ONCE AT AARON’S HOME, the three males united in persuading Gwen to let Josh spend the night in Ben’s room. She didn’t like the idea of them staying together again after the trouble they’d gotten into, but there was only one bed in the guest room and Josh was getting too big to share with his mom. The only other option would have been to sleep with Aaron again and that was out of the question. Aaron didn’t even suggest it, so he must have agreed with Gwen. She ignored the twinge of disappointment this gave her.

“I swear, if you don’t both stay in this room all night long, quietly and innocently sleeping, there will be hell to pay. Do I make myself clear?”

Both boys stared at her with big eyes and nodded their understanding. Marginally satisfied, she left them there to whisper together until sleep overtook them. Because they’d slept in the car on the way back from Philadelphia, she knew it might be a while before they drifted off. As long as they were quiet and stayed where they belonged, she would let them be.

Aaron stood by her as she watched the two boys from the doorway a moment longer.

“I wish I had your knack for being firm and caring at the same time,” he said. “I’ve never been good at finding that middle place. Phyllis says I’m raising Ben with no healthy boundaries.”

“Well, Josh would say I’m way too strict, hemming him in so he has no freedom. Maybe that’s why he ran away so easily. His first real break from the many rules that control his life.”

As they stood side by side, Aaron slipped his arm across the back of her shoulders companionably. “Going to Joshua’s grandmother was Ben’s idea.”

Giving in to her need for comfort, she leaned her head against his shoulder and tried to absorb some of his calm strength. “But I could tell from how they told the story that Ben was having second thoughts until Josh latched onto the idea with such gusto. It took both of them to get into so much trouble.”

“Maybe that’s why kids need two parents,” he said wistfully.

Gwen drew away from him. It wasn’t a good idea to be overly cozy with Aaron. Whenever she got too close to him, she seemed to find herself hungering for more. She was in enough trouble already with her boss. And she was certain Clayton would do everything in his power to win custody. “Except when one parent is J. Clayton Haverty.”

“Clay just wants what’s best for Josh,” he said. When Gwen shot him a glare, he added, “You’re doing a great job, but Clayton can only see what you let him see or what he discovers on his own. In court, he’s going to look like a concerned father—which he is.”

She didn’t respond to that, so he went back to his original point. “It just seems like it would be easier if you had help. I know I’d prefer not to go it alone raising Ben.”

“You have Phyllis.”

“Not the same as a wife,” he said.

Gwen realized he’d turned to face her and was studying her with an odd expression. She took a tiny step back to counteract the magnetic draw. It would be so easy to move into his arms, to kiss him, to love him. But the consequences were too great. She took another small step away. “I should try to sleep.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea,” he agreed, but simply stood there as if he hoped she’d change her mind.

“Is it okay if I use the bathroom first?” she asked, pointing lamely to the door just past him on the right.

“It’s all yours. I have my own attached to my bedroom.”

She remembered that now. She’d been in that bathroom. She’d made love to him in that bedroom. Spent the night. Shared nightmares with him and learned some new things about herself while in his embrace. She wished…

“No,” she whispered to herself as she forced herself past him and into the bathroom. When she emerged shortly after, he was gone. The boys had fallen asleep already, or at least they were silent and unmoving when she checked on them one last time. She went to the guest room. Phyllis had turned down the bedcovers for her, and put a glass of ice, a can of Diet Coke, and some cheese and crackers covered in plastic wrap on the nightstand. How thoughtful.

What would become of Phyllis when Aaron married again, Gwen wondered as she sat on the edge of the bed and nibbled on the snack. But none of this was her business. And anyway, families were configured in all sorts of unusual ways nowadays. Phyllis could easily remain part of the family even when a new wife came along. Assuming she was secure enough to accept the mother of Aaron’s first wife. Were there many women who would be willing? Gwen knew she would welcome Phyllis into her life with open arms.

Doesn’t matter, she told herself. None of her business. She needed to stick to solving her own problems. And maybe Aaron had no intention of ever marrying again anyway. With a sigh, Gwen took a sip of the water that had accumulated at the bottom of the glass of ice. Exhaustion finally took care of her wayward thoughts about Aaron, and she was asleep almost before she laid her head upon the pillow.

AFTER A SLEEPLESS NIGHT, Aaron rose early. Even so, he had only twenty minutes of peace with his coffee at the kitchen counter before he heard the boys pounding down the staircase. They slid on the tile floor as they rounded the corner, then became abruptly still when they saw him.

“Hey, we’re still here,” Ben quipped.

Aaron knew he should say something about his son’s inappropriate levity. Gwen would know exactly what to say, he was sure. “Not a joking matter, Benjamin.”

Ben shrugged and went to the refrigerator. “Why are you up so early?”

“Maybe it has something to do with all the crazy stuff going on around here,” he said.

Josh spoke hesitantly. “It’s Saturday. Will Mom and I be going home today?”

“That’s up to your mom. I’m sure she’ll tell you as soon as she decides.”

Josh gave one of those preteen shrugs, too. “She never tells me anything.” He moved to Ben’s side to inspect the breakfast cereal options.

“I’ll try to work on that,” Gwen said from the threshold. “You’re old enough now. I should include you more in planning that involves you.”

“I didn’t hear you come downstairs. Did the boys wake you?” Aaron asked.

“No. I got a phone call.” She was clearly gauging what to say in front of the boys. “A social worker from Child Protective Services needs to interview me and Josh at home today.”

“Dad didn’t waste any time, did he,” Josh observed. He sounded far older than his years. “This is why I wanted Grandma Char to talk some sense in to him. She’s the only one who can.”

“I don’t understand why you think Grandma would help,” Gwen said. “She’s far more likely to want your dad to have full custody. She and I never got along very well.”

Josh shook his head as he poured some milk into his breakfast bowl. “That’s because you’re too much alike. But when you and dad were divorcing, she told me that if anyone asks me, I should say I want to live with you. She said she doesn’t like you much, but you’re a better parent than her son.”

Gwen stared at Josh. “She said that?”

“More than once.”

Aaron looked from mother to son. “So Charlotte might be helpful in your custody hearing?”

“It would be impossible for her to side with me against Clay.”

“We may need to do whatever it takes to make sure Josh stays with you,” he said gently.

Gwen turned to him, her expression cold and hard. “You have no part in the fight, Aaron.”

Her words chilled Aaron to the bone. She looked over at the boys. They sat side by side at the table, spoons raised halfway to their mouths. “Dad’s just trying to help,” Ben whispered, wide-eyed.

Gwen offered Ben a smile. “I know he is. But Melody and I will do what we need to do to make sure we win our case. Having too many lawyers involved can complicate things.”

Aaron thought that sounded like a reasonable explanation for the boys. But he understood the subtext clearly enough. Gwen wanted him out of her life. That hurt. Yet he knew her decision was about protecting her son. He couldn’t blame her. He’d do the same if roles were reversed. Still, he wished they could find another answer to the problem.

“Finish your breakfast, Josh. We have to get home in time to wash up and meet this social worker, Mrs. Proux.”

“What kind of stuff is she gonna ask?”

“She’ll want to know why you ran away,” Gwen said.

When it appeared to Aaron that she wasn’t going to elaborate, he decided to speak up. “Mrs. Proux is going to be investigating whether your mom is taking good care of you. She’s going to question why you would end up running away if everything is okay at home.”

“I didn’t run away,” Josh insisted. “We left a note. We had a plan.”

“And it wasn’t because of Gwen,” Ben added.

“Yeah, my dad strikes again,” Josh grumbled.

Gwen moved quickly to stand in front of her son. “No, Joshua. You struck again. If you were worried about your father, you should have talked to me. Taking off on your own for Pittsburgh was the worst judgment I’ve ever seen you display in a long line of bad judgment.”

Aaron could see she was trembling with rage. And her reaction was so out of character and beyond what the situation called for, he knew he had to do something. “Stop,” he said softly, even as she opened her mouth to say more. “This isn’t helping.”

“But—” she began, but Aaron slashed his hand through the air.

“Let’s discuss this in the study and let the kids finish eating in peace,” he suggested. Before she could disagree, he grasped her hand and led her away. He was glad she didn’t resist.

Once in the den with her, he closed the door.

“You have no right to interfere between me and my son,” she sputtered.

“Maybe not, but you’re in my house and I’m not going to let you take out your own frustration on that boy. He’s ten years old and he’s not supposed to have good judgment yet. You know that. Blaming him for being a kid isn’t going to help the situation.”

She stepped back from him as if he’d slapped her. Then she shook her head. “You’re right. Josh isn’t to blame. I am. I’m a terrible mother.”

Aaron’s heart went out to her. He understood how easy it was to feel like a complete failure as a parent. “You’re not,” he said. “You’re a wonderful mother who understands limits and boundaries and discipline better than I ever will. I should take lessons from you.”

As he spoke, he slowly drew her into the circle of his arms. She let him enfold her and even rested her head against his shoulder. “But you’ve been under so much stress. I just don’t want you to say things to Josh that I know you don’t really mean.”

“I’m so angry with him right now. Because of that stupid stunt, I could lose him,” she said. “Clay will make the most of this in court. He could win. He’ll bring up everything I’ve ever done wrong as a parent, including letting Josh run away. He’ll say I poisoned Josh against him and that’s why it’s not his fault that Josh took off. The truth is, I could have done a better job to help Josh see his father’s reasonable side.” Her voice broke.

“It’ll be okay, Gwen. Melody won’t let him win.” He just wished he could be as certain of that as he sounded.

“But this social worker is coming and God only knows what Josh will say to her and how the situation will be twisted—and the house is a mess.”

Aaron laughed. “I’m pretty sure the house being a mess is the least of your troubles, my love. Just do your best with her. And trust Josh to be honest and sensible. He’s your son as much as Clayton’s. He’ll say the right things.”

“Sometimes I mix him up with Clay and I lash out at him, even when I don’t have a good reason to. He’ll say something just so or his facial expression will be exactly like his father’s and I’ll forget that I’m talking to Josh and not Clay. That’s when I say things to him I don’t really mean. I’m just so angry all the time. Then Josh does something that reminds me of his father, and…” She paused to sniff back more tears. “That’s why I’m a terrible mother.”

He held her tight. “I think you’re a mother doing her best under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. I want you to know I’ll always be here if you need help or just a shoulder to cry on.”

She laughed a little at that and swiped her hand over the wet spot she’d created on his shirt. “I think I need more help than even you can give me, Aaron. Thank you. Thank you for everything you’ve done and keep trying to do.”

She pulled away and he let her go reluctantly.

She walked toward the door and paused there, staring down at the floor. “I realize now that I need to talk to a professional therapist about my anger, about my former marriage, about raising Josh. I can’t go on with this monster inside me, hoping it won’t jump out and hurt my son. The timing is terrible. Clay will use it against me if he can. But I can’t control these rages, so I need to do something about them. Maybe you could send me the name of that psychiatrist you mentioned. The one who knows about post-traumatic stress disorder in domestic situations. I mean, I don’t have anything that bad going on, but clearly I could use some coaching on how to control my anger and cope with Josh.”

“I’ll send you her name right away. You’ll like her. She’ll help you.”

At a knock, Gwen opened the door and found Phyllis on the other side.

“Your phone was ringing and ringing. I thought it might be important and it was sitting out on the table.” Phyllis handed the BlackBerry to Gwen.

“Thank you.” Gwen took the phone and examined the display.

“The boys have both eaten breakfast,” Phyllis said. “Josh is ready when you are. He told me he didn’t want to cause you any more trouble, so he’s sitting on the porch step waiting for you.”

Gwen’s expression softened. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll be right there.”

Phyllis left them alone, but Gwen kept the door open. She turned to him with sad eyes. “That was Melody calling me. She finally gave up and sent a text. Apparently Clayton persuaded a judge to hold an emergency custody hearing a week from Monday. So the social worker’s visit is only the beginning.”

“A week isn’t much time to prepare,” he said.

“We were mostly ready for court before, but now we have to figure out a strategy to deal with the accusations he’ll make related to the kids taking off for Pittsburgh.”

“I’ll help any way I can,” he said.

She shook her head. “I can’t accept, Aaron. We can’t be together at all. It’s bad enough everyone knows I spent the night here. You know how Clay will make it look in court. And, honestly, I’m surprised I haven’t been fired already.”

“I’ll quit my job,” he offered. “I don’t think I can go back to doing the same work anyway.”

“No!” she said. “You’re too good at what you do. And even if you quit, we still wouldn’t work. Too many differences between us, too many complications, particularly my obvious need for psychotherapy.”

“I understand,” he said.

“You do?” She sounded almost sorry to hear him give up so easily.

Gwen couldn’t appreciate what he’d meant by the comment. He understood she needed to focus on her custody battle, but he wasn’t giving up on them. If she thought that, then she completely underestimated his determination. Still, he had to let her go for the time being. Just as he had to let go of Beth.

“You need to stay focused on the custody case.”

“Okay,” she said. “Well, goodbye. And thank you for everything.”

Aaron watched her leave the room. He heard her open the front door. Slowly, Aaron made his way to a vantage point in the hallway so he could capture his last glimpse of her.

“Ready to go?” she said to Josh as she stepped onto the porch.

The ten-year-old stood and faced her. “I’ll fix things with the social worker, Mom,” Josh promised her.

She rushed forward and hugged him. Joshua’s arms circled his mother’s waist. “None of this is your fault, Josh. I didn’t mean what I said before. Just tell Mrs. Proux the truth and we’ll be fine. Just be yourself.”

“It’ll be okay, Mom,” he said.

And Aaron was going to do everything in his power to make sure it really would be.