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sometimes.”
    James was amazed at how much information he’d gotten by being a little friendly. No wonder kids were taken so easily. Trust was too easily given at this age. He needed to protect this little boy. “So, JR, what’s your last name?”
    But JR wasn’t listening. He stood up and climbed up on the riser. He waved his arm. “There she is. There’s my mom. I’m going to tell her to watch for me.”
    James looked across the street and froze. It couldn’t be.
    • • •
    Lizzie scanned the streets for JR and her dad. No luck yet. Maybe the pipe fix had taken longer and the pair wouldn’t make the parade or the rodeo. A girl could only hope.
    She and Barb kept walking.
    “We’re almost at the end of the parade route. Where would your dad go?” Barb asked.
    “River’s End. But if he took JR into the bar, I’m going to skin him alive. I don’t ask him to do much.” She glanced across at the parade stands where she and Barb had sat right before the world shifted and James had walked back into her life.
    A small hand waving caught her eye. Relief flooded through her. JR. Smiling, she waved back and started to cross the street — then froze. James sat beside JR and they were both staring at her.
    A horn blared and she skirted across the road. As she stepped onto the sidewalk, JR ran to her and hugged her legs. She leaned down and smoothed his hair, her eyes never leaving James’s face.
    “Mommy, you look like a girl.”
    She smiled and glanced down at her son. The love of her life. “Thanks, JR. Where’s your grandpa?”
    “He’s in there talking to Mr. Davis. I’m waiting for the parade with James. Come meet him.” JR took her by the hand and led her over to the metal risers. “James, this is my mom. Mom, this is James.”
    James studied her silently. Finally he stood. “Actually, JR, your mom and I went to high school together.”
    JR grinned. “See? I knew you weren’t a stranger.”
    A million thoughts went through Lizzie’s head. Discarding one after another, her stomach tightened. She had her opening. She could blurt it out. ‘JR, this is your dad.’ Or “James, meet your son.” Or even, “what a nice day for the parade.” What finally came out of her mouth was lame. Even she knew she was being a coward. “We need to talk.”
    James grimaced. “That’s an understatement. Did you know he was out here alone?”
    Lizzie sighed. “My dad. He tries, but he has issues.”
    “So you leave your kid with a drunk in order to party with Barb?” James bit out, belatedly looking to make sure JR wasn’t listening only to see the little boy had walked to the sidewalk to watch for the start of the parade.
    “I see the flags! It’s coming. The parade is coming.” JR danced around in a circle. “Come watch with me.”
    “James and I are right here,” Lizzie called back. “You stay on the sidewalk. One step off and I’ll take away all the candy you get and give it to a little boy who listens.”
    “Jeez, Mom, I know.” JR turned and sat on the sidewalk curb protecting his space for the parade.
    She turned to James. “You have no right questioning the way I’m raising my son.”
    “Look, I’m sorry that came out wrong. He’s so young. It reminded me of when my dad used to leave me and Jesse to go into River’s End.” He sat down and held his head in his hands. “It’s only been overnight and this weekend has already been an emotional wreck. First, Jesse’s playing coy with me about the summer schedule then I run into you again and now all my dad issues are slapping me in the face.”
    And the ride’s not over yet , Lizzie thought sadly.
    Her heart ached. James didn’t deserve this. She should have told him the moment she’d felt JR’s first kick. But she couldn’t rewrite history. All she could do was go forward and hope she was doing what was best for all of them. That meant telling James and JR the truth. She reached for James’s hand. “I need to tell you