“Yeah, why?”
“You just seem tired.”
“I didn’t sleep well.”
“Ahh.Baseball camp.That’s coming up fast.”
“Yes.”I turn toward where Thomas is sitting at a back booth, his homework open in front of him.“Seven days away.”
“I wish I could tell you it gets easier the older they get.My Diana is twenty-six with kids of her own, and I still miss her every day.”
Tears burn in the back of my throat as I turn back toward Maddie.“I am trying not to think about that.”
Maddie laughs softly, then reaches forward and covers my hand with hers.“Getting to see how they handle what’s thrown at them makes the journey worth the heartache.”
The bell overhead dings, so I cover her hand with my other one and squeeze gently.“Remind me of that sometimes, will ya?”
“Anytime, darling girl.”She pulls her hand back and winks, so I turn to greet the newest customer.
“Hey, Mr.Holt!”Thomas calls out.
I hate that my heart jumps in my chest at the mere mention of him.But it does.My treacherous body is delighted to know that he’s so close even though my brain is screaming for distance.For safety.
Plastering a smile on my face, I hope doesn’t look nearly as fake as it feels, I turn toward him.Only to find him settling into the booth across from my son.Those alarm bells turn even more frantic, a deafening screech that has the blood pumping in my ears.
On shaky legs, I make my way over toward him.Thomas’s smile is wide as he talks to the man across from him, but I can’t hear a single thing over my hammering pulse.
When I reach the edge of the table, my son and Garrison both turn toward me.
“Hey, Mom, I invited Mr.Holt to eat with me since he’s alone.”
“That’s so sweet.”I smile.“What about your homework?”
“I ran into an issue with algebra.But I’ll figure it out.”
“I’m actually pretty good with algebra.Can I see?”Garrison asks.
My heart leaps.“You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind.Math and science happen to be two of my favorite subjects.”He flashes a grin my way, and my stomach twists.
I want to pull Thomas away from him.Not because I’m worried about his safety with Garrison but because I’m worried about my own.About what will happen to my heart if I watch this man grow closer to the most important person in my life.
And what if we have to leave again?What if I have to pull Thomas away from someone else he’s grown close to?
We’re not moving,I remind myself of the promise I made when we first set foot into Stormwatch Landing.
Even if the fight finds me here, I will stand my ground.My son will graduate with his new friends.He will finish high school atoneschool.Not two, not three.One.
So, with that in mind, I take a deep breath and turn toward Garrison, who is already focused on the math book in front of him.“Can I get you something to eat or drink?”
He shifts that ridiculously gorgeous gaze my way.“Water and a burger with pepperjack cheese, onion rings, and a side of ranch, please.”
“You’ve got it.”I turn toward Thomas.“Did you decide what you wanted yet?”
“The same as Mr.Holt,” he says.“Please.”The grin on his face breaks my heart because I can see right through it.
He looks up to Garrison.And it only highlights the emptiness I have worried about since Thomas was young.I do my best, but I’m only one person, and I know he wishes he had a dad.
“Sure thing, honey.”With tears gathering in the corners of my eyes, I turn away and move back toward the counter to turn the order in to Maddie’s husband, who works the kitchen.
As I do, I hear Thomas’s laughter ring out through the diner, followed closely by Garrison’s, and the combined sound makes my heart ache in a way I’m not prepared for.
It makes me long for a future that feels completely out of reach.