Page 94 of Marrying the Nanny

“It’s one of the reasons she doesn’t like to take medications. Too tempting when she’s in a down spell. She’s a good person with a good heart, but life next door to her can be challenging. I can’t imagine what Reid has carried all these years. He’s learned to set boundaries for his own mental health, but it was heart-wrenching to see him at nine, ten years old, trying to meet her needs. I remember him saying once, ‘I’m just a kid. I can’t drive her to the doctor, even though she needs to go.’ We’re no perfect family ourselves, but I’ve always tried to do what I can for him. I used to take him to the airport when it was time for him to fly back to Raven’s Cove. Miriam would be in such a state that he was leaving. He’d be torn up about it, but I would watch him visibly relax as we got closer to the terminal.”

“He hates Raven’s Cove.”

“It represents his childhood, and he hates feeling robbed of one. Miriam wanted him to come back to live with her and I don’t think he wanted to, but he would never admit it. Glenda knew, though. She’s the one who pressed Wilf to keep primary custody and only allow visitation. Miriam was crushed. That’s why she hates Glenda and wants the place sold. She’s angry and hurt, not always capable of seeing that she put too much on her boy before he had the maturity or the means to handle it. At least in Raven’s Cove he could be exactly as sullen and disgruntled as every other teenager.”

And it was one place his mother would never follow?

“If you saw the three of them together, you’d wonder if they’d grown out of that phase,” Emma said wryly.

“Reid has never talked much about his brothers.”

“They’re really cute with the baby. Like big dogs confronted with a kitten. Baffled and kind of terrified, but you know they’d go full wolf pack if they thought she was in danger.”

Emma sighed wistfully, already missing Logan and Trystan when she and Reid moved to Calgary. If they moved. Would he marry her after the way his mother had reacted? She was trying not to fret about it.

“I know Reid has no intention of making his own babies. That always broke my heart. He deserves love in his life that isn’t so mercurial.” She made a noise of absent pride. “I must tell my husband I found a use for our word of the day.”

Emma found herself chuckling through near tears, liking Olive a lot.

When she pulled up at the hotel, Olive said, “I want to go back and do what I can, but I hope I’ll see you again before you leave. When is the wedding? Are you doing that in Raven’s Cove or…?”

“We were going to do it here, tomorrow. Reid wanted his mom to be there.”

“She will be,” Olive promised. “I’ll bring her. My husband, too. He hates a suit and tie. Makes him think of going to court. I told you we aren’t a perfect family.” She winked. “But he’ll put one on for Reid.”

“That would be really nice. If we go through with it,” Emma said, pulling her mouth to the side as if making a joke when she really wanted to break down and cry.

Olive sobered. “Reid learned a long time ago that he can’t allow Miriam to control his life. He makes his own decisions, Emma.”

“I’m glad he’s had you in his life.”

“I’m glad he’s getting you.” They shared a quick hug over the emergency brake.

It was a kind thing to say, but it didn’t change the fact that Emma spent the night eating room service on the bed, getting no response from her family when she tried them.

She’d never felt so alone in her life.

*

Reid came in at four in the morning. He stripped quietly, obviously trying not to disturb her, but Emma had been restless, waking constantly, and for once it wasn’t because the hotel room had a cooling system that came on like a jet engine.

She rolled to face him as he slid in beside her. “Everything okay?”

“We’re having brunch downstairs with Mom at ten. Do you mind?”

“Happy to.” She slid close, reaching her arm across his chest.

He caught her hand. For one second, she thought he was going to push her away, but he simply held it against his breastbone.

“Did I mess up?” she asked in a whisper.

“It was going to be a mess regardless. I’m really tired. Can we talk later?” He fell asleep within a few breaths.

She lay awake a long time, memorizing the cadence of his chest rising and falling beneath her arm, the way he smelled, the weight of his body dipping hers into him on the mattress.

It was one thing she had loved about being married, lying next to someone in the dark. Then she had discovered that person could deceive and have secrets and turn dreams into nightmares.

She silently begged Reid not to do that to her, even as she realized the dream she wanted to pursue—making a family with him—carried a cost for him. Her throat tightened and she set a kiss of apology against his skin.

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