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“You’re welcome.” Helen sighed and eased back in her chair, looking more than a little drained. “It’s always nice to reach this end of the day.”
Poor thing. Was all the hard work worth it if Helen was exhausted at the end? Sarah stood. “You’ve worked so hard. I’ll go start cleaning up.” Ignoring Helen’s half-murmured protests, she picked up several plates and headed to the kitchen, where she was soon joined by Dan and Sam. She was thankful for the distraction as they talked hockey and loaded the dishwasher whilst she carefully washed the glasses, the pain pooling in her heart and head easing a little now she was away from the baby-focused conversation at the dinner table. Maybe it would disappear when they made their farewells and she could finally escape.
* * *
Dan adjustedthe air-con and looked across at Sarah in the front seat. “That better?”
She nodded, her recently discarded scarf on her lap. “Thanks.”
He gazed affectionately over at her. Today had gone so well. Everyone had seemed to love Sarah, and she seemed to have relaxed more too. It boded well for the future. “So, did you have fun?”
She nodded. “It was good. It was nice to meet Luke and Marguerite. They…they seem excited about becoming parents.”
“Oh yeah.” His super-serious brother was so excited at the thought of being a dad. He and Marguerite would be good parents, although they’d probably be overly strict. Dan’s stomach tensed. His parents’ enthusiastic response about their first grandchild made him wish—
“It’s good news.” Sarah’s comment interrupted his remorse.
He pushed aside regret, gave a quick smile. “Sure is. I love kids.” He studied her as they waited at a red light. Imagine being the father of Sarah’s children. His heart skipped a beat. She’d make a great mother. She was so fun, enthusiastic, and smart. He could just see them now: little girls with their mother’s red locks, little tough guys he could teach hockey. A family filled with laughter and love.
Whoa. Seriously? He’d said he loved her—but marriage, fatherhood, the whole works? She was only here for another two months. What then? Boyd’s long-ago words about thinking with his head resurfaced. Memories of his past seeped in. His stomach churned. There was still so much unknown.
* * *
The suburban landmarksslowly became familiar once again as Sarah mulled over Dan’s comment at the dinner table. Probably he’d only meant he loved her as in liked her a lot, just as earlier he’d declared how much he loved his mother’s baked dinners. As nice as he’d been, as much as he seemed to have enjoyed kissing her last week, he couldn’t really mean he loved her in a romantic forever sense. Could he? How could she ask him to clarify his comment anyway?
She’d always believed that sayingI love youwas one of the big moments in a relationship, when one was sure of the other and willing to commit to a future. Dan saying it like that had caught her by surprise, unprepared, and she now felt almost obliged to say it back. But then, he hadn’t actually said those words to her, so probably this was just another flight of her too-active imagination; something that likely wouldn’t matter when reality bit all too soon.
Her feelings tilted into sadness again about his brother’s news. Itwasgreat news for Luke and Marguerite, but a secret part of her wanted to cry about the fact that she’d likely never have that opportunity. Especially as Dan loved kids and was excited about becoming an uncle.
Should she say something about her inability to have children? She bit her lip. Like that was an easy topic to slip into conversation. And Dan hadn’t said anything beyondI love her—to his family, no less, not even to her! It wasn’t like he’d declared he wanted to marry her. Besides, the doctors hadn’t definitely ruled out her ability to bear children, only advised that the accident and surgeries had likely affected it. She pressed against the ache in her forehead. But then, Dan had once said he didn’t like pretenders, and she wanted to be honest.Oh Lord, what’s best for Dan?
Too soon, he’d pulled up outside John’s parents’ home and killed the engine.
Her insides churned. “Thanks for inviting me along today. It was fun.” Mostly.
“My folks like you.” His steady gaze cut through the doubts.
“I like your family too.” Mostly.
“I think today went really well.”
She nodded mutely, a marionette doll with a painted smile. Todayhadgone well. At first.
He threaded his fingers through hers. “I don’t really know when I’ll next get to see you. The first big road trip starts tomorrow, which means I’ll be out of action for a while.”
“But we can still text or email.”
“And call or FaceTime.” He stroked her cheek, tracing fire. “I love to hear you speak.”
He sure wouldn’t like hearing the awful revelation she’d had at the dining table. Should she say something now?
Be brave.
But before she could speak, he bent his head and kissed her, and she closed her eyes, content to let the worries subside in the pleasure found there. His lips caressed hers gently, feather-like promises of passion that slowly intensified, growing more demanding. She slid her hands up along his jaw into his thick hair and shifted forward in her seat, pressing herself as close as she dared as the kiss deepened, growing urgent before he pulled away.
She drew back, lightheaded, breathing hard. “I guess that kiss will have to be enough to keep you going.”
“It’ll keep me going,” he rasped, then exhaled. “It’s probably a good thing I won’t see you for a while.”
