Page 7 of Sexual Healing

He moved his gaze from Daniel to his mother, who at forty-two looked good for her age. He loved her and would always admire the decisions she’d made in life for her sons.

Reese, his mother, and Daniel had always been close-knit and supportive of each other. Even when he’d brought a seventeen-year-old Leah home to meet his mother and brother for the first time and told them what she meant to him, they had accepted her into the family with open arms. Unfortunately, now those same arms seemed intent on pushing her away.

A pregnant Rita came out of the kitchen holding Lil Danny’s hand. Before opening the front door, she stopped and gave Reese a kiss on the cheek and a look that basically said,I’m not involved in this.

He liked Rita, even though he still didn’t know her all that well yet. He hadn’t met her until he’d returned home after two years in the military to find his younger brother had gotten married. She’d moved to town with her parents when her father had been called to pastor one of the churches in town. She was everything Daniel needed, and she and his mother got along wonderfully…just like she and Leah had initially. The one thing Reese knew about Rita was that she was a fair person who didn’t take sides. More than once, she tried to get his mother and brother to accept Reese’s decision regarding Leah and stay outof their business. The two were still refusing to take her advice, from the looks of things.

When Rita opened the door, Daniel asked, “Where are you going, Ree?”

“I’m taking Lil Danny home. I have a feeling there will be arguing, and he doesn’t need to hear it,” she said of their five-year-old son.

When the door closed behind her, Reese glanced at his mother and brother. “I’d rather not argue,” he said. “You called yesterday, Mom, and said you wanted to see me today. What’s this about?”

“Leah,” his mother said, as if the name was distasteful in her mouth.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “What about Leah?”

“I just don’t understand how you can take back up with her after everything she did to you, Reese. She left, without even telling you what she was doing. She broke you down so badly that you had to join the military. For a while, I thought you would never return to Newton Grove because of her. Now you’re putting her before us.”

Reese dropped his hands to his side after running a frustrated hand down his face. “And how am I putting her before my family?”

“Because you’ve made it clear that she’s now your family. It’s like you’re afraid to let her out of your sight. You bought that big warehouse right beside her café. You spend practically every minute you get with her on weekdays and weekends. We barely see you anymore.”

“Mom, I still come by here often, and both you, Danny, Rita, and Lil Danny, are welcome in my home at any time. I still live on Singleton land, you know.”

“I refuse to drop by knowing she’s there.”

“Leah and I don’t live together, Ma. She’s living in her parents’ home. However, she’s welcome at my house at any time. You accepted Leah as the girl I loved and would marry years ago. Why can’t you do the same thing now? Nothing has changed.”

Rachel Singleton frowned. “Maybe not for you. But it has for me. I could never accept her in this family again, Reese. I just wanted you to know that.” She then got up and walked out of the room.

Reese glanced at his brother. “You feel the same way?”

“Any reason I shouldn’t?” Daniel asked sharply.

“Yes, because I am asking you to be fair to Leah, the way Rita is being.”

Daniel shrugged. “Rita wasn’t around to see how Leah’s leaving town nearly destroyed you. Me and Mom were. I honestly don’t think Mom will ever come around. When Leah hurt you, she hurt Mom as well. Mom loved her like a daughter.”

“What about you, Danny? Will you ever come around?”

His brother didn’t say anything for the longest time, then muttered, “I’m not sure, Reese. Maybe one day some of Rita’s ‘turn the other cheek’ attitude will rub off on me, but I can’t guarantee it.”

Reese nodded. “As much as I love you and Mom, I won’t allow the two of you to cause Leah any undue pain. She’s been through enough.”

“She’s been through enough? Like hell she has!” Daniel said loudly, quickly easing off the sofa with anger etched on his face. “Now you’re making excuses for her skipping town and leaving your ass the way she did. I never thought I’d say this, but you are pathetic, Reese.” Then he stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind him.

Leah wasn’t sure what was bothering Reese but knew something was. She had picked up on it immediately when he’d joined her at the café for breakfast. She was tempted to ask about it, but a part of her was afraid to do so, certain it had something to do with his family and their objection to them being together.

He called her before noon and told her that since Johnny had taken the day off, he would be making a furniture delivery to Corbitt, a town that was two hours away. He wouldn’t be joining her for lunch but would return before she closed the café at three. He also reminded her of their movie date tonight. Not that she needed reminding. She was looking forward to it.

When there was a break in orders, Marie caught Leah and told her how much her sons liked Silas. Marie admitted that she liked him, too, and after the boys were in bed, she and Silas had talked and agreed to begin spending time together. Leah was happy for the two of them.

Since Reese wasn’t around to share lunch with her in her office like usual, she decided to call Jocelyn. “I can’t believe you’re calling me for a change,” her sister said upon answering her phone.

“It’s not like I don’t ever call you, Jocelyn.”

“You call but usually it’s at night. You only call in the middle of the day when something is bothering you. What’s going on, Leah?”

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