"I suppose he went back to Russia," Tom replied. "He left Schuyler Square and as far as I know, no one ever heard from Vlad Sidham again."
Vlad Sidham. It didn't take much effort on Tom's part to recall the man who had been his ex-wife's lover. He remembered the tall, good-looking Russian with grey eyes, clear cut features and a sharp mind. Tom had liked Vlad--until he'd realized that Vlad was sleeping with his wife. Well, let's face it: his marriage to Lynette had been a farce almost from the words "I do."
"And he's the one you think might be Tiffany's dad?"
Tom shrugged. "I'm not one hundred percent sure on that one but even if Vlad is Tiffany's father, he's not here and I am. I want to do what I can for the girl. I feel like she's really been dealt a lousy hand in life." He shook his head. "All these years and I never knew about her."
"How could you not know?"
"Lynnette raised her in Indianapolis. I never met Tiffany and when Lynette said someone else was her dad, I believed her. Now I don't know what to believe."
Veronica looked at him with approval. "You're a good guy, Tom Hartman. Most men would prefer to keep their head in the sand."
"Like Ron Schuyler did with you and Kirk," Tom said.
"Exactly." Their eyes met in the softening evening light. "I'm glad you aren't like that, Tom."
"I suppose I'm just your basic Boy Scout. Do the right thing and all that stuff."
"That's good stuff," Veronica said. "I'm glad I've gotten to know you since I came back to Schuyler Square. You've given me hope that there are still good men out there."
"You don't need to look 'out there' for any other men," Tom informed her. "I'm right here." He leaned forward to kiss Veronica and for the first time in a long time, felt like he'd come home.
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