Page 23 of In the Arms of a Hero

“She’d made her choice, Aaron. She left and took up with some man over in Norfolk. So I needed to make my choice. I’m just so sorry you took on the idea that you were responsible.”

“You were the best dad I could ever imagine. Hell, Andy was the best brother. I don’t even remember her, to be honest, but I always felt like if I had been healthier, she would have stayed.”

His dad snorted. “It wouldn’t have mattered. She would have found another reason to leave. She just didn’t have the stick-to-it-tiveness to make it work. Not with you, nor Andy, nor me.”

Andy had been quiet but finally jumped in. “I was always so pissed off at Mom, and I know that was probably hard on you, Aaron. I probably should’ve made sure you knew that none of it was your fault.”

“About ten years after she left,” his dad reminded them, “she contacted me to see if she could meet with you two. I would’ve gone along with anything you boys wanted. I would’ve set aside all my feelings of abandonment and anger because I knew what she’d missed and I’d gained.”

“As far as I was concerned, I didn’t have a mom, so I refused,” Andy said. He glanced over at Aaron. “I never really thought about what you might want to do, and I’m sorry about that.”

Aaron remembered their dad had asked, and he was curious about the woman who had given birth to him and then walked away. Andy had been so angry, and Aaron worshipped his older brother, so he also refused to see her. In truth, other than curiosity, he didn’t feel as though he missed anything.

They were quiet for another moment of weighty silence until his dad asked, “What are you going to do about Belinda?”

“I’m sure as fuck sorry that Belinda overheard us,” Andy said, his face contorted with a mixture of regret and frustration.

Aaron nodded solemnly, then traced his bottom lip with his tongue before clamping down with his teeth, the hiss of breath slipping through. “I need to get my shit together first. I need to focus on studying, becoming a detective, and then I’ll try to make things right with her.”

His father’s brow furrowed with concern, uncertainty etched into the lines of his face. “You sure that’s the right order of things?”

A rueful snort escaped. “I’m not sure of anything. But that’s the way it’ll be. She deserves to be with someone who’s all in and fully committed.”

A soft sigh left his father’s lips as his gaze eased with paternal affection. “Life rarely lets us get to a point where we’ve got it all together. But you know you’ve got my support, son.”

“Mine, too, bro,” Andy chimed in.

After a heartfelt goodbye hug between the Bergstrom men, he headed outside into the chill of the night and climbed back into his SUV. As he drove away, his headlights illuminating the road before him, he hoped he was making the right decision.

12

THREE MONTHS LATER

Belinda had spent the past months throwing herself into building her photography portfolio and business. She was gaining referrals, finding her best advertising to be from word of mouth—especially when it involved weddings. Happy brides and happy bridal parents often translated into telling their friends.

She still came in early mornings to help with the bakery. However, by now, her sister had hired several other employees, so even on the mornings they were slammed, the lines went faster, and their system for delivering the fabulous coffee and pastries was easier.

At first, it was hard not to look up every time the bell over the door rang. Part of her hoped it was Aaron; the other part was almost glad it wasn’t. She had come to realize that, in some ways, she had done exactly what his brother Andy accused him of… leaving before getting hurt by the other person.But what good would it have done to stay if he wasn’t willing to fight for us?

When the morning crowd slowed, she walked back into the kitchen, smiling at Bess’s expression as she rolled out the pastry dough.

Looking up, her sister smiled in return. “Are you getting ready to leave?”

“Not yet. I’m waiting on someone.”

Bess’s brow lifted to her hairline. “Who?” Suddenly, her brow snapped together. “Who?” she asked again, only with an accusing tone.

“Someone from the community college has seen some of my work and wondered if I could teach him more about photography.”

“Oh, ahe. That sounds interesting.”

“I don’t know anything about him other than he said he’d been at a wedding that I had done and had gone to my website. We’ve only communicated by email, so don’t get your hopes up. He’s probably married with six kids or single for a very good reason.”

“Well, you can’t blame a girl for hoping her sister finds the right one.”

Her chest gave a little tug, as it always did when she thought of Aaron. They had ended almost before they began, yet she still missed him. Still missed the idea of what they could’ve been. Pushing those thoughts down, she stared at Bess and said, “You’re one to talk. I haven’t seen you with anyone in a long time.”

“Who has time to date when you’re starting a business?”

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