me.”
“I know, but I didn’t understand it…me. I didn’t understand me and how all that affected my life until it was too late.”
Too late. The words had a double ring to them now. It was too late then, and it was too late now. She blanketed the longing that pushed against her heart. “I’m sorry it happened, too, Patrick. At least we’ve each gotten on with our lives.” An unexpected empathy rattled her. “I know it’s hard for you now, alone with Sean, but you’re a good father and you’re still a family. You have each other.”
“Yes. I have Sean,” he said. “That’s what’s kept me going. I’m glad you have the child-care center. I know it’s different, but you love kids so…” His voice faded as if he didn’t know where to go with his comment.
“It’s not family, but I enjoy it,” she said, not wanting him to pity her.
He glanced at his watch and rose. “I suppose we’d better get back. They’ll be doing the award soon, and I can’t leave my dad with Sean too long.”
She stood and followed him back down the path.
“I’d still like to see your place sometime if you’d let me. Loving Care, I mean. I’m really proud of you.”
How many times had he asked? How many times had she pushed him away? For what? “Sure, Patrick. Drop by whenever. I’m always there.”
“Thanks,” he said.
His sincere words and smile rolled before her like rose petals along the path, making her feel admired and special.
But reality struck her, and the rose-petal path faded as her defensive wall rose.
She didn’t want to feel drawn to Patrick.
Patrick slipped his knit shirt over his head and gazed at himself in the mirror. He’d aged, noticeably, in the years since Sherry had died. Leaning closer, he noticed a couple of white hairs glinting among the black near his temple. He felt tempted to use tweezers to pluck out the telltale signs of aging, but he was pushing forty—two and a half years from it—and a few strands of gray would add a little sophistication to his character.
He blew a stream of air from his lungs and dropped the comb into the dresser drawer. Why he’d agreed to the invitation for dinner with Jason and his wife was beyond him. No doubt they’d want to know about his second marriage, and he felt certain Christie would come into the conversation. But they’d been longtime friends. How could he refuse?
The bonus was they’d invited him to bring Sean since they had a boy about the same age. The kids would add a measure of distraction to the evening and give him a good excuse to go home early.
Patrick slipped on his sport jacket, took one more look in the mirror, then headed downstairs. Sean waited for him at the bottom, looking spiffed up with the help of Grandpa. “Lookin’ good, Sean,” he said, descending the last three steps. “Grandpa did a good job.”
His father stood in the living-room doorway, his shoulder resting against the jamb. “You two make a handsome couple.”
“Thanks, Dad, and thanks for the finishing touches on Sean.”
“My pleasure. Now go and have a nice time. Tell Jason and his wife I said hello.”
“I’ll do that,” he said, opening the door. His father had always liked Jason. He had been Patrick’s boyhood friend. They’d watched each other mature, succeed and fail in school, fall in love and get married. But Jason’s marriage had lasted. His hadn’t.
Sean meandered outside, and Patrick followed. With a solid hook on the car seat belt, they were on their way. In minutes, he pulled in front of a white bungalow with black shutters, brightened by colorful beds of flowers. The word cozy came to mind.
Patrick unlatched Sean from the seat, and they headed up the walk. Jason met them at the door,sending nostalgic feelings creeping into Patrick’s thoughts.
“Glad you could come,” Jason said, holding the door open.
“Thanks for inviting us.” Patrick knew it was a half truth, but he decided his comment was one of those
“I know, but I didn’t understand it…me. I didn’t understand me and how all that affected my life until it was too late.”
Too late. The words had a double ring to them now. It was too late then, and it was too late now. She blanketed the longing that pushed against her heart. “I’m sorry it happened, too, Patrick. At least we’ve each gotten on with our lives.” An unexpected empathy rattled her. “I know it’s hard for you now, alone with Sean, but you’re a good father and you’re still a family. You have each other.”
“Yes. I have Sean,” he said. “That’s what’s kept me going. I’m glad you have the child-care center. I know it’s different, but you love kids so…” His voice faded as if he didn’t know where to go with his comment.
“It’s not family, but I enjoy it,” she said, not wanting him to pity her.
He glanced at his watch and rose. “I suppose we’d better get back. They’ll be doing the award soon, and I can’t leave my dad with Sean too long.”
She stood and followed him back down the path.
“I’d still like to see your place sometime if you’d let me. Loving Care, I mean. I’m really proud of you.”
How many times had he asked? How many times had she pushed him away? For what? “Sure, Patrick. Drop by whenever. I’m always there.”
“Thanks,” he said.
His sincere words and smile rolled before her like rose petals along the path, making her feel admired and special.
But reality struck her, and the rose-petal path faded as her defensive wall rose.
She didn’t want to feel drawn to Patrick.
Patrick slipped his knit shirt over his head and gazed at himself in the mirror. He’d aged, noticeably, in the years since Sherry had died. Leaning closer, he noticed a couple of white hairs glinting among the black near his temple. He felt tempted to use tweezers to pluck out the telltale signs of aging, but he was pushing forty—two and a half years from it—and a few strands of gray would add a little sophistication to his character.
He blew a stream of air from his lungs and dropped the comb into the dresser drawer. Why he’d agreed to the invitation for dinner with Jason and his wife was beyond him. No doubt they’d want to know about his second marriage, and he felt certain Christie would come into the conversation. But they’d been longtime friends. How could he refuse?
The bonus was they’d invited him to bring Sean since they had a boy about the same age. The kids would add a measure of distraction to the evening and give him a good excuse to go home early.
Patrick slipped on his sport jacket, took one more look in the mirror, then headed downstairs. Sean waited for him at the bottom, looking spiffed up with the help of Grandpa. “Lookin’ good, Sean,” he said, descending the last three steps. “Grandpa did a good job.”
His father stood in the living-room doorway, his shoulder resting against the jamb. “You two make a handsome couple.”
“Thanks, Dad, and thanks for the finishing touches on Sean.”
“My pleasure. Now go and have a nice time. Tell Jason and his wife I said hello.”
“I’ll do that,” he said, opening the door. His father had always liked Jason. He had been Patrick’s boyhood friend. They’d watched each other mature, succeed and fail in school, fall in love and get married. But Jason’s marriage had lasted. His hadn’t.
Sean meandered outside, and Patrick followed. With a solid hook on the car seat belt, they were on their way. In minutes, he pulled in front of a white bungalow with black shutters, brightened by colorful beds of flowers. The word cozy came to mind.
Patrick unlatched Sean from the seat, and they headed up the walk. Jason met them at the door,sending nostalgic feelings creeping into Patrick’s thoughts.
“Glad you could come,” Jason said, holding the door open.
“Thanks for inviting us.” Patrick knew it was a half truth, but he decided his comment was one of those
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