Ri hesitated and then asked softly, “Have you heard from him?”
When Katie shook her head, Ri hugged her. “I’m sorry. You and your boys deserve so much better.”
The hug was a little too close, making all the tender, delicate parts of Katie feel as raw and exposed as the day her husband told her he was leaving her for someone else. For just a moment, she was tempted to sink into the embrace and bawl her eyes out but doing that wouldn’t change anything. It would just give her red eyes, a stuffy nose and make her friend feel sorry for her. Her pride was about all she had left at this point so she straightened and put on the biggest, brightest smile she could muster.
Even if it was fake, it was better than wallowing in misery.
“It’s his loss, really. They’re such good boys. So full of love and so eager to give it. He’s missing out on all of that. As for me, I’m just focused on starting fresh.”
Ridley gave her a knowing look, like she could tell Katie wasn’t as strong as she was pretending to be. But in the end, her friend understood all about starting over. She’d come to New Haven at the lowest point of her life and ended up finding the love of her life. Katie wasn’t expecting that kind of miracle. She’d blown her chances at the fairy tale when she’d chosen the wrong prince to ride off into the sunset with. All she could hope for was a stable job so her boys could stay in the home they’d grown up in.
She just hoped she was able to catch a break before the avalanche of bills caught up with her.
?
He’d finally found his opening. After his father had accompanied the boys outside, Bennett had figured he could tag along and then just make a detour to his laboratory. Since he’d converted one of the existing barns into his laboratory and personal living space years ago, it was on the way to the stables anyway. It was perfect.
Or it would have been if Jackson hadn’t corne
red him before he could make his escape.
“Hey, Bennett! Wait up.”
Cursing internally, Bennett paused and turned. Jackson clapped him on the shoulder so hard it felt like his spine bowed.
“I just wanted to catch you before you went back to work. About dinner, Ri didn’t mean anything in there. She’s just antsy waiting for the baby to come.”
Bennett almost wanted to laugh. He would have never believed that his whole family would be tiptoeing around a tiny female with a huge belly.
“I know she wasn’t trying to be pushy. She’s just looking out for her friend. No harm done.”
“Oh, she was trying to be pushy. She’s always pushy when she wants something. I kinda like her that way, if you know what I mean.”
Jackson’s dark chuckle told him exactly what his little brother meant by that. He smothered a smile. Ridley really did have his brother wrapped around her little finger. Luckily she was a good woman, not the kind to take advantage of that kind of power.
“I get it. But either way, it’s no big deal. I was just going to head back and get some more work done.”
“Cool. I know you’re busy.” Jackson pulled him into a quick hug and then turned to leave but not before Bennett caught the faint look of disappointment on his face.
Man, it was a killer to know that he was constantly hurting the people around him. And for what? All because they’d committed the crime of wanting to spend time with him? If there was a way to let them know that the lack was in him, not in anything they’d ever done, he’d do anything to find it. He just wasn’t wired the same way they were. He stayed away, not because he didn’t want to spend time with them, but to protect them. It was easier this way all around. Solitude was safer. No hurt feelings, no miscommunications. Just him and his work.
Exhaustion rode him hard as he pulled open the back door. Then he stopped short when he saw Katie outside talking to one of her sons. He recognized the little boy’s posture. He was in trouble and getting an earful. As the oldest of four, he’d recognize that stance anywhere.
“When you take something from your brother, you’re not thinking about his feelings. You’re only thinking of yourself. That’s not fair, is it?”
When the little boy shook his head, she placed a hand on his head.
“I know. Now go apologize. We’ll be leaving in fifteen minutes, okay? Make sure you apologize to Mr. Alexander for your bad behavior, too.”
Once Katie stood, the little boy raced off and she paused when she saw Bennett in the doorway.
“Sorry. Let me get out of your way.”
As she moved to the side, Bennett followed her with his eyes. She really was a nice woman. Patient, kind and understanding. She corrected her son’s behavior with a calm, steady kind of strength. Exactly the kind of woman who could whip any man into shape.
When he didn’t pass, she peered up at him curiously. “Are you okay?”
“Does it bother you that you have to correct his behavior?”