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39
Elizabeth
“Are you sure you’re ready for him to meet everyone? Especially the kids?” Cat asks. It’s the third time she’s caught me looking out the window for Brenden.
I check to be sure no one is coming before answering in a hushed tone, “Is it that obvious how nervous I am?”
“Uh…yeah,” she scoffs. “Just a little. If you don’t feel sure about it, why are you doing it?”
I shrug, my unease crawling through my stiff muscles. “I don’t know. We’ve been doing this whole dating thing for a while now. We’ve been friends even longer. Things are continuing to progress between us, and I can’t keep avoiding it. Besides, it’s not the kids I’m worried about. He’s great with kids. I’m sure Maddison and Sean will like him. It’s our parents and Xander’s parents I’m concerned about.”
My heart palpitates at the mere thought of introducing Brenden to Xander’s parents.
“Mom and Dad will love him because he’s clearly been making you happy, but…” she trails off, her face twisting as she lifts her shoulders.
“I know.” I sigh. “It’s going to be weird with Conor and Anna. I really hope it doesn’t upset them, but they’ll have to meet him eventually.”
“It sounds like your relationship is getting pretty serious. Do you love him?” she asks, as if it’s the most casual question in the world—as if she didn’t just cause my heart to nearly stop beating.
Things have been going so well with Brenden, but I’m still trying to process dating a man who isn’t Xander. I can’t even wrap my head around what it would mean for me to be in love with another man. I need to deal with this one day at a time.
“Don’t you think it’s a little premature to be talking about love?” I ask.
“No, not really. Like you said, you’ve known him for months now. Besides, I think it’s possible to know almost instantly when you love someone.”
Before I can try to formulate a response, the doorbell rings, and my heart jumps into my throat.
“I can’t talk about this right now,” I hiss, wiping my sweaty hands down my hips as I make my way over to the door.
“Don’t close yourself off to the idea of loving again, baby sister,” she reminds me from behind me.
My sister claims to have only fallen in love once. She was thirteen and has blamed her failed relationships over the years on the fact that her heart still remains with him. Yet, she wants to stand there and tell me she believes love is still possible for me.
Brenden stands on the other side of the door holding a present for Sean in one hand and some tiger lilies for me in the other. I mentioned it once in passing that they’re my favorite, but it doesn’t surprise me that he remembered.
“Hi, beautiful.” He steps inside when I pull the door back, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek as he hands me the flowers. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Yep,” I lie with a smile. “I’ll put these in some water, then we can head outside to meet everyone.”
“One…two…three…” Brenden counts, winking at me as Sean and Maddison run around the back yard looking for a place to hide.
Seeing him interact with the kids today is bittersweet. He’s been great with them, as I expected. They both seem completely enamored with him—something I can certainly relate to.
Sean is particularly taken with him. He’s wanted Brenden to stay right at his side throughout the entire party. My emotions are torn seeing them together, though. While I’m relieved Sean likes Brenden, I can’t help feeling the unfairness of it all.
It isn’t right that Xander isn’t here, or that our son will never know his father. He’ll have to rely on pictures and stories.
“We’re going to get going,” Anna says, pulling me from my thoughts.
If having Brenden here today is an emotional thing for me, I can only imagine how painful it’s been for Conor and Anna.
My chest tightens with guilt and sorrow. “Oh, okay. I’ll walk you out. Sean, Maddison…come tell Grandma Anna and Grandpa Conor goodbye, please.”
The kids run up to us with Brenden following close behind. Conor and Anna give the kids hugs and kisses before they run off to play again, and my breath stills as Brenden offers his hand to Conor.
“It was very nice to meet you, Mr. Blake,” he says as Conor shakes his hand.
“You as well, Brenden—and please, call me Conor.”
