“It is pretty great,” I agree. “Dad bought this land, built the house, and then the lake. Our family name comes with attention, and he wanted a place he could just spend time with his family without the fanfare of who we are. He dug the lake, and it seems as if he’s constantly adding something. It’s our own little oasis.”
“You spend a lot of time here.” It’s not really a question, more of an observation on her part.
“We do. My brothers and I have so many good memories growing up here. Now their kids will have the same. It’s pretty cool to watch.”
“What about you? Do you want kids?”
“Someday.” I pause before saying more and decide to just roll with what feels right. “My family gives me a hard time because I’m the last holdout. They have this magic theory when it comes to love.”
“This sounds like something I need to hear,” she says, her tone lighter than just moments before.
“That’s a story for another day. What about you? Did you ever go camping out and boating when you were growing up?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “My mom died when I was seven, and my dad, I lost him a few years before I lost Travis. Heart attack.”
Fuck.
I swallow hard at the emotions threatening to consume me, hearing all that she’s lost. “I’m sorry.” I know those two words will do nothing to bring back her parents or her husband, but that’s the best I’ve got at the moment.
“Thank you. Dad worked a lot after Mom passed. He was heartbroken. He was never quite the same after she died. He loved me and made sure I had everything I needed. He never missed a soccer game growing up, but the light in his eyes, the happy… it was dulled when we lost her.”
“I can’t imagine losing my parents. I know it’s the circle of life, and that’s how it's supposed to work, but damn, I hope it’s a long damn time before I have to go through that.”
“For your sake, I hope so too.”
“Here it is.” I point to the gazebo.
“Wow. That’s beautiful. The backdrop of the lake and the trees… it looks like a postcard.”
“I guess you’re right. I’ve never really thought of it that way.”
We continue to walk toward the gazebo and my shoulders relax now that it’s just the three of us. “Let’s sit.” I nod toward the gazebo.
“Do you want me to take her?”
I look down at the baby resting against my chest and smile. “Nah, she’s good.” Madeline is just along for the ride, her eyes taking it all in. I hope we can use this time to get to know one another better. I need this time with her to figure out what the hell is going on with me. Why today, of all days, all of these emotions are waging a war inside me when it comes to Wren and Madeline?
Chapter 10
Wren
“Tell me what I said to upset you.”
Marshall is looking at me with so much worry and concern in his eyes, I’m once again battling tears. I don’t want to talk about this, but I don’t see a way out. “I mentioned that Madeline hasn’t been around many men. In fact, maybe a handful. All of her day care workers are women, so it’s supermarkets, or pharmacies, things like that. To see her so taken with you, it’s a little hard to see.”
“Being a single mom is hard.” He says the words matter-of-factly, as if he knows the struggle.
“What do you know about being a single mom?” My voice is calm, but I feel a bit of annoyance festering inside me. He can’t possibly know what it’s like to travel a day in my shoes.
“I don’t. However, I do know what my brothers and I put my parents through. I would imagine that doing it on your own is a heavy burden to carry.”
“My daughter is not a burden,” I snap.
“No.” He’s quick to answer. “Madeline is not a burden, but the burdens of life, and raising her on your own, that’s what I was referring to.”
I nod because I can’t find my voice. I should apologize for snapping at him, but my emotions are all over the place. I’m so out of my comfort zone with this gorgeous man, and then there’s the incident earlier. I’m pretty sure he was going to kiss me.
I would have let him.
Then there was his response to me breastfeeding Madeline. At first, I thought he was just being prudish and judgmental, but that wasn’t it at all. He was jealous. I may not be in the dating game these days, but I know jealousy when I see it. I can’t wrap my head around why.
More than that, why was I going to let him kiss me? And why was I disappointed when he didn’t? These are all questions I don’t have answers to.