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Dylan looked from Dad to her. “That’s right. You’re not a child. So let’s stop treating you like one.” He cut a look at Dad.
Dad sucked in a deep breath. Exhaled.
“I’m sorry, sweetie.” Dad stood and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“I’m fine,” she said. “If this is about Grayson, it’s not a big deal.” It was a huge deal of catastrophic proportions. Not that she was measuring.
“I think it is,” he answered, and glanced toward Dylan.
He picked up the Rhine cruise flyer. “You kept asking me about this trip. About Janet. About getting on with life.” He set down the flyer. “I turned it down outright because…I’ve been afraid. I’ve held on to fear like a shield. As if it could protect me.”
“Dad, you don’t have to explain or justify anything.” She turned on Dylan. “What did you say to him?”
Dylan let out a breath.
Dad held out his hand. “I never wanted to admit that you were holding on to your promise all these years.” His blue eyes watered. “I should have. When you came up with reasons not to go to college, I rolled with it because I wanted you here. I guess I’ve been selfish.”
The look on his face destroyed her. “You aren’t selfish.”
“I have been. I’ve let you cook, clean, and shop for me.” He gestured toward the refrigerator. “When I sat down with Janet and was telling her about my life, I was embarrassed when I realized how much I’ve leaned on you.” He ran a hand over his gray hair. “I don’t know, one year turned to another.” He lifted his hands. Dropped them. “And here we are.” He slumped back into his chair.
Beth sank into the chair next to him. “You’ve given me a home and support and encouragement. I love my life with you.” She looked up at Dylan. “I chose this.”
Dad held up his hand to stop her. “I’ve held you back. Your brother’s right.” He gripped the edge of the kitchen counter like he dangled over a five-story precipice. “I’ve held myself back.” He glanced over at Dylan, who gave him the slightest nod.
And why, suddenly, did it feel like Dad was rejecting her too?
“Are you saying you don’t want me to come by? Don’t want Saturday breakfasts together?” Her heart sank.
“Not at all—but it’s time for one season to end and another to begin.” He tapped the peninsula. “You should visit Oregon. See what you think of it.”
Oh. Beth’s throat thickened. “Deep Haven is my life.”
“It’ll still be here. I’ll still be here.” He waved the flyer. “I mean, when I’m not on this cruise.”
“You’re going to go on that cruise?”
“Yeah. I think it’s time I spend some time exploring the world too.”
Maybe you need to consider if you love him enough to go.
Dad scrubbed his hands over his face. “I’ve lived in fear for so long. I guess I just fell into what was comfortable. Easy.”
“We both did,” Beth answered.
He nodded.
“Life is too precious to waste.” Dylan’s words were spoken like a man who knew. Who was watching his wife battle an insidious foe.
Beth reached out and took his hand. Squeezed it.
Dylan leaned back against the far countertop. “I owe you an apology too, Beth. I didn’t want things to be weird with me and Grayson. I probably played the big brother card a little too hard.” He ran a hand across his beard scruff. “He’s a good man—a changed man.”
A whole man.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Beth sat in the kitchen beside the two men who’d always been there. Thousands of meals shared at that very peninsula. And they were telling her to go?
