“I hope you don’t think I’m trying to replace your daughter,” I admit. Sidney’s head whips toward me, and she presses her lips together sadly. There’s a look in her eyes that I recognize. I’ve seen it in Haylee’s mom Natalie’s eyes when I know she is thinking of her late son, Emmett. “All I want is to be there for him and Andy, but things aren’t that simple.”
“I don’t think that at all, dear.” She places her hand over mine reassuringly. “Can I ask you a question?” I nod. “Do you love him?”
I nod, afraid of saying the words aloud. Plus, I’m not sure it’s fair to say those words to someone other than the person they are for. Not that it really matters anymore. But I love them both very much.
“Then why are you letting him just get away? My son-in-law is stubborn as an ox.” I chuckle because I’m not sure that is a big enough analogy. “But he has a big heart. Why not go after him?”
“It’s just—it’s just—” I stumble over my words and take a calming breath. “It’s just complicated. He wants a future I can’t give him.” After all these years, he said that he finally saw having more kids with someone. If he could develop those thoughts for me, then he can do it for someone else.
“Sweetheart, I don’t think he needs whatever you think he needs. He’s a pretty simple man. I think there’s only one thing that he needs—well, two if you include Andy—and
that’s you.”
My sister’s SUV pulls up in my driveway, and I’m feeling both happy and sad to end this conversation, but at least I have a little more clarity. My head is still a mess. I wish it was as simple as just making one decision. But my decision will be like a domino effect. One wrong move could send everything we’ve built toppling over.
“Well, that’s my cue to go. That’s my sister, Lauren, here to pick me up.” I rise.
“It was wonderful to meet you, Kate.” She pulls me into her arms before I can protest. I’m not sure who needs the hug more, me or her.
After a moment, we pull back, and I turn to head home when she calls my name.
“Don’t give up on him just yet, okay?”
I nod and give her a small smile. It’s not about me giving up on him. It’s about him willing to let me in. I understand the struggles of being a single parent. I may have been a teenager when my parents divorced, but Kyler was still young, so I saw what my mother went through.
Lauren has exited her vehicle and is standing beside it when I approach. “What was that about?”
“It’s nothing. I just have to grab my bag.” I rush inside to grab my bag by the door and lock up behind me.
“All set?” she asks as I hop in the passenger seat.
“Yep.” As Lauren backs up out of the driveway, I replay my conversation with Sidney. Before we reach the airport, I’ve made up my mind and open my last text message thread with Jaxon.
Me: I have to go out of town for a few days, but when I get back, we need to talk.
Once I hit Send, I don’t wait for a reply and just toss my phone back in my bag. Maybe he can sweat it out a little more since I used those famous four words every man fears—we need to talk.