Strike Out (24 page)

Tyler shrugged. “I guess.”

Zach knew Rennie wouldn’t be thrilled, but at least she’d know their son was safe. It was better than having him out wandering the streets, mad at the world.

***

Rennie was at the door when Zach pulled in the driveway. Her heart sank when she saw that he was alone. “You couldn’t find him?” She clutched the cordless phone. “Maybe I should call the police.”

“I found him. He wanted to spend the night at your parents’ place. I just came by to pick up some of his things. I told him I’d drop them off for him.”

“Oh.” Rennie stepped back so Zach could enter. She should be happy that Zach had found Tyler and he was safe, but she didn’t want him to run to her parents. They needed to sit down and talk it out as a family. That’s what they were, whether they liked or not.

“You just need to give him a little time.” He reached for her hand. “He’ll come around.”

“What if he doesn’t?” That was her biggest fear. She’d watched TV programs about addiction, and traumatic life experiences often created addicts. Had her desire to protect her son set him up for a lifetime of pain and resentment?

“He will,” Zach said soothingly. “Come on. Let’s sit down for a bit before we get Tyler’s things together.”

The way he said that led her to believe they would be packing for more than one night. At least she could call her mother to make sure he was all right, that he’d eaten well and taken his medication. He’d spent the night with his grandparents before, so they knew the protocol, but he’d never left home hating her before. Rennie allowed Zach to lead her into the living room. She felt numb, as if the entire morning, and even the magical night she’d spent with Zach, had been a dream. She and her son had always been close. If they were torn apart, she didn’t know how she would cope. Losing Nathan was bad enough. Losing Tyler was unthinkable.

“I know you’re worried,” Zach said when she sat on the sofa and folded her chest over her knees. “But I think Tyler is reacting the way any kid would. He’s hurt, confused, and angry. When he’s had time to think about it, he’ll realize you were only doing what you thought you had to in order to protect him. If he’s going to hate anyone, it’ll be me.”

When Rennie heard the anguish in Zach’s voice, she stole a glance at him. He looked almost as distraught as she was. She’d had Tyler’s unconditional love for the past ten years; Zach had only received his son’s hero worship for a matter of days. Still, she saw it was tearing him up. Reaching for his hand, she leaned back and closed her eyes. “You really think he’ll come around?”

He mimicked her actions, closing his eyes on a heavy sigh. “I do, and whatever we need to do to help him get through it, we will. But right now, I think he just needs a little time and space to process all this.”

“You’re probably right.” Tyler was a stubborn, opinionated kid, just like his dad. When he made up his mind, it was difficult to change it. She just hoped he was willing to reserve judgement before convicting her for being the worst mother on the planet. She’d learn to ignore other people’s judgement, but her son’s opinion was one of the few who still mattered. Her son and the man sitting beside her. “Do you think I’m a horrible person?”

Zach rewarded her with a wry grin. “Would I be here trying to comfort you if I did?”

“I don’t know. I’m still the mother of your child, after all.”

“The mother of my child.” Zach smiled as he stared into her eyes. “I love the sound of that.”

“Do you?” She sucked in a breath when she saw the emotion in his eyes. Despite the way the morning had turned out, Zach seemed genuinely relieved the truth was out. Rennie wished she could say the same. “It’s a big commitment, raising a child.”

“I’m ready.” He looked at their joined hands. “This is the way it should have been all along. You and me, raising our son. Facing challenges as a team. Maybe with a couple more kids thrown into the mix.” He flashed a quick grin that made her heart flutter. “You belong to me. I belong to you. That’s the way it’s always been, the way it was meant to be.”

She used to believe that with all her heart, but they were different people. They couldn’t pretend the past ten years hadn’t happened. Her life would have been so different had she stayed with Zach all those years ago, but they may not have survived as a couple or a family if she’d made a different choice. It was all just pointless speculation.

“You’re not ready to believe that, are you?” he asked.

“I’m not ready to try to figure out what this means for us. My first priority has to be Tyler and helping him through this.”

“I know, but you can’t deny how you feel forever, Ren. I see it in your eyes when you look at me. You want the same things I want. You want that family we always talked about, the life I promised you when we were too young and stupid to know we had to hold on with everything we had.”

She closed her eyes when it became too painful to face the hope and expectation in his eyes. She didn’t want to disappoint him, but she was afraid to give herself over to a fantasy that had nearly destroyed her. “I should help you get Tyler’s things together.” She didn’t want to talk anymore about the past or the future or the son they shared. She just wanted to be alone to sort out her thoughts.

Zach let her lead him down the hall toward Tyler’s bedroom. He stood in the doorway taking in the baseball paraphernalia cluttering the small room. There was a poster of Zach above the bed, and the signed baseball he’d given him for his birthday sat in a prominent place on the dresser.

“You really are his hero, you know,” Rennie said, reaching into the closet to retrieve a small overnight bag. She didn’t think she could let him stay away longer than a night or two. “So many times he told me he wanted to be just like you.” She walked to the dresser to retrieve his pajamas. “One night after Nathan died, he was lying in bed reading some sports magazine. He told me he wanted to be a pitcher just like you.” Zach slid his hand into his pocket and swallowed. “He said you were the best.” Her voice broke. “I went to bed and cried myself to sleep. I felt like the worst person, the most horrible mother. I was so ashamed of what I’d done, the choices I’d made.”

Zach entered the small room, took the bag and pajamas from Rennie’s hands, and set them on the twin bed. “You’re an amazing mom.” He held her. “If anyone’s to blame here, it’s me. For being stupid and selfish. If I hadn’t said those things, we wouldn’t be in this mess. I wouldn’t have lost you, and I wouldn’t have lost out on the opportunity to be a father to that amazing kid.”

Rennie appreciated his effort to share the blame, but it didn’t ease her guilt. Tyler may be angry at Zach for a while, but eventually Tyler would understand that if Zach was guilty of anything, it was being young and immature. She was guilty of lying to him. It seemed like an unforgivable sin. “I just want my son back.” She sniffled, burying her head in his chest.

“You haven’t lost him, baby. He’ll be back. You’ll see.”

“But what if he doesn’t want to come back?” she asked, squeezing her eyes shut. “What if he wants to live with my parents? Maybe he’ll ask to live with you.” Even with only one arm around her, Zach made her feel safe. She couldn’t hide from the truth in the safety of his arms forever. Eventually she had to face the possibility that she’d lost her son… forever.

“If he wants to live with me, he’s gonna be stuck with you too. I can promise you that.”

Rennie tipped her head back to see him smiling at her. She knew he was trying to reassure her, to make her feel better. Thinking about a life with Zach still scared her. “Zach, I—”

“I know,” he said, kissing her forehead. “You don’t wanna talk about this right now. I’m cool with that. Let’s get Tyler’s stuff together.”

Rennie sensed she’d hurt his feelings, but with her own heart breaking, it was difficult to think about mending his.

Zach sat in the driveway of the Baldwins’ house and looked at the modest structure that had been like a second home to him during his teen years. The people he’d considered his second parents who were supposed to be his in-laws, they
were
family. His son’s grandparents. He smiled at the thought as he climbed out of the car with Tyler’s overnight bag. Things were working out. No matter how torturous the path getting there had been, the destination was the same.

Marian met him at the back door, a tentative smile on her face. “I heard your car. Chuck took Tyler to the park. He thought hitting a few balls might help to take his mind off things.”

Zach bent to kiss Marian’s cheek as he dropped the bag in the foyer. “Probably a good idea. How did he seem to you?” Zach feared he already knew the answer. The boy had tried so hard to put on a brave face when Zach dropped him off earlier, but the anguish behind his fake smile was painfully obvious.

“He’ll be okay, honey,” Marian said, patting his forearm. “He just needs a little time to sort all this out. It’s a lot for a child to take in.”

“That’s what I told Ren.” Zach let Marian take his hand and lead him into the kitchen. “That it’s just gonna take some time. This is killing her though.”

“I know.” Marian gestured to a chair at the head of the table. “She called me after you left her house. She wanted to know how Tyler was.”

“What’d you tell her?” Zach hoped Marian had sugar-coated the truth.

Marian reached for two coffee mugs in the overhead cabinet. “That he’s a kid who’s had his world turned upside down. Right now, he sees this as a safe place, and it will be for as long as he needs it. I don’t want to come between my daughter and grandson, but I won’t send him home until he feels he’s ready.”

Zach sighed. He feared that’s the stance Marian would have taken. She was a strong-willed woman, much like her daughter, and if the issue wasn’t resolved quickly, they may butt heads over it. It would be up to him and Chuck to try to mediate. “I don’t want Tyler to blame his mother for her choices, Marian. She was doing what she felt she had to in order to protect him. I want that to be the message he receives from all of us.” He didn’t want her fueling their son’s anger by making him believe his anger was justified. That wouldn’t serve any of them.

Marian set the cups on the table and claimed the chair next to Zach. She narrowed her eyes, observing him carefully. “You’re telling me you don’t harbor any ill-will toward my daughter for keeping your son from you?”

Zach had expected that question. Marian wasn’t the type to bite her tongue. When something was on her mind, she always faced it head on. He’d admired that about her before. He needed more time to process his feelings, and he wished Rennie’s mother could understand that. “I love your daughter. Always have, always will.” He took a sip of his coffee, awaiting the response he knew would come.

“That’s not what I asked and you know it.”

Zach barely suppressed a sigh. “I’m angry at the whole situation, if you want to know the truth. I’m mad at myself for saying all the stupid things that drove Ren away. I’m mad at her for letting another man raise my kid—” He stopped before he said more than he should. It was time to let go, not hold on to the pain that had already ruined their lives.

Marian patted his hand with a sympathetic smile. “You’re right to be angry. Any man would be in your place.” Sitting back, she picked up her mug. “I’m angry too. Angry that my daughter felt she had to lie to me about who my grandson’s father was.”

Zach looked her in the eye. He didn’t believe for a second she hadn’t suspected the truth. “You must have known. The timing, the similarities between me and Tyler… You’re a smart woman. You must have seen the signs.”

She took a sip of her coffee and set the cup on the table, her hands coiled around the brightly colored ceramic mug naming her World’s Best Grandma. “At first I believed her. She’d never lied to me before, that I know of. When she told me she met someone a few weeks after she left home, that they’d had a brief affair, I had no reason to doubt her. I knew she was hurt and angry with you. It wasn’t so difficult to believe she would turn to another man for comfort.”

Just the thought of Rennie turning to another man for the comfort he should have provided made Zach fist his hand on the tabletop. “But when Tyler was born, didn’t the dates—”

“He was born a few weeks premature. That’s what Rennie told us.” Marian shook her head. “I still can’t believe she went to so much trouble to cover up the fact that you were Tyler’s father.”

Hearing the story from Rennie’s mother hurt even more. Zach could only imagine what Rennie must have been going through. Alone in a strange city with a baby to care for and no one to call on for support… except Nathan, of course. It was no wonder she had fallen in love with him. He must have seemed like the only person she could count on.

“I began to question it as Tyler got older. I saw so much of you in him.”

“Yet you never confronted Rennie? Why?” If she had, maybe, just maybe, Zach wouldn’t have missed out on so many years with his son. He couldn’t dwell on that though. Those years were lost to him forever, and he had to focus on the years he had left.

“I wanted to, but I was afraid of alienating her. Chuck and I saw so little of her as it was—maybe once or twice a year. She’d built a life for herself with Nathan, and she seemed happy. I didn’t want to jeopardize that, so I kept my mouth shut and let my daughter live as she saw fit. I figured if she was living with that secret, it was already torturing her. You know Rennie. She’s as honest as the day is long.”

Even when they were teens, Rennie had felt guilty telling her parents a little white lie so they could spend more time together. His buddies questioned their girlfriends about where they’d been and who they’d been with, but he’d never thought to ask Rennie those questions. He trusted her. “I know. She loved Nathan?” He didn’t even know why he’d asked. He should just let it go. Rennie told him she had, but he knew Marian would be honest about her daughter’s marriage.

“There are all different kinds of love,” Marian said quietly, as she smoothed the handmade place mat beneath her cup.