“It’s okay. I know you have a child and these things happen.”
“Rarely. It’s a lot of drama. Hang on for a second.” He found the schedule and texted it to Rene and then put his phone down. “I don’t want you to think I’m bending over backwards for her picking her up or anything. Even sending the schedule. If I don’t do these little things, I might not hear from her for days, waiting for her to decide what she was going to do, only to find out she didn’t know where to locate the schedule.”
“She’s someone with a lot of excuses, by the sounds of it.”
“One of many things,” he said, reaching for a slice of cheese. “She didn’t remember I moved even though I know she read the messages. I’ve got proof. I keep all those things. She just thoughtshe could pop over to my place in Boston and then walk out again for six months.”
“That’s horrible.”
“That’s Becca’s mom. It’s not who I would have picked to be the mother of my child, but sometimes in life you don’t have a choice.”
“So I’ve learned.”
Alana climbed back into his lap like she’d been. “Thanks for being so good about this.”
She gave him a kiss. “It’s all for Becca. You know what’s right for her and it’s not for me to say otherwise. Please never think that.”
“I don’t,” he said. “I have in the past, but I don’t have that worry with you.”
She laid her head back on his shoulder, her hand on his thigh. “You’re struggling and I’m not sure if it has to do with me or Becca. If it’s me, put it from your mind. I mean it.”
He kissed the top of her head. He wanted to put it from his mind but wasn’t sure he could.
22
HELPED NUDGE THE WAY
“I’m so glad that you could come today,” Diane said. “You’ve been so helpful. This morning has been crazy, but most come early as you can tell.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Alana said. There was only an hour left for the gifts to be picked up by the families and the room looked almost vacant. “I was thrilled to help this year.”
“We can always use volunteers. Especially this close to the holiday when I’m sure you’ve got a lot going on yourself.”
“Not much,” she said.
Brennan left at seven thirty this morning. She’d made them breakfast after they’d made love another time. The second was softer. Sweeter. Slow and tender.
She got to see both sides of him and would rate them the same.
Thirteen out of ten.
Boy, did he make her body sing a song it’d never heard before.
They hadn’t made plans for the weekend and she wouldn’t put that kind of pressure on him.
She’d see him at work on Monday; then they were both off for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. He said he’d work remotely the rest of the week so he could spend it with Becca. It’d been set up before the two of them started dating.
They’d figure the next week out and when she could see him again. She had a gift for Becca but hadn’t told him yet.
She didn’t know if it was too soon for that and was still keeping it close to her chest for now.
It was best to see how this weekend went.
When he left, he seemed fine, but she noticed he was preoccupied.
“I’m sure you’ll have the holiday with your family next week though,” Diane said. “Are you going to Boston for it or are your parents coming here?”
There was no hiding who she was or who she was related to, and she never bothered.
