Page 109 of Wyatt

“Thanksgiving? When Ford caught you—”

“After that, when Wyatt was home for Christmas.”

Gerri had slid back into her chair and now gave her a smile, a nod. “I wondered if something hadn’t happened between you two. My son always loved you. I know you loved him too.” She squeezed Coco’s hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Coco wiped her cheek. “I was ashamed. I knew…well, your family doesn’t make mistakes—”

“Oh, please.Honey. We are epic with our mistakes. You’ve heard the one about Reuben leaving home because his little brother stole his girlfriend? Or Tate being arrested for a drunk and disorderly? We make mistakes like everyone else. The difference is that Goddoesn’tmake mistakes. So…” She touched Mikka’s leg. “This little guy is a gift to all of us, just like you were. Are.”

Coco looked away, her eyes blurry. Aw, she was just tired from the crazy trip over the ocean.

And the fact that she’d been so tragically right about Wyatt.

“You probably don’t know this, but you came to live with us right about the time Wyatt was moving out.”

Yes, actually, she did. Because she’d longed for Wyatt to stay.

“I was worried that we were going to lose him. And then you came to live with us, and it was game over. I liked to imagine that he came home to see us, but in truth, I think his heart belonged to you. Wyatt is my romantic, and once he gets something in his heart, he doesn’t let go.”

Mikka’s breathing deepened as he fell asleep against Coco’s chest.

“It’s also his folly. He sets up an ideal, and when his life falls short, he doesn’t know how to adjust, so he goes back to what he knows. He did it after Orrin died, and I think…well, how long has he known about Mikka?”

“About thirty-six hours.” She made a face. “I was going to tell him that summer when I came back to the ranch. No, actually, I was going to tell him the weekend that Dad Marshall died, but—”

“All our lives changed that day. And Wyatt didn’t handlethatwell at all. I think in his head he had hopes to make it to the NHL and then somehow his father would—”

“Be proud of him? Show up for his games?”

Gerri frowned, but nodded. “Orrin loved Wyatt so much he didn’t want to stand in the way of his dreams. It killed him to let Wyatt move to Helena, but he did it because he knew it was best for Wyatt. As for going to his games…I think it simply reminded him too much of the fact…well, the fact that he’d wanted to play hockey too, like his brother. But his father needed him on the ranch. At first, he feared letting Wyatt get so attached to something that could backfire.”

“Except it didn’t.”

“He saw very early how good Wyatt was at the sport. And then, when Wyatt switched to goalie, he really lit on fire.” Gerri brushed Mikka’s hair back from his face—probably he needed a haircut. “I remember the day Orrin came home and told me that he thought we should send Wyatt away. It was like cutting off his arm, but he did it.Wedid it. Because we were his parents, and you do anything for your child, even if it hurts, right?”

Yeah.

“Wyatt puts his heart into everything he does. It’s what makes him special. He doesn’t hold back… My guess is that he gave you his whole heart, Coco, back when…when Mikka was conceived. I think today he just ran into a speed bump.”

Given her his whole heart.

The one thing she’d been afraid to do.

“Wyatt has built an amazing career,” Coco said. “He’s on magazine covers, and everywhere he goes, people know him. He has a big life. And mine is…small. I live in a tiny apartment and my only friend is my computer. But…I never wanted a big life. I wanted…”

“Wyatt.”

She nodded. “Except, I never told him that. I wanted him to want me, without…without telling him that I loved him. Instead, I kept leaving him, hoping he’d read my mind. I was so stupid.”

“I think that makes you romantic, wanting your white knight. And frankly, Wyatt is just as romantic. He wants tobethe white knight. You two are the perfect pair. No wonder he loves you.”

She shook her head.

“What?”

“He shouldn’t. I…I lied to him.”

“Love sees past that, Coco. It’s not based on what we do or don’t do. True love isn’t conditional.”