“What a nice idea,” she remarked. “I haven’t been on a picnic in years. At least not one without several dozen preschoolers to keep track of.”
“Score one more for Zach,” he declared, grinning.
“Oh, so now you’re trying to make points with me?” she teased, laughing.
He leaned down to give her a quick kiss. “Darlin’, I’ve been trying ever since walking into your office last Friday morning to plead Derek’s case.”
She could have told him that he was succeeding, but as they walked along the tree-lined paths, Arielle’s attention was claimed by the acres of perfectly kept lawns and immaculate beds of brightly colored flowers. Shades of bright pink, purple and red were everywhere and mingled with lush green shrubbery and various nonflowering plants, the gardens were absolutely breathtaking. Enjoying the fresh spring air and gorgeous scenery with Zach was wonderful and before she knew it, they were walking toward a beautiful picnic area among a grove of pecan trees.
“A dollar for your thoughts,” Zach offered as he placed the backpack on a shaded picnic table and began unzipping the front flap.
“A dollar?” Seating herself on one side of the table, she smiled. “I thought that used to be a penny.”
“Inflation has set in, darlin’,” he explained, laughing as he removed a navy and tan checkered cloth from the side of the pack. “I think Maria said we have turkey and Swiss on wheat bread, some kind of cold, chopped vegetable medley and sparkling grape juice. I hope that’s okay.”
“I’m starved and it all sounds yummy,” she stated, helping him spread out the small tablecloth. “But these days, I’m always hungry.”
“Very true,” he agreed, handing her two plates, two sets of cutlery and two wineglasses. “But very understandable considering you’re having twins.”
“My mother mentioned one time that she ate so much when she was pregnant with Jake and Luke that she gained fifty pounds.” She arranged the plates and cutlery, then waited for Zach to pour the grape juice into the goblets. “It’s odd how I can remember something like that, but not the sound of her voice.”
“Didn’t you tell me you were ten when she was killed in a car accident?” he reminded, his voice gentle. “That was a long time ago and you were only a child, darlin’. Time has a way of making things like that fade away.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Staring at the empty plate in front of her, she thought about their time in Aspen and the details she’d shared about her life. But Zach hadn’t revealed anything about himself when they’d first met, and beyond his name, his career and the fact that he had a sister and nephew, she knew nothing about him now.
“What about your parents?” she asked, looking up to find him watching her. “Are they still living?”
He shook his head as he placed wrapped sandwiches on the plates, then opened the container of vegetables. “My mom died when I was six. There were complications from having Lana that she just couldn’t overcome.”
“Oh, Zach, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s been almost thirty years and about the only things I remember clearly about her is that she loved baking cookies and reading stories to get me to sleep at night.” He sat down at the table across from her. “After she was gone, my dad hired Mattie to take care of me and Lana while he worked the ranch. Then he passed away from a heart attack when I was in my junior year at college.”
Her heart went out to him and she reached across the table to place her hand on his. “I know that had to have been devastating for you and your sister.”
“Lana was only an infant when Mom died, so she doesn’t have any memories of her. But we were both close to Dad and it was pretty rough for a while,” he admitted, staring off into the distance. When he turned his attention back to her, he asked, “What about your dad? Is he still alive? I don’t remember you mentioning anything about him.”
Spooning some of the crisp vegetables onto her plate, she shook her head. “There’s really nothing to tell. I never got to meet him and never will.” When Zach raised a questioning eyebrow, she added, “My brothers and I recently found out that he was killed in a boating accident a couple years ago.”
Zach looked surprised. “I’m sorry to hear that, Arielle.”
“Don’t be.” She took a sip of her grape juice. “You don’t miss what you’ve never had.”
When their gazes locked, she nibbled on her lower lip as she decided how much to tell him. Not knowing anything about her father and having never met the man, she’d glossed over his nonexistent role in her life when they’d been in Aspen.
But maybe it was time to tell Zach what she’d recently learned about the man. Maybe then he’d understand why she’d been so hurt by his actions in Aspen. And why she’d been afraid that the same thing that happened to her mother had happened to her—that although the man she loved was fond of her, he couldn’t love her.
She sighed as she continued to stare at him. They had to start somewhere or they’d never build the trust between them needed to raise their twins together.
“The relationship between my mother and father was anything but conventional.” She took a deep breath. “They were together twice, ten years apart and only for a few months each time. But both affairs resulted in unplanned pregnancies.”
He remained silent, mulling over what she’d said. “It’s a shame that things couldn’t have worked out between them.” He took a bite of his sandwich, then after chewing thoughtfully, asked, “Your mother never found anyone else?”
Arielle shook her head. “Whether he was worth it or not, my father was her one true love and she wouldn’t settle for anything less.” She poked at her vegetables with her fork. “But the story doesn’t end there.”
He raised his brows. “There’s more?”
This was the part she had trouble believing herself. “A couple of months ago, my brothers and I were contacted by a representative for our paternal grandmother. That’s when we learned our father’s real identity.”
As she watched, Zach slowly lowered his sandwich to his plate. “He lied about who he was?”
She could tell by his expression that the uncanny parallel to their own situation wasn’t lost on him. “Our father used an assumed name and Mama never knew that the man she fell in love with wasn’t who he said he was. Nor did she ever learn that during the ten years between their affairs, he fathered three more sons by three different women. None of whom he bothered to marry.”