Page 8 of In this Moment

But he couldn’t explain that to his mother.

“I don’t need a family of my own, Mom. I have all you guys. I’mgood.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I worry aboutyou.”

“Don’t.” He reached out and put his hand over hers. “Mom, I’m just fine the way Iam.”

She narrowed her eyes, assessing him. His mother always did have a way of seeing through his bullshit. But if she was going to call him on it, it wouldn’t be today. She opened her mouth and closed it again with a nod of her head. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay,” she said again. “But if you ever did decide to havea—”

“Mom.”

She laughed. “Evie is a very nice woman.”

Declan looked down at the table top and shook his head with a laugh. He should have known she’d need to get in the last word. “Yes,” he agreed. “Sheis—”

“Jonah!” Evie called from the door to her son, who had just been handed an ice cream cone. “We need togo.”

Declan immediately jumped to his feet and met her at the door. “Is everythingokay?”

“Yes.” Evie nodded, but it was clear that whomever had been on the phone had upset her. “It’sall—”

“Aw, Mom.” Jonah held his ice cream. “I just gotthis.”

Evie looked at Declan, who explained. “Mymom.”

She nodded, but didn’t look any less stressed. “You can bring it with you, Jonah. Go thank Mrs. McCormick and let’s go. I’m sorry.”

The boy’s face fell, but he did as he wastold.

“I’m really sorry to rush out like this,” Evie said to him. “Something has come up and I need to take care of it right away. Thank you so much for letting us sit with you today. It was really nice ofyou.”

“My pleasure, of course.” He wanted to say something reassuring and alleviate whatever stress she was feeling, because clearly something was wrong. But he couldn’t find the words. “Evie, are you sure that everything is okay? If you need to talk or…well…anything….”

“Thank you, Declan.” Her sweet smile was back momentarily. “I really appreciate it. Everything is fine. Really. Or, it will be. I just need to look after a few things. But thank you for your concern.”

“Okay.”

Jonah reappeared, and the moment to say anything of substance wasgone.

“Thank you again.” She turned togo.

“Evie?”

She turned, a question on herface.

“If there’s anything I can help you with…anything—please don’t hesitate toask.”

She smiled again. This time it reached her eyes, but only for a moment and then she wasgone.

He waited a second before he returned to his seat and his mother, who no doubt had questions for him. It wasn’t an empty offer. Declan knew without any hesitation that if Evie ever needed help, he would do anything in his power to lend aid. As he made his way back to his table, he tried to tell himself that it was just who he was: a giving person who would help anyone.

But he couldn’t lie to himself.

His offer to Evie had less to do with who he was and way more with how he felt abouther.

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