Page 75 of Just One Kiss

"It was," she agreed. "I stopped wondering what Kelly was doing a long time ago. Now, I feel guilty that I didn't know she was married or that she was widowed or that she was raising a kid on her own."

"That was her choice."

"Yes, but as we both know, people can make bad choices. She was young when she left, and she was in pain from Dad's death, from the blame she was getting."

"And you blame me for that."

"I blame both of you. I know that it was just an accident. And like you, I was angry that Kelly was the reason Dad went out that night. But that wasn't fair to her. And Dad would have hated that we blamed Kelly. He adored her."

"He did. Your father would be so angry and disappointed in how I fell apart after his death. I just couldn't handle my pain. Every time I heard his voice in my head, I would drink, because I couldn't stand to think how I'd let him down, how I let all of you down."

There was a clarity and a self-awareness in her mother's voice that she hadn't heard in a very long time. "I know you're sorry, Mom. I'm glad you're better now. I hope you continue working hard to stay that way."

"I will, Hannah. I don't ever want to be that person again. And when Kelly comes back, I'm going to apologize to her. I'm going to tell her that it wasn't her fault. I want us to be a family again. Having Brett around, reliving our traditions, has brought everything back. We were a good family once. I think we could be again."

She felt a sense of déjà vu. Her mother wanted a second chance. Jake wanted a second chance.What did she want?

"In the meantime, what else can I do for you?" her mother asked, changing the subject.

"Want to help me pack up the cookies for the hospital party?"

"Of course. I'd like to go with you to the party, if you're okay with that? Or will you be going with Jake?"

"No," she said quickly. "I'll be going with Brett."

"But Jake will be there."

"I doubt it. He's not close to his father, and it's his dad's party."

Her mother smiled. "But you'll be there, and he wants you back."

"I just don't know if I can let him back into my life."

"Oh, Hannah, he's already there," her mom said with a knowing smile. "I saw it last night. I didn't want to see it, but I did. There's still something between you, and maybe you need to find out what it is."

"Why would you encourage that? You don't like him."

"I liked him before he hurt you. Maybe he's changed. But one thing is certain, I've never seen you look at anyone else the way you look at Jake."

"You haven't really been around to see me look at anyone else," she said.

"Am I wrong, Hannah? Is there some great love of your life who I don't know about?"

She really wished she could say there was. "I've had other men in my life who I cared about," she hedged.

"But no one who stuck."

"That's part of the problem, Mom. How do I know Jake would stick when he didn't before? And his life—is it really here in Whisper Lake? He's an adventurer. He's traveled the world. He's back now, but for how long? Could he really be content here?"

"I can't answer any of those questions. But I can say that there's never a guarantee you won't get hurt. You have to decide if love is worth the risk."

"But wouldn't it be smarter to love someone who hasn't already hurt me once?"

"Probably. But since when does love make us smarter?"

Chapter Eighteen

Jake hadn't beenin the new medical center since he'd come back to Whisper Lake, and he had to admit that it was impressive. With his father as chief of staff and his mother in charge of hospital fundraising, the facility had been remodeled and modernized with the latest technology. While he had many reasons to dislike his dad, he couldn't deny that the man was a brilliant doctor and good at his job. He'd just been a terrible father. Maybe not to his brother, Paul, but definitely to him.

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