“Out of the picture,” Peyton said slowly. “Aren’t you expecting a baby with her? A baby you created while we were a couple? While we were still living and sleeping together!”

“We’ve been over that. You were freezing me out, ending it with me. It’s no excuse, but that’s how it was at the time. I might not have made the best decision, but there certainly was provocation. It’s reasonable I’d turn somewhere. But that’s over, so—”

“No, Ted, it’s not over. What about the baby?”

“I’ll support her and the baby, but she’ll have to work elsewhere. I should have known better than to fall into that trap. Now, what’s it going to take, Peyton? I have more problems than I can count since you left, and I’m sorry. I regret damn near everything, especially her.”

Scott was shaking his head in absolute awe. He did that to her? And he expects her to accept his apology and come back?

“You’re too late,” she said. “I have no intention of going back to Portland.”

“You have to listen to reason,” he said. “I want you to—”

Scott took quick steps back to his office. He swung the door open without knocking, and Ted whirled around with a scowl on his face. “As fascinating as I’m finding this conversation, I’ve already heard too much,” Scott said. “I need you to take it out of here. Now.”

“I have appointments soon, Scott. Ted and I are finished talking. I have a busy afternoon ahead,” Peyton said.

“I’ll cover for you. It sounds like you have things to settle. Go, settle them.”

“Apparently there’s no privacy in this clinic,” Ted said. “Let’s go somewhere we can talk. How about your place? You do have a place around here somewhere?”

“We’ll walk down to the dock at the marina. You’re not coming to my house,” she said. She grabbed her sweater and headed past both men, down the hall and out the clinic’s front door.

Ted followed her, and Scott watched them leave together. From the clinic’s window he saw them cross the street and head down the hill toward the marina. Devon was on her way back from the diner, carrying a couple of take-out cartons—one for him, one for Peyton. He had completely lost his appetite.

Devon came into the clinic, still looking over her shoulder. “Who’s the good-looking guy with Peyton?”

“The ex,” Scott said.

“Does that Lamborghini belong to him?”

Scott leaned over the counter to look out the window. “Probably,” he said.

“Where are they going?” she asked.

He watched as Ted dropped an arm around Peyton’s shoulders, and she stepped away, escaping his touch. “Down to the bay so he can demonstrate walking on water,” he said. Then he turned and went into his office, closing the door.

* * *

Peyton was stunned to see Ted at first, then realized she shouldn’t have been surprised. She knew the man. He believed he could turn any situation to his advantage.

“Let’s just get something straight,” she said. “I had plenty of legitimate complaints about our relationship, but I always trusted you to be honest and faithful. You might be over this infidelity, but I’m not. For all I know, there might’ve been others. There’s no way I’ll ever trust you again, no way I’m willing to take that kind of chance. Tampering with Lindsey was a fool’s move, but the next time, you might find a woman of more maturity and substance, a woman you can actually move on to, leaving me devastated and broken all over again. No, Ted. I’m not going there. No way.”

“You were devastated?” he asked a little too hopefully.

“I’m over it,” she snapped. “I’m over you! I can’t believe you. Lindsey didn’t quite measure up, and you ousted her. For God’s sake, can’t you at least take responsibility? Or is this just one more child for you to throw money at and ignore? How many more will there be?”

“No more, and that’s a guarantee. I’ve done what I should’ve done years ago and had a vasectomy. But that’s not the point. The point is—”

She laughed outright. “Oh, but it’s a very good point, let’s stay on it. Now you’re completely safe, except for disease, of course. Now you can screw around without the possibility of pregnancy. How very clever!”

There was a painful clench in her chest. Before Ted’s home became too much to bear, she had wondered if she would perhaps have a child of her own. It was a decision that had to be made sooner rather than later. It wasn’t very long after getting to know his children that she’d decided she’d never bring a baby into that household. She stomped off ahead of him, and he grabbed her arm, spinning her around.

“Are you listening to me? I made a terrible mistake! I have regrets. I’m sorry, more sorry than you can imagine, and I believe I can make it up to you. And I’m not going to ignore the child. I’m having documents drawn for support and visitation—everything necessary to be responsible and meet my obligations. No matter what you think of me, I have never ignored my responsibilities!”

She shook free of his grip and said, “Don’t you ever lay hands on me again or I’ll have you arrested, you son of a bitch!”

“Sorry,” he said. “Sorry. You make me desperate. For God’s sake, am I not getting through to you? I need you. The kids need you!”

“How many need me, Ted? The three that probably threw a party when I left? Or three plus a baby who will be visiting?”

He lifted his hands again, as if he might grab her upper arms, but then he dropped them to his sides. His face was a little twisted, and he glanced away as if looking for some courage or inspiration. “You were right about them. The kids. You were right about me. I should’ve listened to you. They needed a firm hand. They needed discipline, and I fought you. I don’t even know why, but I just didn’t want to think they were that much trouble. When I was around, there weren’t many problems. I was confused. You were so angry with them, but when I was around, they were mostly fine.”

“You weren’t ever around!”

“I see that now. I realize now, I should have listened to you.”

“Fine. There’s still time,” she said. “Take a firmer hand now.”