Page 89 of The Backup Bride Proposal

“I guess not. Still, I wish I could have been there with you.”

“Then why aren’t you?”

“It’s…complicated. Your dad and I aren’t in the best place right now. Me being there? On the ranch, surrounded by his family? That doesn’t feel right to me.”

“And you think that the family is going to treat you any differently just because you and Dad aren’t going to be married anymore? Don’t you know them at all?”

She went silent for a minute before she answered. “Okay, you’re probably right. But I’m with your aunt, and I need my family’s support right now.”

“What about me, Mom? I’m your family. Don’t you think I need support?”

“This isn’t your marriage we’re talking about, Kane. This isn’t your life. You don’t understand. Your dad and I are taking huge steps to split apart everything we’ve known most of our lives, both physically and emotionally. I need…I need some space. I hope you can understand that.”

Kane had been wrong about so much, including his mother. “Yeah. Yeah, sure. You take your space. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Kane, I—”

He hung up before she could say anything else. He knew he’d been short with her, but while his mom and dad had worked through this for months—maybe years—this was all brand new to him. And, to be honest, he was pissed off at both of them right now. Probably an immature reaction, but that was where he was at the moment.

Mae rubbed his back, a balm to his tortured soul.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice low and soothing.

“Yeah. Me, too. I didn’t expect this. For her to be so fucking heartless and only think about herself and her own needs.”

“She’s probably in pain and isn’t thinking clearly. No doubt they both are.”

He slanted a look at her.

“I know. I’m not making excuses for her, I just think I understand her motivations. Right now both she and your dad are wrapped up in their own pain and feelings with no room for anyone else’s. They probably think you’re too busy to notice or care what’s going on in their lives.”

“They’re wrong. And if they’d bothered to talk to me about what was going on, they’d know that.”

She squeezed his hand. “Of course they’re wrong. And once they’re past this and can breathe again, they’ll both realize it.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not going to dwell on it. If they don’t care, I don’t, either.” He stood. “Let’s go back inside and help out with Thanksgiving prep, okay?”

He started moving but she stopped him, wrapping her arms around him. He wanted to push her away, to stay aloof, surrounded only by his hurt and self-pity, but Mae was warm and, God, he needed to feel wanted right now. He pulled her closer and breathed in her sweet scent, holding her like that for a few minutes.

Right now, she was his balance in a world that had been turned upside down.

And he was damn glad she was part of his world.

Chapter

twenty-five

Mae could tellthat the family was doing their best to keep both Kane and James occupied during today’s Thanksgiving festivities. But Mae was focused solely on Kane and his well-being.

They’d all sat and talked with James about the divorce. Mae had excused herself and gone upstairs. It didn’t feel right to be a part of such a personal family discussion, so she’d busied herself with checking email and tidying up her and Kane’s clothes, and then she’d walked out onto the balcony and enjoyed the beautiful day while she read a book.

After a couple of hours Kane had come upstairs.

“You didn’t have to hide up here,” he said, bending over to press a kiss to the side of her neck.

She reached up to sweep her hand across his jaw. “You needed time with your family. Alone.”

“Thanks for that. Now I need you, so come downstairs?”

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