Page 48 of In this Moment

“Gee, thanks.” He laughed and drank his brother’s water. “And Jonah, too.”

“Of course.” Cal smacked him on the back. “That’s sure something, isn’t it? You and Evie. I think I saw it coming, but not really, youknow?”

Declan shrugged. Of course he hadn’t seen it coming. Declan himself hadn’t seen it coming.

“Well, you know how happy it makes Mom, right?”

“What are you talking about?” The last time he’d talked to his mom about him and Evie had been at dinner when they’d taken a little walk. The entire conversation had been a bit strange and he’d gotten the distinct impression that she didn’t fully support the engagement. She hadn’t outright said anything, but she didn’t have to. Maybe she sensed something was off? Whatever it was, he certainly didn’t get the impression that she’d been happy for him. “She’s happy?”

“Of course she is.” Cal stopped at a fence and stretched one quad up behind him. “She said something like she didn’t think she’d ever see the day where you would fall inlove.”

Love. He almost laughed out loud because he never thought he’d see that day either.

“She said it was nice to see you so concerned about someone else that you’d do anything to make them happy.”

“That’s kind of a strange thing tosay.”

“Whatever.” Cal dropped his leg and picked up the other one. “But you know Mom. Heck, I’m just happy she’s been in town for so long. It’s nice to have her back. To have all of us back. I had Milena look into one of those condos for her, youknow?”

“Oh yeah?” Declan was more than happy to have the conversation turned away from him. “And what does she think aboutthat?”

Cal laughed. “Well, Milena said she could save her whichever one she wanted. Mountain view or lake view—she just had to say the word. But Mom wasn’t excited. She said she needed to think aboutit.”

That didn’t really surprise Declan. All of them knew how hard it was for their mom to be back in Cedar Springs, with all of the memories of what had happened, and that terrible evening when their dad had come to let her know he was leaving them. But none of them realized exactly how difficult it was. He’d only been sixteen when it had happened, but he would never forget seeing his mom as she locked up the house the next morning when they said good-bye. She’d stood at the wooden door, with her palm flat against it, her head dropped in defeat. Her entire body looked so small at that moment.

He’d gone to her and put his hand tentatively on her shoulder. He’d never forget the look in her eyes when she turned to him and said, “It’s over, Declan. All of this. The memories, the love, the dreams, the future. The door is closed now, and in this moment, it’sgone.”

Then she’d turned and without another look behind her, walked toward the van where they were all waiting to go home. This time forgood.

None of what she’d said made sense at the time. Heck, it still didn’t really make a lot of sense, but it wasn’t the words so much as how she’d spoken them that had made the most impact.

Not only had her heart been completely crushed, but so had her spirit. And somehow it was all tied up with Cedar Springs. The fact that she’d come back at all had been nothing short of a miracle as far as Declan was concerned. But something was different about his mom now. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it; she seemed stronger, and yet a little more fragile, all at the sametime.

“Well,” Declan finally said to Cal. “I can talk to her if you like. Maybe I can see what’s stoppingher.”

Cal nodded. “Sounds like a plan. But first, we need to get home. Are you ready?”

His muscles groaned in protest, but with a shake of his head, Declan moved and did his best to keep pace with his brother on the way home. Or at least not get too far behind.

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