No matter how much it hurt to realize they didn’t understand where she was coming from.
No matter how much she craved the normalcy and warmth of knowing her children had her back.
With a slight shake of her head, she reached for a glass and poured herself some iced tea. When Lily came back out, she shoved both hands into the pockets of her jeans and crossed over to them. With a sigh, she sank into another chair and threw her head back, allowing the sun to warm her entire face.
The cool liquid trickled down Amy’s throat, but it didn’t ease the dryness or the ache in her stomach.
Nor did she expect it to, but it gave her something to do with her hands, and it gave her an excuse to avoid Ashley’s earnest and open gaze.
For too long, the three women sat there, each lost to their own thoughts. Finally, Ashley stood, placed a hand on Amy’s shoulder, and squeezed. Startled, Amy nearly spilled the rest of her drink and gave Ashley a weak smile.
“Conversations like this aren’t easy,” Ashley began, “but I think you’ll all be okay. Lily, will you help me set up the otherguest bedroom? I’m sure Lucas and Sylvie will want to lie down for a bit. It’s been a long journey.”
Lily uncrossed her ankles and stood up. “Of course.”
“The pullout couch is yours too, if you want to spend the night,” Ashley added, pausing to give Amy another encouraging smile. “As long as you and Ben don’t mind squeezing on it together.”
Lily gave a half-hearted chuckle. “I’ll talk to Ben and see what we’re going to do because we have to be at the house in the morning for the plumber.”
Together, the two of them walked away, leaving Amy alone with a stomach full of knots and a chest tight with emotion. As she continued to sit there, turning the conversation over and over in her head, she couldn’t help but feel like she hadn’t handled the conversation well at all.
She hadn’t told them enough to help them understand.
Amy hadn’t actually told them much at all, and as much as it pained her to admit it, she knew her kids had the right to be upset and hurt. She regretted making the decision to protect their image of their father, just like she regretted the fact she couldn’t, in good faith, behave like he did.
It wasn’t the kind of person she was, even if she desperately wanted to be.
What would’ve happened if she had been honest about the years of verbal abuse? The constant undermining and demeaning she’d experienced at their father’s hands? Would her own children have turned away from her in favor of their father?
Amy desperately wanted a do-over, but she wasn’t sure it was in the cards for her.
Chapter Fifteen
“How did the test go?”
Jack glanced away and shoved a hand into his pocket. “It definitely could’ve gone better, but I was right about the baked goods. It definitely softened the blow.”
Emily raised an eyebrow. “Are you just saying that to make me feel better about the whole thing?”
Jack held up two fingers, pressed them close together, and gave her a sheepish smile. “Maybe a little. Some of them weren’t happy I was trying to butter them up, but give them some time. They’ll get over it.”
Emily’s lips spread into a smile. “So, I shouldn’t expect a few TikToks about the stunt you pulled? Am I going to go viral?”
Jack threw his head back and laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far, no. But you never know.”
Emily was still staring at him as he stopped laughing.
Abruptly, she straightened her back and stepped out from behind the register. Using the glass display as a shield, she pretended to move some of the baked goods around. Opposite her, Jack stood, studying the display intently. When he crouched in front of the display, another lock of dark hair fell over hiseyes, and she resisted the urge to reach out and run her fingers through it.
Emily wondered if his hair was as soft as it looked.
And why she was suddenly overcome with the urge to feel it.
“…it’s been really helpful,” Jack finished, his gaze drifting up to hers. “I’m glad Dad made us go.”
Emily blinked and shoved away all thoughts of Jack’s hair. “What?”
Jack rose to his feet and cleared his throat. “I was talking about the support group and how helpful it’s been. I’m sorry; I don’t mean to monopolize all of your time. I’m sure you have other things to do.”
