Your One True Love (The Bennett Family 8)

Daniel was my opposite, keeping any problems to himself. Eventually, I realized it’s a man thing, not wanting to show the weak spots. For me, it was a relief to talk everything out, to hear his opinion, his advice. But in retrospect, I realize that, at twenty-one, I didn’t have any real problems. A bad grade or the failure to secure an internship was the worst back then. It was easy to be open when you had no ghosts, nothing to be ashamed of. Ten years later, with some fair baggage under my belt, opening up doesn’t come as easy.

“You’ll be late for your meeting,” I murmur.

“Fuck the meeting. I don’t care. I care about you. Tell me.”

“I’ll tell you tonight.”

I turn around, intending to hand him the cup of coffee, when I feel his arms around me, his chest pressed against my back. “I want you to share with me what bothers you, so I fix what I can, commiserate about the rest. I want you to trust me again like you used to.”

Oh, he says all the right things, and I feel so safe and warm in his arms that I’m tempted to persuade him to spend the entire day with me. But no matter what he says, I know this meeting is important. I won’t let him show up late on my account. It isn’t right.

So, I turn around, rise on the tip of my toes, and press my lips to his.

“I do trust you. We’ll talk about this tonight, I promise. Now go.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Caroline

Jenna and Richard Bennett’s home has long been one of my favorite places to hang out. Spanning two stories with a red roof on top, you can always count on having a hell of a lot of fun within its walls, or outside on the enormous property. In spring and summer, it’s a sea of green, between the grass and the tall oak trees lining the property. Now the crowns of the trees are a mix of gold and copper, with a tinge of green here and there, though the ground remains a vibrant green. Mercifully, it’s been dry today, because the property can turn into quite a muddy affair after a heavy rain.

Jenna Bennett is shuffling around in the white gazebo on the right side of the house, and I head straight there.

She’s wearing a fairy godmother costume, complimenting my Cinderella costume just right. The sight cracks me up.

“Jenna, your costume is fabulous.” A delicious smell reaches me as I step inside the gazebo, and my mouth almost waters when I notice the giant outdoor pizza oven is on.

“Oooh, I didn’t know pizza was on the menu.”

Jenna smiles. “Easiest way to feed so many people. And it’s a hit with the kids. The first batch should be done in a few minutes. Just waiting to get that crunchy crust.”

“I’ll help you get them inside.”

“Wonderful. I was about to call for reinforcements. By the way, your dad will stop by later too.”

“Really? Wow.”

“Talked to him a few days ago, wasn’t sure I was going to convince him.”

“Jenna, when was the last time you failed to convince someone?”

She gives me a wicked smile, which resembles Pippa’s very much.

“He’s been lonely since Mom passed away. I go to dinner once a week and help him at the bookstore on weekends, but....”

“It’s hard to be alone after you’ve shared your entire adult life with someone. Must feel like half of you is missing. He’s always welcome here. I can imagine he gets lonely on Christmas and such, whereas here it’s a....”

“Full house,” I finish for her.

“Sometimes I think madhouse is the better word, but I love every mad minute.” There is a beat of silence, and then Jenna adds, “I’m so happy you and Daniel found your way back to each other again.”

“We’re having a lot of fun rediscovering each other. We’re taking it slow,” I say quickly, hoping this will keep the conversation from spiraling into a heart-to-heart. When Daniel and I first went out together, it wasn’t uncommon for Jenna and me to talk about our future as if it was a given. This time, I’m determined to live our love one day at a time.

“As you should,” Jenna says. “Even though you have history, it’s important to take the time to discover the people you are now, build a foundation. You never fall in love the same way twice, not even with the same person.”

“That’s excellent advice.”

Jenna is a wise woman. I’ve always been close to her, almost as close as to my mother. In some instances, I even shared more with her than with my own mom, because I didn’t want to worry Mom, and because Jenna isn’t as judgmental.