Free Ripple of Secrets: Rose Gardner Mystery Novella #6.5 (Rose Gardner series Book 3) by Denise Grover Swank

take it that you don’t get along well with the mother of your child.”
    I sighed. “We have a very complicated relationship.”
    “I’m not judging, Joe. Just trying to understand.”
    Oddly enough, I believed her. “Hilary’s like a crutch. A very bad habit. It just took me too long to realize that. I was weak after I was forced to leave Rose and Hilary took advantage of that fact.” I realized my error as soon as the words left my mouth. Would she pick up on the meaning behind what I’d said, or did she—like most people probably did—think I’d purposely left Rose behind to chase my supposed dream of running for political office?
    Maeve went in a totally different direction. “So you’re sure the baby’s yours?” She looked pained to ask.
    I was silent for a moment. “I’ll insist upon paternity testing, but yeah, I’ll be shocked if the baby isn’t mine.”
    “But you don’t plan to marry her?”
    “No.”
    She waved her hand in dismissal. “If you don’t love her, that’s for the best. Many a marriage has begun with an unplanned pregnancy only to end in a disastrous divorce later. Then the poor child gets caught in the chaos. It’s a new day and age, and it’s much more acceptable now for parents to remain unmarried. As long as you’re a good father to your baby, that’s the important thing, right?”
    I didn’t have an answer as to what would happen after the baby came. I still struggled to wrap my head around the idea. Would I be a good father? My own parents hadn’t been the best role models. I knew part of the reason I was balking was because Rose wasn’t the baby’s mother. All my dreams of having a baby had been with her, and I still couldn’t let go.
    Maeve leaned closer. “You know Hilary’s telling everyone you’re engaged?”
    I released a heavy breath. “I suspected. It’s never going to happen.”
    She watched me for a moment, then said quietly, “I know you don’t love Hilary, but is part of your reason for not wanting to marry her that you still hold out hope for you and Rose?”
    I sucked in a deep breath and let it out. Rose could see the future; could Mason’s mother read minds? I cleared my throat. “I’m not sure we should be having this conversation.”
    She reached out a hand and covered mine. “I know you still love her.” When I started to protest, she smiled softly. “It’s written all over your face whenever you talk about her. You can’t hide it.”
    “Maeve…”
    “If you still love Rose, then it’s only further confirmation that you shouldn’t marry Hilary.”
    I gaped at her. “But wouldn’t it solve a pesky problem for Mason if I did? If I were married to Hilary, I’d be out of the way.”
    “It’s not that easy, Joe, and you know it.” She sat back in her chair and seemed to consider her next words carefully. “Rose Gardner is an intelligent woman who is capable of making up her own mind. Trying to keep someone who wants to be somewhere else is like trying to hold sand in an open hand. Your love for Rose has no bearing on Mason. It’s only Rose’s feelings that need concern you.”
    I wasn’t sure how to answer. It wasn’t what I’d expected her to say.
    “I know you don’t want to hear this, and perhaps I’m biased since I’m Mason’s mother, but Rose seems very happy to me. I think you need to ask yourself if you want to possess Rose…or if you want her to be happy.”
    I set my fork on the table. “I think I should be goin’ now.”
    She stood as I did. “Joe, Rose feels how she feels. How you feel can’t change that.”
    I paused and stared out the window, a familiar ache filling my chest. “I know.”
    “Sometimes you have to let something go and if it’s meant to be, it will happen.”
    “What do you think I’m doin’?”
    She gave me a warm smile. “I think you’re doin’ the best you can. You’re hurting, but you need to figure out how to take that pain away without relying on her, because I think