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It’s become a safe haven.
That wasn’t a feeling I knew until after meeting Crawford.
We take a little bit of everything before digging in. Although, much like the night we were here for dinner, my appetite pulls a disappearing act. I thought for sure the amazing scent of my favorite takeout would pique my interest.
After a grueling, two-hour dance class, I should be famished.
Instead, there’s nothing.
Nothing but a vague sense of unease.
With his fork, he points to my plate. “You brought over all this food, and I don’t think you’ve taken a bite. Is there something you want to talk about?”
I huff out a breath and shove the dish away before staring down at my hands. The reason I decided to drop by in the first place was to clear the air. He needs to know that whatever was going on with Ford is now over.
The thought brings a pang to my heart.
But I’m doing what’s best for the family, right?
That’s what’s important.
At some point, Ford and I can smooth over our relationship and forget that we were ever together. It’s not like it lasted very long. It’ll be a momentary blip of insanity that we can laugh about in the distant future.
The very distant future.
And we can continue to be a family.
When I remain silent, trying to figure out how best to get it all out in the open, he says, “Have you spoken with your mother?” He doesn’t give me a chance to respond before his voice dips. “Is that what this is about?”
The question throws me for a loop.
“Mom?” I haven’t talked to her since our conversation in the family room. It didn’t seem like there was anything else to say after that. “No. Did something happen?”
His gaze flickers away as his normally strong shoulders wilt. “Pamela decided that she didn’t want to get remarried after all.”
My eyes widen as my mouth falls open. “Are you kidding?” Although, it’s doubtful he’d joke about something like this.
“No.” He lays his fork down and straightens on the chair as if putting on a brave face. “I was hoping she’d change her mind, but she booked a last-minute cruise to the Bahamas and left this morning.”
The bomb he just dropped explodes in my brain, blowing everything to bits.
I can’t believe Pamela did this.
Well…that’s not true. I can totally believe it.
I can’t help but wonder if I had anything to do with her decision to call off the wedding. Guilt pricks at me as I stare across the table at Crawford.
Then again, this is exactly what Mom does. I might be secretly relieved by the turn of events, but it’s obvious that he’s in pain. Crawford has never failed to see the best in her.
Even when he shouldn’t.
“I’m sorry.”
It takes every ounce of self-control not to admit that he’s better off without her.
He forces a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes before shrugging. “I should have seen it coming. The one thing your mother doesn’t like is to be tied down. She wants to take off whenever the urge strikes, and that’s not something I can do right now.”
“That doesn’t excuse her behavior,” I grumble, unable to help myself.
