Free A Blast from the Past (A Second Chance Romance) by Sharon Cummin

She's too damn stubborn. I knew she would have worried
about money every day. This way, she was able to spend her time with
him instead of worrying. She'll be fine. I made sure she had enough
life insurance on him that she'll be able to live the rest of her
life without worry. She doesn't know I paid for that either. I
handled it all. All she knows is that she's going to be okay.
Hopefully that makes up for me being gone. I offered to move her to
New York. She doesn't want to go. I don't want her taking advantage
of Livie. The woman would lose sleep and sanity helping her. I'm
afraid my mom will run her ragged. I can't move back here. My
practice is there. My career is there. I've worked my ass off for
that. It's my entire life."
    "If
that's where you want to be, than you need to be there. Your mom will
be fine here. She has friends and family. Livie has been amazing to
her. She spent hours driving and taking care of your dad. I know
she'll watch out for her. She's an amazing woman. It was so great to
see her finally get that bakery. She's worked there forever. I'm so
glad it worked out for her. No matter how it happened. I'm glad she
got rid of that man of hers. He was no good for her. I'm surprised
the two of you never got together."
    "Can
I ask you a question?" Zander asked. "Did he ever do
anything to her?"
    "You
know I can't tell you that," the doctor said. "As much as
I'd like to, I can't."
    "I
know," Zander replied. "Thank you so much for everything.
Let me know if any other bills come up that I don't know about. I
don't want my mom to get them."
    "I
will," the doctor said, as he turned and walked out the door.
    I
peeked in to see Zander looking out the window into my backyard. He
watched the kids playing. I walked in quietly behind him, still
shocked at the conversation I had just heard. I wrapped my arms
around him from behind and leaned my head against his back.
    "What
else are you hiding, Z?" I whispered. "I have a feeling
that wasn't everything."
    He
held my hands in front of his stomach but didn't respond, as he
continued to watch my kids play. I wanted so badly to know what he
was thinking about. He had been involved in his dad's care the entire
time. I couldn't believe he had paid the entire bill. It seemed
strange that everything was covered by insurance. I just assumed they
had amazing insurance like mine. It made me wonder. The kids had been
to the doctor many times, and I had been there a few times myself.
I'd never gotten a bill either. When I was married to Mike, we had
doctor bills. It all clicked into place. I moved to pull my hands
from his, but he held them tight and wouldn't let them go.
    "Zander
Nero," I snapped. "You better not."
    He
turned around in my arms and wrapped his around me quickly. I felt
his chin on the top of my head.
    "Not
a word, Livie," he said quietly.
    He
kissed the top of my head and released his hold on me before walking
out of the room. The air felt so cool on my skin, and I missed his
warm touch. I stood alone looking out the window and watched the kids
playing. When I saw them take off running and him right behind them,
my heart melted. It was supposed to be him. He was the one I had
always wanted. If he had chosen me, I wouldn't have had those two
amazing kids he was chasing. My mind was a mess. What was he doing to
me?

Chapter
11
    Zander
    I
had to get out of there before Livie flipped out on me. There was no
way she was going to start asking questions. I have no idea how she
heard what I said, but I knew she figured out that I'd paid her bills
too. She wasn't an easy person to get things passed. I knew she
couldn't afford medical bills on top of raising two kids. My mom had
told me that Mike didn't help with them. There was no way I wanted
her to struggle. I wasn't around. It was the least I could do. My
entire day was spent working. When I went out, I spent money. That
was really the only time. I was so busy, I never had time to spend
it. There was nothing wrong with