Page 522 of Summer Heat
No, she wasn’t mistaken.
The boys could be twins.
Louise raised her gaze to the dark-haired woman’s face, and in a fleeting instant before the girl covered her expression, there was pure, terrified panic.
Faintly, Louise smiled. Interesting. Very interesting indeed.
* * *
Until the moment they encountered Lance’s mother and brother, Tamara had been enjoying herself immensely. Cody was rested from a long nap, and the night was comfortable. Walking next to Lance, holding Cody’s hand, Tamara felt young for the first time in years. Young and carefree.
It was heavenly.
Until they ran into Louise Forrest at the kiddie Ferris wheel, and one of Tamara’s most dreaded moments came to pass.
It was impossible to miss the resemblance between Cody and Curtis—and Tamara had always thought it odd that their names were so similar, too. She had seen Tyler and his son when the boys were one and two, respectively, and had known to stay clear of all Forrests thereafter. It wasn’t completely possible—she knew Curtis sometimes went to Cody’s day care, for example—but she did her best.
It wasn’t strange to her that neither Lance nor Tyler had noticed the resemblance between the boys. Men just didn’t notice such things unless a woman brought it to their attention.
Louise was the one Tamara worried about. A man might be oblivious, but never a mother, and never, ever a grandmother. And judging by the measuring expression on her face, Louise didn’t need anyone to point out anything.
Since Tamara couldn’t very well grab Cody and bolt now, she moved forward on leaden legs, trying to keep her face expressionless and distantly friendly.
“Uncle Lanth!” Curtis cried, and rushed into his arms. “I rode the Ferrith wheel!”
Lance picked him up easily, and Tamara felt a queer little flip in her stomach. He had such a sweet way with children. It lulled her into thinking he was steady. That would be a mistake. Gentle didn’t necessarily mean reliable.
“You did?” Lance said. “Do you want to go again, with Cody? It might be more fun for both of you to have somebody to ride with.”
“Yeah, I do,” Curtis said, peeking over Lance’s shoulder at Cody.
“Cool!” Cody cried. “Can I?”
Tamara nodded. Her heart raced, but she tried to act normally. “Sure.”
“Mama,” Lance said, “this is Tamara Flynn. My mother, Louise Forrest.”
“Hello,” Tamara said, quietly.
“Nice to meet you, Tamara,” Louise replied. Her bright blue eyes were the exact same shade as Lance and Cody’s, and Tamara felt a pang of conscience. Whatever her reservations about Lance as a father figure, Tamara had also deprived a grandmother of her grandchild.
She looked away, glad of the distraction when the boys climbed into the car of the Ferris wheel. She gave the man tending the ride some tickets.
Lance bent over the boys, making sure they were securely fastened before he let the attendant close the safety cage. Looking at the pair of preschoolers side by side, Tamara was amazed how very much alike they looked. It was more than similar coloring and bone structure; they had mirroring gestures and facial expressions, as well.
Tamara crossed her arms. Considering they lived in the same small town, it was amazing that someone had not commented on it before now.
Or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe a lot more people knew the truth than didn’t. In that case, it might be considered bad manners to comment.
“Why, those two boys could be kin!” Louise exclaimed.
“I never noticed how much Cody looks like Curtis,” Lance said, almost at the same moment.
Tamara tried to take a breath no one would notice. She let it out slowly, and murmured, “Mmm-hmm.”
“It’s amazing,” Lance said.
The only one who’d said nothing was Tyler, and Tamara felt his silence like a siren. He stood next to her, quiet, and she snuck a glance at him. He seemed to sense her gaze, and looked down.
