Free Entangled by Ginger Voight Page A

view of his original paper. The sources were varied and he managed to adopt a more objective tone that presented the information without pushing an agenda. He said nothing to me as he turned it in, and I said nothing as I handed it back, this time with the A he had earned.
    In fact, he rarely said anything during our sessions together. He wasn’t icing me out anymore, but he was reluctant to demonstrate any enthusiasm for anything more than riding on Alex’s horses. Even the upcoming party was business as usual. This was a test of my word and I knew it. He asked what I planned to wear, and even offered to go with me into town to shop for something. I suspected he really wouldn’t believe that I was going unless he could see some kind of physical proof other than my verbal confirmation, which had apparently lost all merit.
    So I arranged an outing in Oxnard on one of the days Millicent took Max into town for therapy. We dropped them off at the doctor’s office and then spent the next couple of hours searching for an outfit suitable for a high-profile political fundraiser. I saw glimpses of my favorite boy beneath the Gothic exterior as I tried on dress after dress, until finally I settled on a pale pink chiffon number with an empire waist, jeweled bodice and sheer sleeves. I still felt ridiculous, but Jonathan insisted that it was the perfect dress. I bought it more because it was the first thing we had agreed on in months.
    We stopped for frozen yogurt on the way back to the doctor’s office, and sat together on metal chairs as we scooped fresh fruit and creamy soft-serve up by the spoonful. He studied me quietly before he finally asked, “Do you think Alex will make a scene at the party?”
    I shrugged. “He promised he wouldn’t.”
    That answer only begged another question. “Are you dating my uncle, Rachel?”
    I sighed as I put the spoon on the tray. “I’m not dating anyone, Jonathan.”
    “That’s what you said about my dad,” he reminded. “But you live with Alex the same way you used to live with my dad. You take care of his kid. You help run his house. And now you’re going to this party together.”
    “Because of you,” I pointed out. “You’re my focus, honey. You always have been.”
    “Then why did you leave?”
    My eyes met his. I could see the pain brimming there as he asked the question that had haunted him for months. I reached across to take his hand. He didn’t move away. “I made a mistake,” I said softly. “A really, really big one. And I could blame your dad, or your uncle, or fate itself. But the fact is I broke my own rules. And I hate more than anything that you were the one who paid the price for it. I can’t change what happened. All I can do is make better choices going forward. Believe it or not, that is the focus of each and every adult in your life, from your uncle to your parents.”
    He nodded, but said nothing further. We picked up Millicent and Max and headed back to the house in time to meet Alex as he returned with the horses. Jonathan offered to help Alex, which surprised and pleased him. In fact, Jonathan opened up even further by assisting Millicent with dinner that evening. I wondered if maybe, now that we had that difficult conversation about the past, he was able to move forward.
    He abandoned his bratty demeanor to join us all on the veranda that night, and even asked Alex to play his guitar. Alex launched into a familiar country tune and Jonathan walked over to me with hand outstretched. “May I have this dance?” he asked, which melted my heart right into a puddle.
    “I would be honored,” I responded. I stood and we started to sway together, much to the amusement, and delight, of our small audience. Max wanted to go next, and I taught him a simple two-step as we giggled together.
    “You next, Daddy!” he told Alex.
    “I’m playing the music,” he argued, but Max shook his head. That answer was not acceptable. He pulled Alex up to dance with me,