Prison.

Several years earlier David had been hit by a two-by-four on a job site. The impact had stolen his breath. He remembered the feeling. The shock. The pain. He felt the same way now.

Brynn’s birth father was in prison. Hadley, despite all her previous assurances to the contrary, not only knew the man’s name but that he was incarcerated.

Details, he needed details. David took several seconds to find his breath and steady his emotions. “Tell me everything you know.”

Hadley flinched at the no-nonsense tone he’d made no attempt to soften. She lifted her chin. “His name is Justin. My grandparents live in the same small town where he grew up.”

This was far worse than David had imagined. This boy, or man, hadn’t been a stranger, but someone she’d known well. “You knew him a long time?”

“No,” she said, surprising him. “He was several years older. The first time I met him was right after I graduated from high school. I went to North Dakota to spend the summer with my grandparents.”

When she hesitated, David made an impatient go-ahead motion with one hand. He couldn’t quite wrap his mind around what she was saying.

Despite the heat from the now blazing sun, his skin felt numb. The cold went all the way to his bones.

“Justin was home from college for the summer.” Her lips curved briefly. “I was flattered that a handsome college man couldn’t take his eyes off me. It wasn’t long until we were a couple.”

David wondered why the image of Hadley with this man so many years ago bothered him. “Continue.”

She flushed at the brusque tone, but nodded as if understanding the effort it took for him to keep a semblance of composure.

“He swept me off my feet.” Her laugh held a hard edge. “Corny, but true. Compliments. Flowers. A lot of attention.”

Pain filled her eyes, and she glanced away.

The silence lengthened. Finally, David had to say what she’d implied. “You fell in love with him.”

A startled look crossed her face. “I never loved him. While I was flattered and attracted to him, he was too intense for me.”

“Yet, you slept with him.”

“One time, and it…” Her voice trailed off before she cleared her throat. “Just one time.”

David pulled his brows together. The haunted look in her eyes had him reaching for her hand. When he located his voice, it was warm and soothing. “Did he force you, Hadley?”

She hesitated, then slowly shook her head. “I honestly don’t think he heard me say no. By then, we were so far—”

“The son of a bitch.” David wished the man was in front of him now. Though he’d never been a violent man, he wanted to punch him. The guy had no doubt heard her say no. He just hadn’t cared to stop. “I’m sorry.”

Hadley’s fingers trembled in his. “One time was all it took.”

Gaining control of his emotions, David kept his tone low and conversational. “What did he say when you told him you were pregnant?”

“I didn’t tell him.”

“Why not?”

“After that night, he became very possessive. He grabbed me, hard enough to leave a bruise, because he’d heard another guy had been flirting with me at a party.” Her face turned ashen. “He took my phone and scrolled through my text messages. When he saw the guy had texted me, he slapped me.”

David’s fingers tightened on hers. He swore again.

“That’s when I ended it.”

“He doesn’t sound like a guy who’d just walk away.”

Her gaze shifted to a tree with a gnarled trunk. “Flowers flooded my grandparents’ home, followed by dozens of text messages saying he was sorry, insisting he loved me, begging me to give him another chance.”

“Did you give him that chance?” David kept his voice easy, not wanting to upset her further.

“No. There was something wrong with him. He kept it well-controlled, most of the time, but, well, there was something wrong.”

“That’s why you didn’t tell him about the baby.”

“I was already back home by the time I discovered I was pregnant.”

“What did your parents say?”

“Remember, it was just me and my dad. And no, I didn’t tell him.” A twisted smile lifted her lips. “Dad had warned me to keep my distance from Justin Mapes. He knew the family.”

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

“You didn’t tell your father because you felt guilty for seeing the guy after he told you not to?” David felt as if he was trying to solve a puzzle that was missing a few dozen pieces. Or maybe his anger over what had happened to Hadley wasn’t allowing him to think clearly.

“I didn’t tell him for several reasons. My dad had a temper, and I wasn’t certain how he’d react to the news. Mainly, I kept quiet because I didn’t want to take the chance that Justin—or his family—would discover I was pregnant.” Hadley cleared her throat. “The Mapes family are big into bloodlines. After what my dad told me about Justin’s father and the out-of-control behavior I’d witnessed with Justin, I didn’t want them anywhere near my baby.”

Brynn. Bile rose in David’s throat as he thought about his sweet, loving daughter being subjected to violence. “You made the right decision.”

Her eyes widened, his comment clearly not expected.

“Brynn’s safety takes precedence over Justin’s right to know.” He cocked his head. “How did you keep the pregnancy from your father?”

“My father had started dating. Our place was small, and though he insisted otherwise, I was in the way.” The light in her eyes dimmed. “My friend had recently moved to Chicago and gotten a job. I told him I wanted to delay college until I had more money saved. He agreed.”

“That’s why you were in Chicago.”

She nodded.

“Did you consider keeping Brynn?”

“I wanted to keep her. I tried to figure out a way to make it work.” Her gaze met his. “But, always, thoughts of what would happen if Justin found me—found us—haunted me. Besides, what kind of life could I give her? I grew up in a single-parent household where there was never enough money. I wanted the best for her. Two parents who would love and cherish her. A happily married couple who could give her the kind of life I couldn’t.”

David didn’t know what to say. Despite Hadley’s best effort, Brynn lived in a single-parent home with an absentee mother. The exact fate Hadley had hoped to avoid. “Justin has never found out.”

“No.”

“Why is he in prison?”

“The violent tendencies I’d glimpsed in North Dakota apparently evolved over the years. Five years ago, he was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault. He was sentenced to twenty-five years in Joliet.”

“How do you know this?”

“I keep tabs on him.”

David arched a brow.

“Trust me, it’s not because I care.” She didn’t bother to keep the disgust from her voice.

“Do you have any idea when he’ll be eligible for parole?”

“Not for another sixteen years.” Her smile was fierce. “In Illinois, that charge requires the criminal serve eighty-five percent of his sentence. By the time he gets out, Brynn will be an adult.”

“That’s a relief.” David searched her face. “Why not tell me this before, Hadley? Did you think I wouldn’t understand?”

She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I’ve done everything possible to keep Justin from knowing about Brynn. I believed not telling anyone was the only way to keep her safe.”

“Why tell me now?”

“The same reason you told me about Whitney.” Those beautiful blue eyes met his. “I don’t want lies between us.”

David closed his eyes for a second, fighting for composure. “Thank you for trusting me, for being honest with me and for caring for Brynn.”

“I love her.”

Simple words could say so much. Explain so much.

“She loves you, too.” He tightened his hold on her hand. “You did an unselfish thing, allowing her to be adopted.”

“I thought it was best, but…” A haunted look filled her eyes. “What’s she going to think when she discovers I gave her up?”

“You didn’t give her up.” David emphasized the phrase used all too commonly in these situations. It was simple semantics, he thought, but words held power. Giving up a child implied a lack of value, and David knew how much Hadley valued Brynn. “You went to great lengths to place her in a loving family. You wanted to make sure she was well cared for.”

“What if she asks about her birth father?” Hadley asked quietly.

“We tell her the truth.”

“No.” Hadley shook her head vigorously, panic blanketing her face.

David kept his tone level. “We won’t lie to her.”

“If she knows, she could tell someone.” Fear had Hadley’s words coming out in a rush. “I know it seems like a long shot, but think of that six-degree thing. Justin is incarcerated, so he’s out of the picture for now, but like I said before, bloodlines matter in his family.”

“All good points.” David watched the stiffness ease from Hadley’s shoulders at his agreement. “But his family has no claim on her. I’m certain there is a way we can answer Brynn’s questions honestly without giving information that could bring Justin’s family to our doorstep.”

Hadley expelled a shaky breath.

“We won’t give her his name. We’ll tell her she can know his name when she’s old enough to make decisions about what to do with the information.” David tapped his fingers against his thigh as he considered. “For now, we’ll leave it that her birth father was someone you once dated. Period.”

“I could say he’s not a nice man.”

David hesitated, then shook his head. “Wouldn’t that spawn more questions? Like, why you’d be with someone who wasn’t nice?”

“I didn’t think of that.” Hadley pulled away, flinging out her hands in frustration. “The problem is, I don’t know what is the right thing to say.”

“We’ll figure out something.” He kept his gaze steady on hers. “There’s a new child psychologist in town. We could speak with him. If we feel comfortable after visiting with him, you and I will talk with Brynn.”

“Are you really okay with telling her who I am?”

“I want her to know what a strong, brave, wonderful woman she has for a mother.” Then David did what he’d been wanting to do all afternoon. He kissed her.

* * *

Hadley and David met with Dr. Gallagher that afternoon. The psychologist had had a last-minute cancellation and was happy to fit them into his schedule.

Speaking freely about her worries had been a relief. With David’s strong, supportive presence beside her, it had been surprisingly easy to share. Hadley wondered if Brynn might benefit from a few sessions with Dr. Gallagher.

It was nearly suppertime when they picked up Brynn from Clay’s office and returned home.

“Can I read in the hammock until supper?” Brynn asked as they stepped inside the house. “I’ve been at school all afternoon.”

A smile lifted David’s lips.

Hadley’s tone remained easy. “Why don’t you toss a few balls for Ruckus first? He’s been inside most of the day.”

“After we play catch, then can I read?”

At Hadley’s nod, Brynn was out the back door in a flash, dog at her heels.

As she and David strolled into the kitchen, she saw his laptop on the table, open to some sort of architectural design program. Routine, she thought, everyday life. One day, her life might be back to being simple.

But she would never let it be the way it was before, when she kept her thoughts and feelings to herself, when the wall she’d erected didn’t allow anyone to get too close.

Never again, Hadley vowed. No matter how hard, she wouldn’t shy away from having the difficult conversations or speaking from the heart.

David stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He nuzzled her hair. “What are you thinking?”

“We should tell her outside.” On the drive over, Hadley had given the matter considerable thought, considering and rejecting a variety of possibilities. “Maybe go for a walk. There’s something about being active that makes conversation come easier.”

David didn’t immediately agree, so she added, “Some of the best talks I had with my dad were when we were at the sink doing dishes.”

“You’re right.” He turned her in his arms. “For me, it was when my dad and I were shooting hoops.”

“I just want to get this over with.”

“Don’t worry.” He tipped her chin up and kissed her gently on the lips. “You’re not alone. We’re a team. Remember that.”

Hadley nodded, a lump forming in her throat. Then, squaring her shoulders, she headed for the back door.

David was a firm and steady presence as he followed her outside and down the steps to the terrace. Though butterflies fluttered in her belly and the hands at her sides trembled, she found comfort in his nearness, in the strength emanating from him.

The fact she agreed this step was necessary didn’t stop Hadley from worrying.

When she spotted her daughter in the hammock, book open, chuckling at something she’d just read, Hadley almost turned and went back inside. Who was she to turn this little girl’s world upside down?

David stepped to her side. “This is the right thing.”

“I hope so.”

As if sensing her unease, he looped an arm around her shoulders, gave them a squeeze. “You’ll see.”

“Looks like a good book,” Hadley called out.

Brynn carefully inserted a lace bookmark to save her place, then scrambled out of the hammock. “It’s really funny. Gram got it for me.”

“I loved to read when I was your age,” Hadley said. “We’ll have to talk favorite books sometime.”

Brynn’s eyes lit up. “I have lots of favorites.”

Hadley smiled. “Me, too.”

“How about a walk in the woods?” David asked.

“Can Ruckus come, too? Please?”

The dog, who’d been snoozing beside her, was on his feet, his hopeful look matching the one on Brynn’s face.

“Sure. No problem.” David’s voice sounded unnaturally hearty. “The more the merrier.”

Brynn appeared puzzled for a second, as if sensing something amiss. Then she smiled.

“Your dad mentioned a walking trail.” Hadley slanted a glance at David, received a nod.

“It’s really cool.” Brynn did a little twirl. “Wait until you see the meadow.”

“Meadow?” Hadley arched a brow. “In the middle of the woods?”

“There was this big explosion one night—”

“Lightning hit,” David explained. “One tree went down, took out a couple nearby.”

“People came and hauled away the wood. For fireplaces,” Brynn explained. “They left stumps for us to sit on.”

“It’s one of our favorite spots.” David gave his daughter a wink.

“I can’t believe I never heard about it,” Hadley mused as Brynn turned and led them into the thick grove of trees.

“We don’t talk about it much.” Brynn’s voice drifted back. “It’s a secret.”

David coughed to hide his chuckle.

Both Hadley and David kept the conversation easy until they reached the clearing. As promised, there were tree stumps and scraggly strands of grass.

The absence of trees let sunlight fill the area, while a light breeze whispered through the surrounding trees.

Brynn turned in a circle, arms outstretched, her face lifted to the light. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

Hadley’s heart overflowed with love for this child. Not only was Brynn lovely on the outside, but she had a beautiful heart.

“This is the perfect spot for a story. I have one I’d like to tell you.” Hadley patted the flat surface of a stump. “Interested?”

“I love stories.” Brynn’s eyes sparkled. “Are there fairies in this story? Princesses? Pigs?”

“Pigs?” David looked so startled both Brynn and Hadley giggled.

Hadley shook her head. “No fairies, princesses or pigs, but there’s a girl with long blond hair and big blue eyes.”

“Like me.” Brynn touched the strands pulled back in a high pony.

“And like me.” Hadley fingered a lock of her own hair.

“Our hair is the same color.” Brynn sounded surprised, as if she’d just noticed.

“Yes, it is.” A trickle of sweat rolled down Hadley’s spine. Dear God, she hoped telling Brynn was the right decision.

“Tell me the story,” Brynn ordered.

“Brynn.” David shot her a warning look. “Don’t push.”

“She said she had a story to tell me,” Brynn protested, then smiled at Hadley. “I’ll be patient.”

It was the smile that did it. Full of innocence and trust, that smile made Hadley realize she didn’t want unnecessary lies between her and this sweet child she dearly loved.

Hadley took a deep breath.

David offered her an encouraging smile.

Brynn gazed expectantly.

“When I was a little girl, barely older than you, I would go visit my grandparents every summer. They lived in a small town in a different state.”

“I bet that was fun. I always have fun with Gram.”

“It was fun. My grandma taught me how to cook, and my grandfather taught me how to bake.” So many wonderful memories forever tainted by the events of that summer. Hadley cleared her throat and continued. “I met a boy there. He was older, already in college. When I returned home that fall, I discovered I was going to have a baby.”

Brynn’s eyes grew wide. Clearly, she hadn’t anticipated this twist. “You had a baby?”

Hadley’s heart pounded against her ribs. “I did.”

“A boy?” Brynn leaned forward, her eyes bright with curiosity. “Or a girl?”

“A girl.” Hadley’s lips trembled before she regained control. “A beautiful baby girl.”

Brynn’s brows pulled together. “I’ve never seen your girl. Where does she live?”

Hadley clasped her hands together. “I wanted the best for my child. Her father and I weren’t together. I wanted her to have both a mommy and a daddy. So I chose a family who could give her everything I couldn’t.”

Brynn nodded sagely. “She was adopted, just like me.”

“That’s right.” Hadley forced the words past the lump in her throat.

Beside her, David expelled a shaky breath.

“Do you know where she is?” Brynn tilted her head. “Have you visited her?”

“I went to where she lives with her family.” Hadley spoke carefully as her heart swelled with emotion.

“I bet she was excited to see you.” Brynn thought for a moment. “Probably scared, too.”

“Scared?” Hadley pushed the word past suddenly frozen lips.

“Wondering if you liked her.” A sadness briefly filled Brynn’s eyes, then cleared. “She was lucky.”

“Why lucky?” David spoke for the first time since Hadley had begun the story.

“Now she has two mommies.”

Hadley wanted to retreat, but she couldn’t back out now. “You’re that little girl.”

Confusion blanketed Brynn’s face. “What little girl?”

Hadley almost said my little girl, but swallowed the impulse. “You’re the child I gave birth to all those years ago.”

The glance Brynn shot her father was a wordless plea.

David moved to his daughter and crouched before her. Taking her hand, he met Brynn’s confused gaze with a steady one of his own. “What Hadley is trying to say is, she’s your birth mother.”

Brynn shifted her attention to Hadley. Blue eyes met blue eyes. “You’re my mommy?”

What did she say to that? Hadley’s mind raced. Should she reiterate she was Brynn’s birth mother? Or simply go with the child’s assessment?

Hoping she was doing the right thing, Hadley nodded.

Brynn’s quivering lips lifted in a faint smile. “That’s why we look alike.”

“You think we look alike?”

Brynn thought for a moment, then nodded. “Lia thinks I look like you.”

Pleasure flowed through Hadley’s veins like warm honey.

“I realize you already have a mommy, but I hoped maybe you’d want me to be a part of your life, too.”

“Two mommies.” Brynn considered. “Angela at school has two mommies. They’re lesbians. That means there’s two mommies and no daddy.”

“You’ve got a daddy.” She only meant to reinforce David’s relationship to Brynn, but the spark that lit in the child’s eyes made Hadley wish she’d chosen her words more carefully.

“Do I have two daddies, too?”

Tricky, tricky, Hadley thought as the earth shifted beneath her feet.

“Only one,” David answered, his tone warm and reassuring. “Just me.”

Brynn studied him for a long moment before her gaze shifted to Hadley. “What about my other daddy? Can I see him?”

“I haven’t seen your birth father in years.” The psychologist had advised them to stick as close to the truth as possible. Hadley could not, would not, use the word daddy in reference to Justin. “I’m very sorry, but I don’t know how to get ahold of him.”

All true, as Hadley had never attempted to navigate the penal system.

Brynn’s gaze narrowed and remained firmly fixed on Hadley’s face. “Where does he live?”

Despite the cool breeze rustling the leaves, perspiration slid down Hadley’s back. She took a breath to steady her nerves and her voice. “I don’t know where he lives.”

Again, honest. She didn’t know the exact prison cell number where he resided.

Hadley summoned a smile. “If he ever contacts me, I’ll tell you.”

Brynn appeared to mull over the words, then nodded. “I have another question.”

Nodding, Hadley held her breath.

“Since my other mommy doesn’t have time, will you answer the questions for my Founder’s Day project?”