Page 63 of Family Bonds: Carter & Avery

He supposed that could work for people. “So what happened?”

“He knew Colleen and Josie. They were both such a huge part of my life there was no way he couldn’t know of them.”

“Did Colleen like Kurt?”

He didn’t want to pry too much, but he already hated the guy and was glad he wasn’t in the picture now. He wasn’t used to having such confusing thoughts.

“No,” she said. “But she never said it much. Just that something seemed off with him that she couldn’t put her finger on.”

“What was it?” he asked.

“Nothing horrible other than he was selfish,” she said. “I realized that when I got custody of Josie. I didn’t want to leave Josie overnight at my mother’s all the time so I could be with Kurt, but I didn’t think it was right to have Kurt spend the night with Josie in the house.”

“Seems fair enough,” he said. “You’d think he’d give you the time to adjust. Or help in any way you needed.”

“He didn’t like that. I think the fact he wasn’t there for me to even understand what I was going through rubbed me the wrong way. It’s like he couldn’t understand why I was grieving and crying so much.”

Prick!

“You lost your best friend. You were now responsible for her daughter on top of it. You were trying to get a handle on your own grief and then trying to be there with Josie while parenting her at the same time. I don’t know what is so hard to understand.”

“You get that and you didn’t even know me,” she said. “That was part of the problem too. I think it’s what made it easier for me to keep telling him no. I’m to blame for that.”

“I don’t think you’re to blame for anything other than trying to do what was right for Josie.”

“Thank you for that,” she said.

“And there is no blame to be had either. I’d do the same thing if I were in your shoes.”

She took a healthy sip of her wine. “I know you would. The tipping point came with a fight with Kurt one night. I asked what his problem was. I thought he wanted kids someday.”

“What did he say?”

“He said he wanted them but his own, not to raise someone else's. It made sense then why he kept bringing up Colleen’s mother and sister. Both of them live out West somewhere and Colleen had never been close to them.”

“Obviously not if she listed you as Josie’s guardian.”

“Exactly. I wasn’t going to send Josie to live with strangers. I’m her family. My mother and I have always been Josie and Colleen’s family. My mother is Josie’s grandmother. It’s been that way her whole life.”

It was the first he’d heard about Avery’s mother. “Your mother lives in Danbury?”

“She does. She has her hands full too. She is caring for my grandmother who is in a wheelchair and not very verbal from a stroke years ago. My grandmother understands what is going on, but she can’t really speak or move well.”

“I bet before Josie you were helping your mother care for your grandmother.”

This was a woman who put everyone before herself.

“I was. I felt horrible having to cut back and then moving here was another guilt. But I had to. My mother pushed it too. It was for the best.”

“Why did you have to?” he asked. “Just to start over?”

“Yes and no. Colleen worked for the City of Danbury. She knew so many people. The police and some of her friends pushed me to file a lawsuit against the driver of the company that hit and killed Colleen. I hadn’t wanted to do it, but then in a moment of guilt, I told myself I should. If there was some kind of settlement it would help Josie’s future.”

“Did you get one?” he asked. “I mean I don’t need details or anything. I’m trying to understand.”

“After months, I settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. By then I had broken up with Kurt. When he heard about the lawsuit, he tried to get back with me.”

“Fucker,” he said.

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