Free Ragan's Song (Fairfield Corners #2) by L. A. Remenicky

over.
    The interior appeared larger with all the lights on. Only a couple of customers dotted the seats, there for an early lunch. The jukebox played Unchained Melody in the background, and Mike worked behind the bar, taking inventory. “Hey, Ragan. You here for lunch?” She could hear the forced tone in his voice, and his eyes avoided her, as if he were trying not to stare. Obviously, he knew why she was there.
    “No, I need to talk to Adam. Is he here?”
    “He’s back in the office. Down the hall, first door on the right.”
    “Thanks, Mike.”
    The hallway seemed to go on for miles as she made her way to the office door. Her heels clicking on the tile floor echoed in the long corridor. Skylar’s warm fingers in hers kept her from turning around and running out of the pub. She put her hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath, calming herself before she faced Adam. Looking down at Skylar, she smiled. No matter what happened with his father or others in town, she would never regret him.
    Before she could turn the knob, the door swung open, pulling her into the office. She stumbled and put her hand out to catch herself, grabbing hold of a muscular arm. “Thanks. My ankle still isn’t too steady.”
    “No problem,” Adam replied as he stared at Skylar.
    Her cheeks burned at the sound of Adam’s voice, “I, uh, I think we need to talk.” She stared at the floor, hoping a hole would open up and she could jump in; she hated the effect Adam’s mere presence still had on her. Anxiously, she lifted her son onto her hip and faced him.
    He stood there, silent, arms crossed; “Go ahead. Talk.”
    “Skylar, baby, you remember Adam?”
    “Snow,” Skylar screeched with a smile.
    “Yes, that’s right. Adam rescued us during the snowstorm.” She inhaled a deep breath to organize her thoughts. “Skylar, Adam is your daddy.”
    “My daddy?”
    “Yes, baby.”
    Skylar seemed to accept the explanation and wiggled in his mother’s arms. As soon as she had placed his feet on the floor, he walked toward the guitar sitting on a stand next to the chair. He stopped in front of it and turned slightly, looking over his shoulder as if to ask permission to touch it.
    “No, Sky, leave it alone.”
    Adam walked over and sat in the chair, “Do you want to see the guitar?” he asked as he held his hand out.
    Skylar nodded, never taking his eyes off the instrument.
    Adam picked up the boy and put him on his lap before laying the guitar flat across their laps and plucking at one of the strings. Skylar giggled and reached over to touch the metal bands, turning to Adam for approval again when he pulled at one of the strings and let it go to hear it twang.
    Ragan couldn’t read the expression on Adam’s face. It seemed to be a cross between anger and love. “We need to talk about visitation,” she said with a hitch in her voice on the word visitation.
    “Why don’t you leave him with me for a few hours and we can get acquainted. When you come back, we can talk about the schedule.” He smiled back down at Skylar, affection in his eyes.
    “Okay, I guess,” she replied as she pulled her phone out of a pocket to check the time. “I’ll be back by three. Here’s my cell number.” She fumbled for one of her freshly printed business cards and laid it on the table. She leaned down and kissed Skylar on the head. “Have fun with Adam and the music, Sky. Momma will be back soon.”
    The click of the door closing behind her sounded so final that tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Hobbling down the hall and out the door, she tried to outrun the memories. Stupid, Ragan. Keep it up and the ankle won’t ever heal. Not caring what direction she headed and only needing to get away, she looked up and saw a sign: The Book Ends Here . Cassie’s bookstore. Slumping down on the bench in front of the store, she put her head in her hands. Her thoughts turned to Liam; he would’ve been so happy to see Adam and Skylar together. She