Page 86 of Roads Behind Us
“Duo.”
She looked at me. “He told you?”
“Earlier today,” I said. “Yeah, he did.”
“I think he loves you, Bea.”
“Athena, I-I don’t know if this is the right place to?—”
“It’s fine,” she said. “My mama knows you’re here. She watches over me, and I think she’s been watchin’ over Stuey too. I think she brought you into our lives, and I think she wants us to be a family.”
Whoa.
“I know. You think it’s too soon. You’re not sure. You live far away. Blah, blah, blah.”
Yeah, well, that about summed it up.
She stared straight into my eyes, looking for answers from me. “But you love him too, don’t you? You love my daddy?”
I wasn’t sure if I should tell her. I hadn’t even told Bax I loved him yet. I wasn’t sure if I ever would. Was he anywhere near ready to hear it? But I came to the decision that Athena needed the truth. As someone who was already fully aware I loved her dad, she deserved at least that from me.
“I do.”
She nodded. “I knew it.”
“But Athena, it’s not so easy as one, two, three. You know that, right? Just ’cause two people have feelings for each other, it doesn’t mean they can be together. Live together. Be… a family.”
“I know.” She sighed. “But why not?”
“I don’t know the first thing about raisin’ kids,” I said, dipping my head and trying to hold her gaze. Trying to get her to hear the reality coming out of my mouth. “And your dad has his hands full now. The baby could change a lot for him. For you both.”
“You’re right,” she said. “So why not change everything all at once? Why not grab hold of this gift, this happiness? Why not embrace it all?”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Why not?” She plucked at the grass next to the grave and looked away. “I don’t understand.”
“Well, for one thing—and it’s a pretty important thing—I live seven hours away from here. My job is in Sheridan.”
“Yeah, but Uncle Brand said he wants to bring Lee Construction here. Or maybe he’ll start up a second company. I dunno, but he could, and you could work there. Or you could work at the farm with us.”
“I love my job. I’m really good at it. I don’t wanna give it up.”
“Okay, then I’ll just have to convince Uncle Brand to move home. He’ll listen to me.”
“And what if your uncle Dixon comes back and wants to take Stu with him?”
“Well, then at least I’d still have you and Daddy.”
“Oh, sweet girl, you don’t really know me. Your dad barely knows me. How do you know you want me?”
She turned, and tears streaked down her face. “Because I just do! Because I love you, and my daddy loves you. Why won’t you love us back?”
She stood and stormed away, and I rushed to follow.
“Why can’t anybody love anybody around here? I’m sick of it!”
“Athena, wait!”
