Page 51 of An Unexpected Match
Gripping the receiver tightly, she asked the question that had plagued her since she arrived.
“Why are there no pictures of Lannie around for the girls?”
Chapter Twelve
She heard his sharp intake of breath and wondered if she’d gone too far. But he'd said she could talk about anything.
“I put them all away after she died.”
“She’s been dead for three years. I think Hailey would like to see a picture of her mother. She asked when she saw the one I have of my mother on my dresser. She doesn’t remember her, I think.”
“That’s not true. Of course she remembers her mom.”
“Think about it. You don’t talk about her. There aren’t any pictures around. How could a little girl remember when there’s nothing to jog her memory? Or keep her memories alive? And Avery had nothing to remember to begin with. I bet she’d love to see what her mother looked like.”
He was silent.
Arden bit her lower lip, wondering if she’d gone too far. Had she made him angry? Sad?
“Brendan?”
“What?”
“Tell me something more about Lannie. What was she like? What was her favorite food, any movies she especially loved?”
“As you said, she’s dead. What would be the point?”
“Maybe she’s gone, but surely not forgotten. Not by you, nor should she be by her children. She was an important part of your life and of your children’s lives. I want to know more about her.”
“Why?”
To know what she was up against was her first thought. She brushed it aside.
“To help with the girls, of course. When something comes up, if I could say, you know your mother loved this, or hated this. Think how that could keep her memory alive for them.”
“If you really want to know more about her, I’ll tell you when I get home, but not tonight.”
“Do you know when you’ll be home?”
“Wednesday afternoon. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She listened as he hung up and then tossed her phone beside her on the bed. Discussing Lannie was something she should have never brought up. She knew she’d heard the love in his voice when he spoke about her.
Would she ever hear such love when someone spoke about her?
Brendan hung up and rose from the hotel bed to walk to the window. Washington sparkled in the night. The Capitol dome was illuminated for all the world to see. He leaned his forehead against the glass, the image before him fading as he tried to remember the very essence of Lannie.
It was harder and harder to do each day. He had to admit it had been ever since he interviewed a tall, leggy blonde.
Tuesday night, when her phone rang, Arden didn’t answer it. She didn't want to talk to Brendan this evening.
Five minutes later, the house phone rang. After four rings, the answering machine picked up. The girls had already gone to bed, and she was finishing up cleaning the kitchen. She could easily hear the answering machine.
“Arden?” It was Brendan.
She listened, loved hearing his voice.
“Arden? It’s Brendan. Pick up if you’re there.”
