Page 42 of Bradley

“I’m sorry that I blurted that out at the table.”

She shrugged. “It’s okay.”

“I am glad that we had this talk, though. You know when you get older, you can talk to me about this stuff too.”

She rolled her eyes. “Dad, I am not talking to you about sex and periods and things like that. I have my aunts to ask.”

I chuckled. “Alright, then you talk to them, but don’t think you can’t speak to me too. I’m always here for you.”

She wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly before she dashed off to help the kids finish feeding the horses.

I watched them as I thought back on when Cheryl was alive. Once she found out she had cancer, the chasm that had been between us seemed to fill itself in, and the two of us grew closer than we had been in years. Maybe it was the fear of the unknown, and Cheryl needed the security of what she knew with me. I didn’t know, but she did tell me that she said goodbye to the man that she’d fallen for and that her attention would remain on the kids and me until she was gone.

At the funeral, a man had come up to me and given his regards. Cheryl had never told me the name of the man she’d fallen in love with, but she didn’t have to. He didn’t say anything to me about how he knew my wife, just gave his condolences and moved on, but I knew. I saw it in his eyes—he had the same pain that I did for losing someone he loved.

We had shaken hands, stared at one another as if having a long conversation, and then he nodded briskly and walked away after one last look over his shoulder at her in the casket.

I guess it was time for me to take that last long look myself and let the past go. I deserved a future. I deserved to be loved and happy, and I was ready. Nolan had made me ready.

Chapter Fifteen

Nolan

The workweek went by all too quickly, and before I knew it, I was letting myself into my new house Friday after work. I was wiped out, but I didn’t have time to be since my project was moving by leaps and bounds.

Mr. Townsend had finished the pipes an hour ago after three very long days. Pete was scheduled to be here tomorrow morning to start the wiring. Milton would bring tile samples over to me later this evening, and he’d jump on the bathroom as soon as he could fit me in, probably next week.

What I was looking forward to the most was sleeping in my new house for the first time. Now that I had running water, I could at least use the powder room downstairs. The toilet and sink were old, but they worked.

It wasn’t going to be comfortable staying here, but I was prepared. I’d bought a cushy floor mat and a new sleeping bag. I didn’t care how uncomfortable it was. I was determined to sleep in my house.

As I waited for Milton to arrive, I carried things into the house from my car. I had also bought a mini-fridge so I could have a couple of things in my place. I was attempting to lift it out of my car when I heard a vehicle pulling up behind me. I assumed it was Milton, but I turned to see it was Brad.

This was the first I’d seen of him since last Sunday.Please don’t let this be awkward, I thought to myself as I put the mini-fridge back down. Brad and I had spoken via text a couple of times, but not about anything important. Mostly questions about my house and projects.

“Were you going to carry that yourself?” he said as soon as he stepped out of his truck.

“I got it in there,” I told him.

He was shaking his head as he approached. “I know you’re strong, Nolan, but you’re going to hurt yourself trying to carry that around.”

I shrugged. Maybe he was right. I didn’t think so, but it wasn’t worth arguing over. “Well, then I guess I am glad that I have a big strong man here to help me.”

He stared at me for a moment as if he was trying to tell if I was being sarcastic. I tossed him a smile and stepped back. It had been sarcastic, but I didn’t mean to take my cranky mood out on Brad.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

“It’s been a long week, and it’s going to be an even longer weekend.”

“Kids at school giving you a hard time?” he asked as he hoisted the small fridge and carried it across the lawn.

“No, not more than kids usually do. I just have so much going on, and it’s overwhelming.”

“Why don’t you take a night off then?”

“Because I have too much to get done.”

“Where do you want this?” he asked once inside the house.

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