Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [70]
"It's okay." He put his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. "It's hard to be strong all the time."
"Sometimes I get tired," she admitted.
"I know. I understand." He stroked her back, hoping she would let herself lean on him for at least a moment.
"You do understand, don't you?" she said, looking up at him. "You're the strong one, too."
"Oldest-child syndrome."
"I want to keep my promise."
"I know you do. And you will. I'm sure of it."
She shook her head. "I wish I could be sure of it. I've already made so many mistakes, Tyler."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Kate. You were a young girl when you made that promise to your mother. And maybe she shouldn't have asked you."
"It was the least I could do. She suffered so much at the end. I would have promised her anything to ease her mind." Kate took a deep breath, then stepped out of his arms. "Thanks for the shoulder to cry on."
"Anytime." He paused. "I mean that, Kate."
"Thanks. I guess I'll go home and forget about this until tomorrow. I need to talk to my father when he's sober. But even if he is sober -- how will I know if he's lying? He's very good at it." She took a breath. "Caroline always tells me I'm the suspicious one, looking over my shoulder, suspecting the worst from people instead of the best. It's because I don't trust myself to know what's the truth and what's not."
"You should have more faith in your instincts."
"I wish it was that easy. Where my father is concerned, I'm often baffled. Even if he tells me the truth, will I believe it? Or will the doubts eat away at me? Will I have to live with something else I can't stand to live with?" She stopped abruptly, realizing what she'd said.
"Something else?" he queried.
"Nothing."
It was definitely something, he thought, as she averted her gaze. What was she having trouble living with? Having given up her baby to a stranger? His stomach churned. Was that what haunted her? But would she protect her own secret so ferociously? Or did the secret belong to someone else -- someone she'd promised her mother to protect, Caroline or Ashley.
Or maybe he just wanted it to be one of them.
"I have to go," Kate said. "I shouldn't have come here and dumped all this on you."
"You needed to talk."
"And you were hoping I'd drop something juicy for you to bite into."
"I thought you were starting to trust me."
"I really can't let that happen."
He looked directly into her eyes. "I don't trust easily, either, Kate. My father lied endlessly to me, and I bought most of his sorry stories, I'm sad to say. But you live and you learn, and eventually you figure out who you can trust. You stop making those mistakes."
"Really? You think so? Because I just trusted you by telling you something I don't really want anyone else to know. Was that a mistake?"
He wanted to reassure her, but the words wouldn't come. If he and the McKennas ended up on opposite sides, he would choose his brother.
Disappointment flashed in her eyes. "Well, your silence is enlightening. Thanks for the chat. Good night." The door shut firmly behind her and Tyler punched his fist against the wall with a muttered curse.
He wanted to help his brother and his niece, not hurt Kate. But she would be hurt as soon as she found out just how far his deception went.
Yanking his wallet out of his pants, he pulled out the photograph of Amelia and stared hard at it. Her sweet, innocent face, blond curls, and blue eyes reminded him of Kate. But Amelia wasn't Kate; she was a child who had already lost her mother and almost her father.
He had to stay strong. He had to protect Amelia. Kate could take care of herself.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Kate asked a young woman browsing the bestseller rack early Monday morning.