Chapter 52

Move on to what? Back to the lonely life I was living until Ward stepped back into it?Tyler pushed the thought away.

“Your mother and I thought we’d go out to the farm with you the next time you go. We’re anxious to see our little granddog.”

“Sure, that’d be great,” Tyler lied.

“Maybe Friday?”

“I’ll let you know,” Tyler said.

* * * *

Tyler managed to avoid Ward that whole day. He knew eventually he would have to start being seen with the man again. People would notice they weren’t spending as much time together as they usually did, and they might even figure out the true nature of their relationship from that alone. The complications of leading a double life seemed overwhelming. Part of him wished Ward would never have reappeared at all—most of him knew that wasn’t true.

As with that morning, Tyler watched from the office window at quitting time as Ward made his way from the mill to the parking lot and got into his truck. This time Ward did not look up at the window.

When he was sure Ward had driven off, Tyler packed up his things and walked out of his office. Nancy and Sarah Anne looked up.

“You must have had a lot to do in there today,” Sarah Anne said.

Tyler nodded.

“You usually get out to the mill,” Nancy added.

“Trying to get to know the business end a little better,” Tyler offered as an excuse. “Ah…well, good night. See you tomorrow.” He turned to leave. Sarah Anne stopped him.

“Tyler, I almost forgot. Ward stopped in at lunchtime.”

Tyler felt himself tense. “What did he want?”

“He said to give you this.” She handed him a folded note.

“I asked him if he wanted to see you, but he said he knew you were busy, had things on your mind, and he didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Thanks,” Tyler said as he took the note. “G’night.”

Once in his truck he opened Ward’s note.

We need to talk. Please. Ward.

Tyler sat for a time just staring at the note, at Ward’s familiar scrawl. Then he folded it up again and drove off.

When he got to his parents’ home to pick-up the boys, he found them at the dining room table doing their homework.

“Daddy,” Jack yelled, got up, ran, and jumped into Tyler’s arms.

“I got a hundred per cent on my spelling pre-test. That means I don’t have to take the real test on Friday.”

“That’s great, Jackie,” Tyler said, giving him a big hug. “How was your day, Eddie?”

Eddie hadn’t gotten up to hug his dad as he usually did. He just stopped writing and turned to look at his father. “Okay, I guess. That craphead Tommy kept his mouth shut about you and Ward.”

“Eddie!” Tyler said sternly, at the same time wondering where his mother and father were and if they had overheard. He put Jack down, came to the table, and sat down. Putting an arm around Eddie’s shoulders, he said, “Eddie, it’d be better if we didn’t talk about Tommy anymore. That’s over and done with, okay?”

“Sure, if you say so. Where’s Ward? Didn’t he come home with you today? Today’s the day he comes here for dinner with us. Gramma said she made his favorite.”

Tyler groaned inwardly. He’d completely forgotten Wednesdays were the usual day for Ward to come to dinner at the Hughes’s. “Uh…Ward had some stuff…” He didn’t finish the sentence as his mother and father came in from the kitchen.

“Hi, Tyler,” his mother said, walking over to him and giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Where’s Ward?”

“He…he won’t be coming to dinner tonight. He’s…he’s got to help his dad with the milking. Um…Joe’s not feeling too good.”

“That’s strange” Tyler’s mom frowned. “I saw Joe at the grocery today, and he seemed fine.”

Tyler felt a prickle of panic. He looked at his father, who was giving him that suspicious look again. “Must be one of those stomach bugs that come on quick,” Tyler groped for something to cover-up his lie. “Ward told me to tell you he’s sorry.”

“Joe has bugs in his stomach?” Jack asked.

“No, dear. It’s just a way of saying he has an upset stomach,” the boy’s grandmother said

“Oh.”

Eddie shook his head and made a tutting sound. “Pathetic,” he murmured.

Tyler gave him a stern look.

“When did you see Ward?” Tyler’s father asked. “You spent the day in the office.”

Tyler was in deep, and his shovel seemed to be shrinking to the size of a trowel. “He came in just after you left.” To get out of this line of interrogation, he added, “When do we eat? I’m starving.”

After they’d all gathered around the kitchen table and everyone had expressed their regrets that Ward was missing his favorite meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy, the conversation moved on, and Tyler was able to relax somewhat.