Page 53 of A Montana Secret Admirer
“What’s bothering you?” he whispered into her hair.
“You know what’s bothering me.”
Yes, he did. And yet he couldn’t bring himself to speak it out loud because he feared that it would be what tipped Serenity over the edge and made her realize she couldn’t handle this double life they were leading.
“I don’t know what to do,” Serenity said. Her voice shook slightly. “Tegan refused to talk to me at dinner tonight. No matter what I asked him, he wouldn’t answer. Jane thinks I should take him to see a therapist.”
“And what do you think?”
“I think I can’t.”
He frowned, grateful that she couldn’t see his reaction. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to see one, and I know that is what will come up. If I don’t have to see one, then why should he?”
Reese bit back the response he really wanted to give.Would it be so bad if you did?That way of thinking wasn’t going to help her. She’d have to come to the realization all on her own. He hummed thoughtfully. “Perhaps you should still bring it up.”
She shook her head. “He’ll argue. I already know he will. Especially with the way he’s been behaving lately.”
“Maybe I could talk to him?”
This time, her body tensed. He almost missed it, but when she reached for his arms so she could pry them from around her waist, he refused to budge.
“Serenity,” he warned. “You can’t do that.”
“I can’t do what? Go home and get ready for bed?”
“Run. I’m not going to let you run from me just because you’re scared.”
“I’m not scared,” she insisted. “I’m frustrated. I’m a failure of a mother because I didn’t notice that he needed help before now.”
“You arenota failure,” he ground out. “You are one of the strongest, smartest mothers I know. Those boys need you and everything you can give them. Tegan is struggling, but what seven-year-old boy wouldn’t after losing his father?”
She attempted to pull away again, and when she wasn’t getting anywhere, she craned her head so she could get a look at him. “That’s just it. I’m his mother. He needs a father, and he doesn’t have one. I’m supposed to compensate so?—”
“I know you don’t want to listen to me, but you’re here, and I’m not letting you go. You’re doing the best you can. You’re payingattention. You’represent. Tegan will get through this just like Jessi, and so will you.”
Serenity searched his gaze for several moments, and then she relaxed against him. “And you think it would make a difference if you talked to him? Isn’t he mad at you, too?”
He chuckled. “Not…angry. I’d say he was suspicious. If I had to guess, I’d say that perhaps he’s wondering why it is that you’re happier lately, and that I might have something to do with it. It’s true what they say about misery. It loves company, and your son still needs to heal. He wants to know that the other people who were important to Finn still miss him.”
She was quiet again for a long moment. “Yeah, that makes sense, I guess.”
“Of course it does.” He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “If you’re okay with it, I’ll talk to him—see what it is he’s struggling with. I lost a dad, too.”
Serenity reached up with her hand and placed a palm to his cheek. “I almost forgot about that.”
He turned his face to her palm and kissed her there. “It’s hard to figure out your life after a loss like that. Tegan is doing really well with the resources he has. And maybe you’ll still consider therapy.” Reese could already imagine her rolling her eyes at his statement. “It’s not as bad as you think. I survived.”
She didn’t respond to that, and he wasn’t going to make her. They were going to revel in this moment for a little longer, then Serenity would slip away back to her home. He didn’t know if she’d actually consider therapy or if she’d stick with the idea of him having a little chat with Tegan. For now, it was an option that was on the table for her to take if she so desired.
Today was a good day.Tegan was in a better mood lately, and heaven knew why that was. Jessi had wanted to go run errands with his mother and his aunt, which left Reese to have more one-on-one time with Tegan.
That also meant he could do more in their lessons.
“What do you say you and I go for a ride?”
Tegan eyed him with curiosity. “Like go on a trail or something?”
