Reid was in the midst of a heated argument on the phone. “I can’t do this right now. I’ll call you when I can.” He slammed his cell phone closed and threw it across the room. It hit the wall and shattered into pieces. With a deep sigh, he dropped his head into his hands.

His rare display of anger startled Kate.

He reached for her. “I’m sorry.”

“Reid,” she said, crying again.

“What, baby?”

Tears coursed down her face. “He said I can’t see Maggie or my brothers. Do you think he meant that?”

“He’s mad right now. When he has time to calm down, he’ll change his mind.”

“I don’t think he will. I’ve never seen him like that before.” Another thought occurred to her. “I’ll call Andi. She’ll talk to him.”

Kate went into the kitchen to get the phone and dialed the number in Newport as she went back to sit next to Reid. “Andi, it’s Kate.”

“Hello, Kate.”

The warm comfort of her stepmother’s voice brought new tears to Kate’s eyes. “Have you talked to Dad?”

“He’s very upset.”

“Yes.”

“So it’s true? You’ve become involved with a man your father’s age?”

“It’s not what you think. I love him.”

“Did he give you that locket you had on at Christmas?”

“Yes.”

“And you felt you had to lie to me when I asked you about it?”

“I’m sorry,” Kate said, weeping again. “Dad is so mad. I don’t know what to do. He said I can’t see Maggie or the boys. He can’t mean that.”

“He does mean it. You’ve hurt him very much, and by hurting him and lying to me, you’ve hurt me, too. I don’t think you have any idea what you’ve done.”

“All I did was love a wonderful man. I thought you of all people would understand that.”

“What kind of wonderful man takes a girl who’s nearly thirty years younger than him to bed? No, I don’t understand at all. And if you’re hoping I’ll run interference for you with your father, you’ve vastly underestimated me.”

Kate brushed at new tears. “I’m sorry. I love you, Andi. I’m sorry I lied to you.”

Andi’s voice broke. “I’m sorry you felt you had to. Take care of yourself, Kate.”

“Andi—” Kate said, but the click on the other end told her she was gone. Kate dissolved into tears, and nothing Reid said or did brought her any comfort.

Chapter 29

“Are you serious?” Aidan said as he followed Clare into her house in Newport. “This is where you live?”

Clare laughed at his reaction. “Your house isn’t exactly a shack.”

He checked out the ocean view from the back of the house. “I never pictured this.”

“I told you my ex-husband is an architect.”