why would he come after all this time?”
“Because he was invited,” Tyler said, deciding it was the right moment to throw his two cents into the conversation.
“Oh, my gosh,” the youngster shrieked. “It’s him. See, I told you he’d come, Mom.”
The expression in Megan’s green eyes went from affectionately exasperated, to stunned. “Tyler,” she whispered.
“Yup, it’s me. It’s been a long time, Megan.”
“You don’t…that is, what are you doing here?”
“Don’t you remember? You invited me to the family reunion, and how could I resist such a cordial invitation?” Tyler pulled Kara’s letter from his pocket and waved it in the air.
“I’ll get him one of the shirts,” Kara cried happily. She disappeared down the hall.
Megan stepped away, putting the antique reception desk between them. She’d never expected Tyler to actually show up. He had kept in touch with Eleanor, calling on her birthday and sending gifts at Christmas, but he’d never visited. Not for years and years.
He’s a proud man, Grady O’Bannon always said when somebody asked about Tyler. And Eleanor would finish with, he’ll come back when he’s ready. Eleanor had never stopped hoping Tyler would become part of the family again; maybe her wish was finally coming true.
“Nothing to say?” Tyler asked.
“Plenty.” Megan hesitated. It might seem rude, but she needed to understand why he would attend a family reunion after so long. “Why are you here, Tyler? And don’t repeat that nonsense about being invited—you’ve been invited lots of times. And besides, you’re always welcome with Grady and Eleanor. You must know that.”
His gaze narrowed. “I know. I’m here because I’m worried about Eleanor. She wrote last month and it didn’t sound like her at all. It bothered me, so I wanted to check things out,” he explained.
Megan nodded. She understood why he’d come back; what she didn’t understand was why he’d stayed away in the first place. The O’Bannons were wonderful people—the kind of family she’d dreamed of having when she was a child and her parents were screaming and throwing things at each other.
“This one looks big enough,” Kara shouted, running back down the hallway. She waved one of the men’s black T-shirts in the air, then thrust it into Tyler’s hands. “We made them special for the reunion. Mom did the design.”
“Thanks,” he said. “You’re Kara, right?”
Kara nodded, suddenly shy. “I’m glad you came, Mr. O’Bannon.”
“Call me Tyler.”
“Okay, Tyler.” Kara appeared ready to explode with pleasure, then a shout from outside the house made her feet stir restlessly. “It’s my turn for horseshoes,” she said. “Do you want to come watch? Or if you want to play, I can teach you how. It’s real simple. You have to—”
“I’m sure Tyler wants to get settled first,” Megan intervened. “You can visit with him later.”
“O-o-okay.” Kara reluctantly headed out the door.
“I’ll show you up to your room,” Megan said, taking the key to room four from a locked cabinet. She glanced beyond him into the foyer. “Don’t you have any luggage?”
“In the car. I’ll get it later. Actually…” Tyler stopped, his eyes dark and intent. “After what you wrote, I wasn’t sure you wanted me to come.”
Guilty heat flooded her face. She hadn’t meant to sound unwelcoming.
Or had she?
An uneasy shiver crept through Megan and she looked away. Tyler reminded her of things she wanted to forget—of youth and making mistakes and having everything fall apart. Did Tyler know about Brad’s womanizing?
About everything?
She drew a ragged breath, wondering if she’d ever get over the sick feeling of her life spinning out of control—of her husband having one affair after the other and finally getting himself killed while driving his fancy sports car.
“You’re awfully pale, Megan? Are you all right?”
Tyler sounded genuinely concerned, and she forced a smile to her mouth. “I’m fine. And of course you’re welcome. I know Eleanor will be ecstatic. She often talks about you. Grady, too.”
“That’s nice.” He seemed embarrassed by the comment and Megan lifted her eyebrows. Apparently there were some things Tyler O’Bannon didn’t handle with aplomb.
“Well…your room is upstairs,” she said.
Megan walked up the broad staircase, all too aware of Tyler following close behind. Nothing had changed since the first time they’d met. He was still too intense, too overwhelming and complicated, while she wasn’t complicated in the slightest.
Heck, if she hadn’t been exciting enough for her husband, she certainly wasn’t any match for Tyler.
Fifteen feet down the hall Megan opened a door and motioned to the interior of the room. “This room has a private bath, so you won’t have to share.”
Tyler glanced around the room. As in the rest of the house, a scent of beeswax and flowers filled the air, along with glints of light from polished wood furniture and oak paneling. It was a sharp contrast to his condo in San Francisco, dominated by the prior owner’s passion for black and white. Though he disliked the stark decor, he’d never taken the time to look for a decorator.
But this…it felt like a home, even if it was really a bed and breakfast inn most of the time.
“It’s very nice, but it doesn’t seem like the kind of place Brad would have chosen,” Tyler murmured.
“No.” Megan swallowed, and her lashes drifted down, concealing her expression. “I bought the house after the accident. Brad never lived here.” She held out the room key, “I’d better get downstairs and check on things in the kitchen. But later we’re going to the park for softball, if you’re interested in coming.”
Tyler took the key, his gaze searching her face. “I’m interested.”
“Good. We’ll leave in about an hour, so you’ll have time to say hello to everyone. I’m sure Eleanor is anxious to see you.”
“Thanks.” He put his hand on her arm as she started to turn away.
Her eyes flew wide open and she stared at him. “Y-yes?”
“I just wanted to say…you have a beautiful daughter, Megan.”
“Thank you.”
For the first time since he’d arrived, Tyler saw a natural smile brighten her face. Whatever else, Megan was proud of Kara, and for a bittersweet moment Tyler wondered what it would be like, having a daughter of his own. Having a child with Megan.
Swearing
