woman, a perfect stranger, that his son didn’t confide in him and he had no idea what Ryan’s grades were like. Their rapport had never been great, and it’d gotten worse since Grant’s retirement—when he’d really become a full-time dad.
But maybe he could find out more from Mrs. Geroux. He cleared his throat. “I can see you’re better informed about all of this than I am. Tell you what, I’d be willing to meet with you and your husband to explore this further. Of course, it’ll have to be when Ryan’s not around. Or his sister. I have a younger daughter, and it’s just me. I mean, I’m a single parent.”
“So am I. Meeting you could be difficult, which is why I phoned. I work two jobs, Mr. Lane, so I don’t have much free time.”
“Please…call me Grant. I really do think we need to discuss this in more depth. I’m not convinced I want to interfere in my son’s school friendships.”
“Shoot, my next client just arrived. I need to hang up and go back to work, uh…Grant. I have to say I’m disappointed. I assumed you’d work with me once I explained the situation.”
Grant fiddled with his coffee cup. Mrs. Geroux’s displeasure was telegraphed clearly, and he felt bad for her. “Is it possible for you to get away from work for an hour or so tomorrow? I’ll give you my address. If you can drop by here, you can follow me to our neighborhood café. We can talk over coffee or breakfast if you’d like to meet before work.”
“Tomorrow might be okay. What time? I’ll need to move or cancel clients, but I’m serious about getting Lisa back on track.”
“How does nine-fifteen sound?”
“I’ll make it work. It’s that important, Mr. Lane.”
“Grant,” he reminded her. Then gave her his address and precise directions. After he hung up, Grant wondered if he’d regret offering to meet Rebecca Geroux. What if she turned out to be a lunatic? But it was the only way he could buy time to figure out a response. How would it have sounded if he’d admitted he didn’t even know Ryan was playing baseball, let alone that he had a girlfriend?
Obviously his relationship with his son needed attention, and it was also plain that the Geroux woman thought he could influence Ryan. For that to happen, he and his son would have to have a civil face-to-face talk. Grant would welcome one, but things had happened over Ryan’s lifetime to erect barriers between them. He wasn’t sure he knew how to break them down.
Grant wondered what Rebecca Geroux would think of a father who was on such a rocky footing with his eldest child. He reflected on the cause for his problems with Ryan. He could probably go all the way back to before Teresa died, when his obsession with flying and his career took precedence over his marriage. He’d failed to see how his wife’s troubled history affected their firstborn. For so long it had seemed easier to stay away and avoid the unhappiness—his and Teresa’s. All that time Teresa had raised Ryan alone, and he’d let her, because it was easier to be off building his career.
He supposed he was still looking for the easy way out.
WHEN REBECCA got home after work, she toyed with the idea of calling Mr. Lane back and canceling. After all, they should be able to come to an agreement over the phone. She formulated what she’d say to him as she stopped to collect the mail. Absently, she tore open and inspected the bank statement from the joint college savings account she held with Lisa. Rebecca noted her deposits listed for each week of the month. Lisa, though, hadn’t contributed a thing. Not one cent in nearly five weeks.
The paper fluttered in Rebecca’s hand as she tried to absorb the information. She sat for a moment before stuffing the statement back in its envelope. Then she took a deep breath in an effort to calm her temper. Why no deposits, when Lisa had started babysitting for Darcy and was earning more than in previous months?
Rebecca called the kids and started fixing supper. Once they were all seated at the table, she let them fill their plates before she pulled the statement out of her pocket. Rebecca laid it in front of Lisa, who blanched.
“Mom, I have a year and a half before I need to pay college tuition.”
“True, but each year the costs go up. What disturbs me, Lisa, is that we had a deal. Why didn’t you follow through?”
“I had school expenses,” Lisa mumbled. “Stuff my friends can get without a hassle. I haven’t asked you for money. Why do I have to explain what I’m buying?”
“What things do you need, Lisa? This is the first I’ve heard of any of this. I don’t want you kids to go without. I want you to fit in.”
Lisa got up, leaving her supper untouched on the table. “I’m so sick of money being such an issue. Our garbage disposal is still broken, Mother. Ryan would’ve fixed it at no charge.” Without waiting for a response, she stormed off toward her bedroom.
Ryan again. Rebecca swirled her peas and carrots through her steamed rice. She’d lost her appetite, too.
Jordan ate everything on his plate, but kept his head down until he reached for seconds and then noticed his mom’s listlessness. “Lisa bought an athletic booster card for baseball season so she could get a discount on the game tickets. And the girls I see her hang with have loads more cash to throw around.”
“Who are these girls? Do I know them or are they new friends she’s met with Ryan?”
Jordan shrugged. He finished his meal, then he, too, disappeared. By the time Rebecca tidied up and left for her job at the Tumbleweed, both kids were in their rooms, and she was once again convinced that she had to meet Grant Lane.
THE NEXT MORNING Rebecca gave herself two hours to meet Ryan’s father and enlist his help in breaking up their kids. She hadn’t handled yesterday’s conversation very well. He’d sounded as if he favored Ryan and Lisa being a couple. It was up to her to convince him otherwise.
Rebecca tried to anticipate how their discussion might go if he continued to oppose her. Well, it wouldn’t be a surprise. Grant Lane probably thought his son was a great catch.
And rightly so, she admitted grudgingly. Rebecca couldn’t blame Lisa for thinking that Ryan was hot. His eyes were a clear, arresting blue, framed by lashes most girls would kill for. Add his cool car to all that, and any girl would be impressed.
Again, Rebecca turned her thoughts to the father. What kind of man bought his teenage son a convertible? Grant must have bought it, because Ryan clearly didn’t work. It would help if he did.
Some men had skewed values. Jack, for example. The only reason Rebecca was willing to meet with a strange man was to ensure that Lisa was better equipped to deal with the Jack Geroux types than she’d been. That was why she’d canceled two clients who hadn’t been able to come in later. Rebecca could see money flying out the window, and she’d have to juggle her bills again. Did single dads have as much difficulty making ends meet?
For the first time Rebecca wondered what had happened to Ryan’s mother. Most likely she’d died, since the kids lived with their dad. Rebecca caught herself momentarily feeling sorry for the children. For Grant Lane, too. Single parenting was hard, regardless of the circumstances.
Lost in her thoughts, Rebecca almost missed the entry to the Lanes’ housing development. Reading off street names, she found the one she was looking for, and made a right turn onto a tree-lined avenue. The homes were spacious, and their landscaping immaculate.
