contacting Royce before I arrive is a good idea?”
”I don't think it would hurt,” Bethanne said. ”If you chatted briefly, then your mind would be at rest. You'd know what to expect.”
Ruth's shoulders sagged. ”Maybe later. Okay?”
”Of course it's okay,” Bethanne a.s.sured her.
”You do what you feel is best,” Annie echoed. ”But I'll look up his number for you, anyway.”
”Okay,” Ruth said. ”I'd like to have it...in case I do decide to call. In case I can figure out what to say,” she added under her breath.
It was afternoon when they entered the national park. The sights were as spectacular as Max had promised. They walked across the Grand Canyon Skywalk and marveled at the twisting, curving Colorado River far below.
Later, Ruth was in the gift shop and Annie was speaking to one of the park rangers, a young woman who didn't look much older than her daughter, when Bethanne's cell phone rang.
Digging in her purse, she located it just before it went to voice mail.
”h.e.l.lo.”
”Bethanne, where are you?”
She groaned inwardly. ”h.e.l.lo, Grant.” She almost wished she hadn't answered-or that she'd taken the time to check call display. ”We're at the Grand Canyon.”
”Sounds like you got a late start.”
”We did, but we drove straight here. Your mother's eager to get to Florida.”
The words were barely past her lips when Grant asked, ”What's this about you taking off with that biker?”
Apparently, Annie had told Grant, which Bethanne didn't appreciate. ”Is that what Annie said?”
”Well, some variation of it. I'm sure she's exaggerating.”
”I'm sure,” Bethanne echoed, unwilling to discuss Max with her ex-husband.
”So what happened?”
”What do you mean?”
”You took off with this biker and according to our daughter you spent the night with him.”
”What?” Bethanne nearly exploded with outrage-and then laughter. ”You've got to be joking!” Bethanne nearly exploded with outrage-and then laughter. ”You've got to be joking!”
”Okay, well, I hear you were gone until three.”
Bethanne neither confirmed nor denied the report. Let Grant think whatever he wanted. She didn't owe him an explanation or or an excuse. an excuse.
”Did you have a good time?”
”The best.” And she meant it. The night with Max was one she would long cherish. He made her feel more alive, more feminine, and he'd brought back the thrill of newly discovered pa.s.sion. Yet he hadn't done anything other than kiss her and hold her. The desire was there; the need had felt urgent.
”You sound like you're falling for this guy.”
”Do I?” She turned the question around, wanting him to form his own opinion.
”Yes.” The amus.e.m.e.nt was gone from his voice. ”We've already had one rather unpleasant discussion about this man. I'd hate to have a repeat of that.”
”So would I.” She had no intention of defending herself to Grant.
”Do you plan on seeing him again?”
She didn't answer.
”Bethanne?”
”I don't believe that's any of your business,” she said. ”I don't mean to be rude, Grant, but my relations.h.i.+p with Max has nothing to do with you.”
His silence spoke volumes. ”True, but you have to know I'm working as hard as I can to rebuild our our relations.h.i.+p. It doesn't help that every time I turn around, I hear about you and this biker.” relations.h.i.+p. It doesn't help that every time I turn around, I hear about you and this biker.”
”His name is Max.”
”I don't care what his name is.”
Bethanne sighed, unwilling to get into an argument with her ex-husband over a man she'd dated once. Arguing put her on the defensive and she wasn't going to allow that.