One White Lie: Barrington Billionaire's Series: Book One (6 page)

“N
ana. Nana.” Lena heard Nicholas shouting from the other room. It was a bittersweet sound. How she wished her son could have more family surrounding him, but the closer they became, the harder it was living in Boston.

Her father came to sit by her on the couch. “Your mother is having one heck of a time getting little Nicky to eat his vegetables. If I remember right, you were a picky eater at that age too.”

Lena turned to face him. “I’ll eat almost anything.”

Her father laughed. “Not at two. I remember some little girl taking her peas and flicking them one by one onto the floor. Of course our collie didn’t mind that so much.”

I love peas.
Some things do change over time. And by the sounds of her mother’s voice in the other room, having a grandchild in the house changed a lot.

“Maybe I should go and check on them.”

When she started to get up, her father took her hand and stopped her. “Lena, give them some time alone. It will be fine. Your mother was able to raise three children; I’m sure she can sweet talk this one just like she did you guys.”

He was probably right. Her mother had a way of saying just the right thing, and without even knowing it, Lena found herself doing what she said she was not in any way going to do, under any circumstances. Nicholas’s high-pitched laughter echoed through the house.
Looks like you haven’t lost your touch, Mom.

Sitting back again, now more relaxed, she turned to her father again. “I’m glad we came this weekend. Nicholas is enjoying it.”

“We love having him here and you, too. It has been too long.” Before she could stop him he went right down the guilt-trip path she had avoided the past two days. “I know things were difficult between you and your mother at first, but you have to forgive her for what she said. She may not have handled it correctly, but neither did you.” He patted her hand as he spoke. “You might think you are doing the right thing now, but a boy needs a man around to show him certain things.”

Like how to leave the toilet seat up? No, thank you.
“Dad, I . . . we . . . are doing fine. I can do this. Many women raise children alone now. Having a father is a plus but no longer a requirement.”

His face looked shocked. “So having me in your life wasn’t all that important to you?”

Oh shit. Will I ever learn not to put my foot in my mouth?
Wrapping her arms around her father, she said not only the words he needed to hear but the ones that reflected what was in her heart. “Dad, you are, and always have been, the most important man in my life.”

He hugged her gently then pulled away to look into her eyes. “I know, pumpkin. But I am talking about Nicholas. I remember taking you and your brothers out deep-sea fishing early in the morning while your mother stayed home, baking cookies for your school parties. We would spend hours out there. Do you think it was all about fishing for me?”

Lena sat there quietly. She hadn’t given it much thought. Those were special times they’d spent together, but until he mentioned it, she had thought of it as him with his boys and having to take the one girl with them to ruin it. She always had felt in the way.
Was I wrong?

“It was because I wanted to spend time with you. To watch your eyes light up when you recalled your big catch of the day was better than any fishing trips with my buddies. You might not be ready for him to be in Nicholas’s life right now, but don’t close that door for good. Things change, people change. He might not be ready now to be a father, but if he chooses to one day, don’t shut him out in revenge for his actions from the past. It will only be Nicholas who suffers later.”

Was it getting easier to hear the same lecture or had the message changed over the years? She had to admit, this one pulled at her heartstrings, where the other times she only got pissed off.

“Lena, one of these days, you are going to find yourself a fine young man who is going to take my place.” When Lena opened her mouth to correct him, he put his finger up and stopped her. “Whoever this man is who hurt you like he did, you have to let it go. If you don’t you will never have room in that big heart of yours for Mr. Right. He’s out there waiting for you. You just have to let him in.” Her father let out a soft chuckle. “Besides, I have a wedding fund set aside for you, and if you don’t use it, I might have to take a trip around the world with your mother, and you know how much I hate to fly.”

He and Mom weren’t only a team, but their lives had been much richer because of their sacrifices. Lena knew her father would never use that money for a trip around the world. It had always been family first.
Is he right? Is refusing to let go of my anger with Brice holding me back, not allowing me to move forward?

Her focus had only been on her son. Yes, she was lonely, but dating again scared the hell out of her. Lena had thought about joining a love-match site and had done searches on them a few times. It wasn’t for her. Not that she didn’t believe people could find love there, she had already found love once and still hadn’t recovered fully from the loss.
Sorry, Dad, but marriage isn’t in my future.

Lena understood her father’s fear. He was worried there was no one to take care of his baby girl.
Sometimes it scares me too.
It was hard, damn hard at times. This wasn’t a college course that if you fail you could always take again. She had one shot to make this right: Nicholas. And nothing was going to get in the way of her being the best mother she could be.

No matter how you planned it, life didn’t always turn out the way you pictured. Lena, like every young girl, had dreamed of having a glamorous movie star wedding and living in a mansion with her handsome husband who adored her and their children, of course.
At least one dream came true.
She could live without the others.

Look at me now, sitting on the couch on a Saturday night, watching my son run the same circles from kitchen to living room as I did with my brothers. It’s a shame you don’t have siblings to play with, Nicholas.

Panic filled her for a moment.
At least you better not have one.
She laid a hand on her flat abdomen.
There’s no way.
Her heart raced as she thought of how reckless she had been the other afternoon with Brice. How foolish could she have been, letting her desires take control and block out any sense of reality and responsibility? If anyone understood what ninety-nine point nine percent accuracy meant, it was her. Lena had been using birth control pills the first time she became pregnant. The doctor told her it was rare, but it could happen.
What are the odds that can happen twice? Shit.

“Are you okay, Lena? You look pale.”

The concern in her father’s voice brought her back to the moment. “I haven’t been sleeping well. You remember those nights you stayed up with us when we were teething? Well, it’s my turn now.” It was true, lack of sleep was affecting her, but that was something she had learned to live with.

“Your mother and I can put Nicholas to bed. Why don’t you take advantage of a night off? Go out with your friends. It will do you good.”

Going to bed was more in line with what she wanted to do, but maybe he was right. If she got out, got some fresh air, she would feel better about a lot of things. “Are you sure?”

“Nothing would make your mother happier than being able to watch Nicholas a bit longer. Now go before he notices you’re gone.” He pulled the keys to their Subaru out and handed them to her.

“He isn’t used to me not being here when he goes to bed. Nicholas might fuss and not sleep.”

“Good thing we’ve had a lot of practice over the years. Lena, quit making excuses. You know your mother and I can handle anything, and if needed, we’ll call you. Now go.”

It was her own insecurities that were troubling her. She wasn’t leaving him with a stranger. What child doesn’t love to have a sleepover with their grandparents? She knew she had when she was little.
Up late and got away with more there than at home.
Maybe it was time to release some of the hold. Besides, he was in the best care anyone could ever ask for.

Leaning over, she gave her father a kiss on the cheek, grabbed her coat from the hallway closet, and headed out. Exactly where to she wasn’t sure.

She spent the next half hour driving around in circles. She may have grown up here, but she hadn’t lived here for five years. So much had changed in that short period of time. What was happening to her small town? The little mom-and-pop shops were now filled with the same stores you found in the city. Like herself, things moved forward, but it was sad all the same.

Then she came across her favorite after-school hangout. Zips Diner was the one place that stayed open late, and she had gone there many times on a date after a movie.
Oh, those were the days when my biggest worry was being home before my ten o’clock curfew.

She pulled up, and to her amazement, it was open.
But do you still have the best coffee in town?

As she entered the diner it hit her: nothing had changed. It was set up exactly as it had been years ago. The inside had the original red leather seats in the booths and at the counter. She used to sit, spinning on those stools while having an ice cream soda after school with her brothers before going home for dinner. They thought back then they were pulling one over on their parents, but now she realized her parents weren’t as ignorant about what they were up to as they pretended to be.

Grabbing the booth farthest from the door, she picked up a menu.
Breakfast served all day.
Scanning, she found her favorite: farm fresh eggs with a side of corned beef hash.

The waitress came and took her order then walked away. Such a change from Boston where everyone was always in a rush, running from one place to another. Even the waitress here worked at her own peaceful pace.
I’m so jealous. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t watching a clock, having a deadline to meet, or running late for an appointment.

Her father was right; she needed to get out. If she wasn’t at work, she was with her son. Lena couldn’t remember the last time she had been alone.
Of course the city doesn’t allow for much of that anyway.
Digging in her purse, she pulled out a quarter and placed it in the slot on the tabletop jukebox.
These still can’t be here, can they?
The coin clanked as it entered and the light went on. Pressing B2, “Falling in Love with You” began to play. It wasn’t a song from her generation, but it was one that meant so much to her parents. Her father still bragged about how he won her mother’s heart by singing this song to her back in college.

It wasn’t the waitress who delivered her food. It was Rex, her high school sweetheart. The last twelve years had been good to him.
Still as handsome as ever.
“Hi Rex. How are you?”

He sat in the seat across from her. “Hey, Lena. I’m good. Are you just visiting or moving back to town?”

There were many times she’d thought about it. How raising Nicholas would be so different here. He would be able to ride his bike to school and play in the neighborhood park. No subways, no buses, because neither were needed here. But her dreams were filled with so much more. She wanted to work for the biggest and strongest companies there were. Lena finally landed a job, and even though it was temporary, it was one that was about to open doors for her. A company like B&H carried a lot of clout not only in Boston but worldwide. A recommendation from them was exactly what she needed and what she had been striving for. Coming back here would be giving up on everything she’d worked so hard for and would close the door on any future opportunities. Every sacrifice would’ve been for nothing.

“I’m only here for the weekend to visit the folks.” She looked around and noticed there were a few customers. “Are you sure you won’t get in trouble for sitting around? I mean there are customers and old man Zip won’t be too happy if he catches you.”

Rex let out a deep laugh. “Yeah, I’ve had my share of getting my ass chewed out by him over the years. That’s why I bought the place last year. Now I can sit when I want.”

He owns this place? Why?
“Wow. Guess things have changed. So Rex, why buy this place? I mean, why not open up one of those fancy restaurants? My mother told me you had all the culinary skills needed, so why stay here?”