“Which is another reason you’re upset. Because I didn’t do it this time. And it hurts even more because it’s what I want and I’m the one who broke that dream.”
“You didn’t break it,” he said gently. “We’re human. That’s what it comes down to. No one is perfect and no one will be. You know I’ve always wanted a family.”
“I know that. The same as me.”
“And my mother told me she mentioned to you I took a dull boring job because I had this fear that I’d never want to put a family through what my mother went through with my father’s job. Right?”
“Are you upset that I never told you she said that?”
“No. I think it was an unspoken thing in my mind. I never said those words to my mother, but a lot of my life was not taking risks. Not doing things that could hurt me physically. It could be why I’m so anxious about Becca and her activity level.”
“Always carrying her,” she said, closing one eye.
“I don’t want her falling, but the truth is, you learn from mistakes.”
“No one can prevent things that happen in life. Can we try not to put ourselves in dangerous situations? Sure. We can,” she said. “But yesterday is a good example of shit happening anyway.”
“Exactly,” he said. “I thought of that too on the flight over. I’ve had this worry so much in my life, but I can’t control it all. I can try to and I will with the right things.”
“Like with Rene,” she said. “I know I pushed you to take the first step and not ride it out.”
“I needed that push. That is an instance that I feared the outcome. Where I was a little like you and put my head in the sand and hoped it went away.”
“Ouch,” she said. “I deserved that. See, we’ve got that in common too.”
“That’s why I’m not mad over you not telling me about Jonathan’s texts. And maybe this is a lesson we both need. We complement each other. We push the other when it’s needed too.”
“We do.” She pointed to her lips. “Can I have a kiss? It will make me feel better.”
He stood up and walked closer to her, then got on his knees next to the couch, his lips touching hers. “It will make me feel better too.”
44
ADMIRE HER STRENGTH
The following week, Brennan’s phone rang after dinner.
He picked it up off the counter and saw Rene calling, then answered after he’d shown it to Alana who was helping him clean dishes.
She was moving better despite him telling her to rest.
She’d said she got too stiff and wasn’t putting her life on hold for a few bruises.
He had to admire her strength.
Becca was in the living room lining up her toys like she always did.
“Hello,” he said.
“I just wanted you to know that I’m moving.”
He frowned. “Moving where?”
“You should be happy,” Rene said. “I am.”
He blew out a breath. It was like pulling teeth for her to give him a straight answer. He’d been dying to call her and find out what was going on, but didn’t want to poke the bear just yet. It hadn’t even been two weeks since he’d talked to her in Boston.
“Where are you moving to and why?”
