Page 52 of The Second Dance

“So, what is it?” Her eyes narrow. “Has Chad been giving you a hard time?”

“No. I don’t really interact with him, to be honest.”

“Ah.” Understanding lights in her eyes. “I wondered how long it would take for your two’s history to catch up to you.”

I stare at her.

She gives me a small smile. “You and Bo? Of course I knew, honey. Only one girl has ever broken his sweet heart. You don’t think I would know her name?”

If I broke his heart, it’s only fair. He’s smashed mine a time or two.

“You knew…?” I feel guilty.

But beneath that, I feel like I’ve been tricked.

She smiles. “I knew from the first email you sent. But I hoped being a local would make that patch of land mean more to you. Silver Bend is your hometown too. I figured we both had a vested interest in bringing the bird song back. You still care about that, don’t you?”

“Of course, I do.”

She tilts her head, shiny locks cascading over her shoulder. “To be honest, I came in prepared to not like you. But I get it. I see what he sees. And truthfully… I always wanted a daughter.”

I’m not sure if she means that she wishes I was her daughter or daughter-in-law, but either way, it makes me just a pinch uncomfortable.

Her lips pull up into a half smile. “Your expression, Andy. Relax, honey. I’m just saying, my boys are lovely, but a little girl would have been nice, too. Even now, as I’m getting older, I guess I’m lonely for that daughter I never had.”

I try to paste on a poker face. “Careful what you wish for, Heather. Mother-daughter relationships can be fraught.”

“Like your relationship with yours?” She asks.

“My mother was a complicated woman.”

I miss her. Sometimes, so much it hurts. Seven years haven’t erased the pain, but I’ve learned to live with it.

But part of that hurt comes from all the unresolved issues between the two of us.

She took me to buy my first bra. Held me when I cried over Bo.

But she also used to criticize my makeup. My weight.

“I knew your mom well.” Heather says, interrupting my thoughts. “She was gorgeous. So strong and determined.”

“Yeah.”

“A lot like you, Andy.” She leans forward, putting her hand over mine. “Please don’t quit on me. I know we must look pretty pathetic to you. I guess we are. But I wanted something beautiful to come out of all the ugliness.”

“It’s not that, Heather.” I hesitate, deciding to come clean. At least a little. “Bo and I… things have gotten complicated between us.”

She nods, like she always expected this outcome. “If I’m honest? I’m really hoping you can work things out. But I get that you might feel uncomfortable. How about this? You can work strictly through me from now on. I’ll play the go between.”

Her expression is so earnest. I can understand her desire to want something beautiful. I want that too.

With a quiet sigh, I nod. “Okay. Yes. We’ll do it that way.”

29.

Bo

Tia slides another beer in front of me, sweeping the empty glass away. “You doing okay, Bo?”

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