Page 55 of A Montana Secret Admirer
Tegan shrugged but didn’t deny the concept. Had he been thinking about it like that?
“Because I assure you, there is no wrong way to grieve. You can be sad. You can be angry. You can go numb like nothing in the world can even touch you anymore. But you wanna know something? You can’t keep holding onto it. At some point, you have to release the bad parts and force yourself to remember the good ones.”
That had Tegan scowling, and for the life of him, Reese couldn’t understand why.
“Your mother?—”
“I don’t want to talk about her.”
“—deserves to be happy.”
His scowl deepened. “She’s happy.”
“Is she? How often does she smile? How often does she do something for herself?” Reese winced. Tegan was still a kid. There were moments like this one where he acted like he was older and wiser than Reese wanted to give him credit for—but he had to remember that he wasn’t. He was still a child, and he wouldn’t understand the nuances of moving forward after the loss of a loved one. “All I’m saying is that you don’t have to be the man of the house, kiddo. I know you feel like it’s something you need to do, but you really don’t,”
Tegan still didn’t look at him. His dark gaze didn’t relax or ease up in any way. Reese couldn’t tell if he got through to him or if he was simply considering his words.
Reese heaved a sigh. “That being said, your mom is also her own person. She’s going to make choices not only for her happiness, but for yours. She would move heaven and earth for you if it meant making sure you were okay.”
“I am okay,” Tegan muttered.
Reese could beg to differ.
“And so is my mom. And she didn’t need you, either.”
Well, that took a turn he wasn’t prepared for. He’d known that Tegan was upset with him about something, and he’d had an inkling that it could have something to do with the amount of time Reese had been spending with Tegan’s mother. Turns out that was it on the nose. Tegan didn’t want his dad to be replaced. That was the only reasonable explanation.
Before Reese could assure the kid that was the furthest thing from his mind, Tegan blew out a heavy breath. “I don’t want to talk anymore.”
Reese snapped his mouth shut. Pushing the subject would only serve to antagonize the boy, and that was the opposite of what he’d promised Serenity he would do. He’d said everything he was going to say for the most part, anyway. He’d wanted Tegan to understand that his mother needed more in her life—that her happiness was important, too. The only thing he hadn’t managed to insist on was that his mother wasn’t going to replace his father in the way Tegan was likely scared would happen.
Sighing, Reese nodded his head then started up with his whistling again. As happy as he was that Serenity was opening up more to him, he knew it would be tough. They’d have to move slowly if they didn’t want to hurt the kids. He could do that. He’dspent weeks just getting her to accept that he was interested in her beyond friendship.
What was a little more waiting?
Nothing was going to change. He’d continue to spend time with her in private and teach the boys how to ride their horses. At the end of the summer, they’d reevaluate what their relationship needed.
Easy peasy.
Maybe.
He glanced once more at the boy. Tegan didn’t look any different than when they’d started their ride. He was seated in his saddle, focus forward, and ignoring any attention he was getting from Reese. The door had been closed.
Reese dragged a hand down his face. He’d probably tell Serenity bits and pieces of this conversation. He didn’t want to scare her off because he knew she would bolt the second she thought that Tegan wasn’t ready for this. They were coming up on a year in a couple of months. One year of not having his father in the picture. Coping looked different to different people, but Reese couldn’t help but wonder if Tegan needed a boost in the right direction.
Would Serenity even consider the idea? Maybe Tegan would benefit from talking to Jane. Reese was no therapist. Worse, there was a very specific conflict of interest when it came to Serenity and her children. Tegan would likely rather see Reese ride his horse off the side of a ravine before listening to him give advice on healing from the loss of his father.
One day at a time.
That’s all Reese could promise.
To himself.
And to her.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Falling.
