Page 28 of Bursting With Love
“Exactly. Aiden’s happy when his mind is fulfilled, so we’re there to help,” Lou said. He mussed Aiden’s hair. “What does Dad always tell you, Aiden?”
“Always do what you love. Those who don’t like it don’t matter and those who matter don’t care,” Aiden said in a bored voice, as if he’d had to say it a million times.
“I’ve heard that a million times,” Pratt said. “I don’t get it because, like, my parents are all over me to go back to corporate America and they do matter to me. There is such a thing as caring too much.”
“My family doesn’t love what I do, and they matter more to me than, well, just about anything else in life.” The words left Jack’s lips before he could think to stop them. His family had reached out to him so often during the first few weeks after Linda’s death, and he’d pulled away—ignoring their efforts and their offers of help. At first it just hurt too much to see the people he loved when the one he loved most would never be with him again. As time progressed, the guilt of not seeing them wore him down and he was afraid to face them, but not a day went by that he didn’t miss his family. Before Linda had died, he’d spoken to his mother every week on the phone, sometimes twice a week. She’d tell him about her gardens or her latest sculpture, and he’d enjoyed those conversations. And Siena and Dex, his twin sister and brother, had just turned twenty-six in June, and he owed them a visit.
“So, how do you handle it, Jack?” Pratt asked.
“Not well, I’m afraid, but my position is a little different. I sort of lost my mind after my—for a while,” Jack answered. They were almost to the end of their hike and back at the stream, and he didn’t want to talk about Linda and stir up all that anger and guilt again. He was enjoying the short reprieve. “The real question, Pratt, is how are you handling it?”
Pratt held Jack’s gaze. “Not very well either, I’m afraid. Arguing with my parents. I thought that shit would end when I left for college, but they want to control my life.”
“Too many parents want to do that, and it’s a real shame,” Lou said. “I hope I never do that to Aiden, but who knows what’ll happen ten years from now, or twenty. Live in the here and now. Maybe you both can let your family members know this is what you need to be happy. If they love you—which I’m sure they do—they’ll eventually come around, but arguing to prove your point won’t make it heard any louder. If anything, they’ll turn a deaf ear.”
Lou may have been speaking to Pratt, but as Jack listened to his advice, he realized that he’d argued with his family, demanded that they leave him the hell alone and let him deal with Linda’s death and the guilt he felt on his own terms, but not once did he have a heart-to-heart, calm and rational discussion about any of it. He’d been too angry and they’d been too hurt.
Maybe it’s time to heal more than just my own broken heart.
Chapter Thirteen
BACK AT THE stream, they cooked a stew of lentils, rice, carrots, and potatoes, and after eating as a group, Jack told them to take a few minutes to clear their heads and prepare for the shelter prep lesson. When he addressed the group, his eyes often drifted to Savannah, and each time they did, her stomach dipped like a fan girl seeing Tim McGraw for the first time.
Savannah and Elizabeth watched Pratt and Josie on a boulder nestled beside two large trees. Pratt lay on his back with his head in Josie’s lap, and it struck Savannah how fast people connected with one another.
“They’re cute, huh?” Elizabeth said.
“When I look at them, I see how free they are. Like real life doesn’t exist. As if it’s just the two of them without a care in the world,” Savannah said.
“But you know that in a paucity of hours, they’ll be back to the real world, and who knows what will happen, or if they’ll ever see each other again.”
Savannah’s smile faded. A paucity of hours.
Jack joined them a moment later. “Ladies, how are you holding up?”
“This has been amazing, Jack.” Elizabeth looked back at her tent. “I think Aiden is quite taken with you.”
“He’s a cute kid. Seems really interested in all of this. I hope he can hold on to that as he gets older,” Jack said.
“We’ll instill the lessons that you’ve taught him. Don’t worry.” Elizabeth touched Savannah’s arm and said, “I think I’ll join them.”
Elizabeth turned her back to Jack and lifted her eyebrows with a wide smile toward her. In Manhattan, Savannah had one close girlfriend, Aida Strong, and she was so different from Elizabeth. Aida was a snarky and aggressive attorney, and Savannah enjoyed the time they spent catching up over drinks or dinners and passing quips back and forth when they passed each other in the hallway. Aida was a true city girl at heart, and as Savannah looked around the mountain, she knew that Aida would never have made it past the dirt landing strip, and she was glad for Elizabeth’s company.
