Page 114 of Take Hold of Me

My eyes meet hers. “How did you know? I did not even mention his name.”

A small smile tugs at her lips. “A mother always knows.”

My eyes drift shut for a moment. “I love him.”

She smiles, her eyes dancing as she places her empty mug on the wicker ottoman serving as a table. When she meets my gaze, her smile fades. “Talk to me.”

I tell her all about what happened during the party following the movie shoot, and the morning after. “He said some very hurtful things. He told me he was done with me.”

One of her eyebrows goes up. “And how did you respond?”

I slouch into the garden chair and mumble, “I told him he needs therapy.”

“Well, then you both said some cutting things to each other. Why do you think he said those things to you?” She eyes me. “Sit up straight.”

Regaining my proper posture, I consider her question. “Well, he has always felt that he is a failure. According to him, he failed his twin sister by not going into the Marines, and then she was killed. He failed his partners when they were killed protecting Cole and Rose.” I take a final sip and place my cup next to hers. “So, he must have felt he failed me when Wade attacked me on his watch.”

“Sounds logical to me.”

I look at her, tears in my eyes. Before Wills, I hardly ever cried. Now I cannot seem to stop. “But I told him—”

“To see a therapist,” Maman finishes for me. “That sounds like sage advice. You said he has nightmares, panic attacks and is guilt-ridden. Seems to me he needs professional help to overcome these problems. Your relationship can’t blossom until he gets a handle on them.”

I nod. “I went out with Rinaldo the other night. I tried to take you up on your advice to rekindle our relationship. But the spark is gone now. I do not feel like that with him any longer. Everything he said, everything he did, I compared it to Wills. And found him lacking.”

“Oh, Emsy. I suggested you two get back together because you seemed so happy when you were with him before. And, of course, you know how much I love football.” She winks, breaking some of the tension inside me. “But, I don’t want you to compromise yourself. You need to be with the person who makes your heart beat faster. And if that’s Wills, then you have some decisions to make.”

“Oui. You are right.” I sit straighter. “No one has ever challenged me to look deeper and consider the questions he asked. He was the first person to pick up on myennuiwith modeling. I like the profession, do not get me wrong, but he saw the spark was missing. He saw it,Maman.He sawme.”

She smiles, her whole face transforming with her beauty. I gain strength from her. “Then you know what you must do.”

I nod. I need to talk with him and make us work. Because he really is the only man for me.

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