Free Stealing Home by Sherryl Woods Page A

eyes. “But then, Helen has already pointed that out, hasn’t she? I’d recommend a few minutes in front of a mirror before you start seeing patients.”
    His cheeks colored, a sure indication of his embarrassment. “Why are you here?” he asked stiffly. “Just to pass judgment on me?”
    “Not my job,” she said briskly, fighting the urge to say awhole lot more. She couldn’t afford to stir his temper, not when she was on a very specific mission.
    “Did you come to apologize about Saturday?” he inquired. “If so, Noreen’s the one you really should be talking to.”
    “Don’t push me,” she warned. “I’m here about Tyler. I just had a very distressing meeting with Coach Maddox.”
    Bill flashed her a startled look. “Why wasn’t I told about a meeting?” he demanded.
    “Because Tyler didn’t want you there,” she said bluntly. “And that’s the heart of the problem. You asked me the other day to help you mend fences with Tyler. I can’t do much more than tell him repeatedly that you’re still his father and that you love him. Obviously he doesn’t believe me. You’re going to have to prove to him that your feelings for him haven’t changed before he ruins his grades and his chances to become the pro ball player he’s dreamed of being.”
    “What are you talking about?” Bill asked. “Ty’s always had excellent grades.”
    “I haven’t spoken to his teachers yet, but Coach Maddox has. Ty’s having trouble in everything. I can only do so much. You’re going to have to help me fix this.”
    To her surprise, Bill looked uncertain. “I don’t know how,” he admitted with rare candor.
    “For starters, you could show up to pick up the kids when they’re expecting you,” she said. “Noreen is not an acceptable replacement, especially not to Tyler.”
    “He’ll just have to get used to—”
    Maddie cut him off. “You wanted to know what you can do, right? Then I suggest you listen to me. I’m trying to help before our oldest son spins completely out of control.”
    He exhaled an exasperated huff. “Fine. Whatever.”
    “Baseball brought you and Tyler together once,” she reminded him. “I think that’s the connection that can reunite you now. He’s struggling, Bill. The coach says his pitching is off and his place in the starting rotation is at risk.”
    “That’s absurd!” Bill snapped. “He’s the best pitcher they have.”
    “Not right now, he isn’t,” she told him. “I think you need to come by the house— alone —and give him some pointers the way you used to.”
    “He’ll never agree to that,” Bill said. “He’s not listening to me these days, much less spending time with me. If I show up, he’ll just hide in his room.”
    “Then go to him where he can’t hide,” she suggested. “Stop by practice this afternoon. You used to do that all the time, just to hang out and see how he was doing. I know he loved that.”
    Bill’s expression turned thoughtful. “I could,” he said, then shook his head. “It might make things worse.”
    “You won’t know till you try.” She stood up. “I don’t think I need to remind you how important this is.”
    “No, you don’t,” he agreed. “I’ll make the effort, Maddie. I promise.”
    In the past she would never have questioned one of his promises, but these days she didn’t really know this man at all. At least she’d made the overture. Now it was up to him.
    “Today?” she said.
    He hesitated and her temper stirred, but then he nodded. “Yes, today.”
    When she turned to leave, he stopped her.
    “Maddie…”
    “What?”
    “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine,” she said, forcing a cheery note into her voice. “Way too busy.”
    “Oh?”
    His surprise rankled. Did he think she was sitting around pining for him?
    “I guess you haven’t heard,” she said. “Helen, Dana Sue and I are going into business together.”
    He stared at her. “What kind of business?”
    “We’re opening a fitness