Read The Knitting Diaries for Free Online Page A

why?” What went on between him and Anne Marie was none of Mel’s business, nor was her relationship with Mel any of his.
    Tim started to pace the lawn once more, the phone still pressed to his ear.
    “I don’t like the fact that you hang around Anne Marie and Ellen so much.”
    “Fine, whatever. But you need to understand something, too, Mel. Ellen is my daughter and I have every intention of being part of her life. Nothing you say or do is going to change that.”
    “I have no objection to you being part of Ellen’s life.”
    “Big of you.” This time his words dripped with sarcasm.
    Mel disregarded his slight. “I just felt it was a good idea for the two of us to clear the air.”
    “The air is already clear,” Tim said. He clenched his fist at his side. “The only reason I see Anne Marie is because of Ellen. If it wasn’t for my daughter, I wouldn’t be anywhere near her.” In fact, if it wasn’t for Ellen, he wouldn’t even know Anne Marie.
    Just as he turned the corner of the house, he came to an abrupt halt as he almost walked straight into Anne Marie. One glance at her face, and he knew she’d heard every word of his last statement.
    “I have to go.” Not bothering to explain further, he snapped his cell phone shut.
    “Daddy! We found Baxter!” Ellen dashed toward him, clutching Baxter’s leash, the dog at her heels.
    Tim had been too unnerved to even notice them. Anne Marie held his gaze, her eyes narrowed and filled with—was that pain? He opened his mouth to speak and realized that anything he said now would only make matters worse.
    “Daddy, guess what?”
    “What?” he asked, without looking in his daughter’s direction. His focus was on Anne Marie as she blinked rapidly, then turned and walked into the house.
    “I met a girl named April and she lives down the street. I met her at the flower shop. Baxter was with her.”
    Tim started toward the house, wanting to at least try to talk to Anne Marie.
    “April’s my age, too.”
    “That’s nice, sweetheart.”
    Ellen grabbed his shirt. “That’s not all.”
    “You mean there’s more?” Obviously excited, Ellen smiled up at him. Although his heart was racing with dread, he gave the girl his full attention.
    “She has a dog, too.”
    “Named Baxter?”
    “No, silly! Her name is Iris and she’s a Yorkie, just like Baxter.”
    “You have a new friend and so does Baxter,” he said, pleased for his daughter and worried about Anne Marie at the same time.
    “April wants me to teach her how to knit.”
    “That’s great. I need to talk to your mother now, all right?”
    “Okay. April’s going to ask her mother if she can come over and help me finish unpacking my bedroom. She likes books, too.”
    Tim hugged his daughter, grateful that she’d found a new friend. He hurried toward the house, leaping up the front steps. “Anne Marie?” he called when he didn’t see her.
    She came into the hallway, her arms crossed. “You don’t need to explain. You made it fairly evident that your only interest is in Ellen, and I accept that.”
    Tim shook his head. “Not true.”
    “Who was that, anyway? Vanessa?”
    “I haven’t seen Vanessa in months. We’re finished. It was Mel.”
    Her eyes widened in shock. “Why? Was he looking for you—or me?”
    “I told him I’d pass on the message that he phoned,” Tim said, skirting the truth but not lying, either. Not exactly.
    Tim struggled to find a way to tell Anne Marie that he cared for her as well as Ellen. He wanted to confess how foolish he’d been not to recognize his own feelings. Now that he had, it seemed too late.
    “Tim, listen, it’s okay,” she said. “Ellen loves you and you love her. I won’t stand between you. Our daughter is all that matters, and what goes on between the two of us isn’t important. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to unpack.”
    “Can I help?” He didn’t want to leave. In fact, he was willing to do just about anything to stay.
    “No.”