“Didn’t want to interrupt.”
Jace recognized the look on Red’s face as he gazed at Bree. He looked at her that way too. Red wanted to comfort her, help her through the pain, ease it if he could.
“You aren’t interrupting,” Bree told him. “What’s up?”
“Thought you might give an old fella a dance.”
Bree stood, put her arm through Red’s, and let him lead her into the other room. She turned back to make sure Jace was following. She didn’t want to leave him sitting in the dining room all alone.
He stood and stretched his leg. Just when she was about to turn around and go back to him, he looked up and waved her off.
“Go dance,” he said. “I’ll be right along, soon as I loosen my leg up.”
Red was a good dancer, just like her dad was. It felt good to have his strong arms lead her around the room.
“Seems like a nice young man.” He pulled back to look in her eyes.
“Yes, he is. He’s very nice,” she laughed. “Although I didn’t always think so.”
“No?”
“I can’t remember why not. Except that he was kind
of pushy with my sister. She’s, uh, married to his brother now. His twin brother.”
“Why do I think there’s more to the story?”
“There is, but it isn’t very interesting.” She rested her head against Red’s shoulder. “The truth is, he comforted me. He helped me a lot right after Zack’s death. He didn’t have to, but he did. Even when I pushed him away.”
“Must care about you.”
“It’s a family thing. I love my sister; he loves his brother. We were thrown together, whether we wanted to be or not.”
“Uh huh.”
Was it that obvious? She supposed it was. Jace Rice made her heart beat faster, and she loved that he was here. She still didn’t understand why he was, but they’d get to the bottom of it eventually. In the meantime, she’d take whatever time with him she could get.
“Pretty moon tonight. Maybe you and your young man would like to sit out on the porch, take in the sky. Nothin’ like a clear night in Idaho for stargazing.”
When the song ended, Bree walked over to where Jace stood, waiting for her. “Red recommends the porch for stargazing.”
“I know just the spot he’s talkin’ about.” Jace took her hand in his.
No one else was out there, so they sat on the porch swing. Jace put his arm around her and pulled her close.
“Bree?”
“Yeah?”
“I know I said it before, but it bears repeating. I’ve missed you.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’ve missed you, too.”
Should she tell him that she’d missed him as much as she missed Zack? He would think she was crazy if she did. Or he’d think the same thing she was. Missing Zack and missing Jace got jumbled up together. She couldn’t tell the difference between the two sometimes. And that wasn’t healthy. It also wasn’t real. What she’d had with Zack had been real. She hardly knew Jace.
“I’m here because I need to let myself mourn the death of my husband.”
“I know, and I won’t do anything to interfere with that. In fact, you say the word, and I’ll be in the truck back to Montana come sunrise.”