Blue watched from the top of the stairs as April reached for his arm, only to draw back before she touched him. The fact that she couldn’t touch her own son struck Blue as sad beyond words.

“The tenant’s cottage is out of sight of the house.” April stepped in front of him, forcing him to acknowledge her. “I’ll be with the workmen during the day. I’ll stay out of your way. Please.” Her chin came up again. “This…means a lot to me.”

Dean was unmoved by her pleas. “If you need money, I’ll write you a check.”

April’s nostrils flared. “You know I don’t need money.”

“Then I guess we don’t have anything more to say to each other.”

April finally realized she’d been beaten and pushed her trembling hands in the pockets of her jeans. “Sure. Enjoy the place.”

Blue couldn’t bear watching April’s heartbreaking attempt to hold on to her dignity. Even as she told herself this wasn’t her affair, the unplanned, ill-advised words came spilling out.

“Dean, your mother is dying.”

Chapter Five

April’s lips parted in shock. Dean stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

Blue had sort of meant it figuratively—that April was dying inside—but Dean didn’t seem to be in a figurative turn of mind. She never should have spoken. But, honestly, how could things get any worse?

She came slowly down the stairs. “Your mother—The, uh, doctors—” She tried to put it together. “There’s this hole in her heart. Your mother’s dying, but she doesn’t want you to know.”

April’s blue-gray eyes widened.

Blue reached the bottom and curled her fingers around the banister. Okay, so maybe she’d gone a tiny bit overboard, but when it came to maternal relationships, she was too screwed up to be held accountable.

Dean’s complexion had grown ashen. He gazed at his mother. “Is this true?”

April’s lips moved, but no sound came out. Blue’s grip on the rail tightened. Finally, April’s throat muscles began to work, and she swallowed. “It…might not be fatal.”

“But the doctors aren’t making any promises,” Blue said quickly.

Dean shot Blue a hard look. “How do you know about this?”

How indeed? “I don’t think your mother meant to tell me, but she had sort of a…ini-breakdown up here.”

April took offense. “I didn’t have a breakdown. Mini or not. I just…dropped my defenses for a second.”

Blue regarded her sadly. “So brave.”

April shot her a lethal glare. “I don’t want to talk about this, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk about it, either.”

“I apologize for breaking your confidence, but it seemed cruel not to tell him.”

“It’s not his problem,” April shot back.