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“He had kids lined up around the block with cans of food from their parents’ pantries.” Iris laughed, wiping away tears of joy.
Aaron shrugged, a smile playing on his handsome face. “The church pantry was filled to the brim, wasn’t it?”
Pride shone in Iris’s eyes as she looked at her son. “Sure was. A lot of people didn’t go hungry that winter because of those donations. My little warrior.”
Aaron shifted in his seat before he cleared his throat and waved his hand, as if it was no big deal.
“So, he was always this way?” Brynn asked.
“Oh, yes. My boy is a giver and a protector, as I’m sure you’ve witnessed.” Iris placed a hand over Aaron’s. “And I couldn’t be prouder.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Brynn had to fight back her tears. She knew what it would have done to her to hear those words from her mother. Aaron had to be much more affected than he was letting on.
“Well, I better get to bed. It’s been a long day. Tomorrow, I promised to teach Dani how to make grits.” Iris stood.
“Me too.” Dani got to her feet, giving her mother a quick embrace before she did the same for Aaron.
Brynn’s stomach flipped. She’d been hoping to put this part of the night off for as long as possible. “There’s fresh towels in the bathroom closet upstairs if you need them.”
“Perfect. You two sleep well.” Her mother-in-law hugged Aaron tight.
Aaron’s eyes closed for the briefest moment before he let his mother go. She opened her arms for Brynn. This was something Brynn would have to get used to, she supposed.
After Iris had disappeared up the stairs, Aaron turned to her. “Ready for bed?”
She nodded curtly and led the way. Anticipation thrummed in her chest as her heart raced, and with a shaky hand, she reached for the doorknob, then entered Aaron’s room.
Aaron shut the door with a click. “You guys really did amazing switching everything in here so quickly.”
Brynn walked forward, heading to the dresser to grab her sleepwear. “Thanks for making room for my stuff.” She retrieved an old, oversized T-shirt and pair of shorts. “I’ll just be a minute.” Brynn escaped to the en suite bathroom, locking herself inside. The last time she’d been in here she was sobbing after their failed attempt at sex. She clenched her eyes closed and shook her head before getting changed into her pajamas. She brushed her teeth and went to the bathroom. Washing her hands, she forced herself to look at her reflection in the mirror and took a deep breath.
“You can do this.”
Brynn tossed her clothes into the basket in the corner and left the room. Aaron was already changed into a pair of cotton sleep pants and nothing else. She averted her eyes from his broad muscular chest to the turned-down bed. Her arms folded together as she hugged herself. Nerves twisted in her belly, and her skin itched and tingled with anxiety. Tension wound around her like a cloud of smoke, heavy and suffocating. Aaron stood, his palms up, as if trying to show her he wasn’t a threat.
“Can we talk for a minute?”
“I . . . I’d rather not. I’m really tired. Can we . . . just sleep?” She couldn’t even look him in the eyes, afraid of the hurt she’d see there, or the resignation. A part of her wanted him to fight for her, even though she didn’t feel worth it. And another part of her just wanted to run away so she didn’t have to face the torrent of conflicting emotions swirling inside her like a rogue tornado.
He sighed. “Sure. If that’s what you need.”
She nodded and walked past him, climbing into the far side of the extra-large bed, then covering herself up. She closed her eyes, holding back the tears that wanted to slip free. His footsteps padded into the bathroom before the door shut. Brynn let out the breath she’d been holding. I’m just prolonging the inevitable. Someday soon, he’d see she wasn’t good for him. Maybe that day was today.
