Page 75 of In this Moment

“I do.” Maureen leaned back in her chair and smiled fondly. “I’d tell you tales of Adam Duncan, the man I’d met when I was only eighteen.” Her eyes took on the same faraway look that Declan remembered she used to get all those years ago. “He was almost seven years older than me, but he’d just finished optometry school. He was going to be an eye doctor. He’d graduated early and instead of setting up a practice in the city where he could make lots of money, he was moving to Africa to work on a medical train and provide free eye care to people who would never be able to affordit.”

“I remember.” Declan nodded along as she recounted the story. It was one he’d never forgotten and had changed the trajectory of his life. “Do you think you would have ever told me that story if I hadn’t have broken my leg that summer?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure. You always reminded me so much of Adam. Such a kind soul. I always wished you could have met him. But no, I don’t think I ever would have talked about him like that if we hadn’t had so much time together that summer.”

Declan smiled knowingly. “Do you realize that those stories about Adam changed my life, Mom?”

“No.” Even in the dim light, Declan could see the unshed tears glistening in her eyes. “Really? Is that why…DAR? All of your work helping others?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “Partly. Well, honestly, it was a large part. It was the way you talked about Adam, with so much respect and…well, love almost. I guess I wanted to always make you proud of me like that. And then when I got older, it seemed like a really good way to travel and see the world, and…”

“Avoid love,” she finished for him and he nodded. “I never knew that, Dec. But you have to know that you make me so proud all on your own. You never needed to run away for me to be proud ofyou.”

“I know.” He pulled her into a hug. “I just wanted you to know that I really believe everything happens when it’s supposed to happen, and for reasons we don’t even fully understand at the time. Just like you meeting Adam, me breaking my leg so you could tell me about him and then…meeting Evie. It all worksout.”

Tears streaked down his mother’s cheeks. “I hope that’s true, Dec. The part about everything working out. I mean, I know everything happens for a reason. That’s why I have all of you boys. I often had to remind myself about that in some of the harder years after your father left. If I had gone with Adam when he’d asked, I never would have had all of you boys and that was worth everything. Now, I think it’s time for it all to work out, don’tyou?”

He nodded and then stopped himself. “Wait. What do you mean, when Adam asked you to go with him?” Never in all the years of knowing Adam Duncan’s story had Declan ever stopped to consider that his mother may have been in love with the man. Of course, he’d only been a child when he learned of him. Now, the pieces fell into place and it all made sense. “You were in love withhim?”

Maureen nodded slowly. “Very much.” Her smile was sad. “But it wasn’t meant to be. Not then. I was too young, just out of high school myself, and the idea of going to Africa seemed so…exotic and unreal.”

“So you let himgo.”

“I did. And I was heartbroken, but then life started to go on. And then, a few years later, I met your father and we got married and had you boys. Sure, I thought of Adam over the years, but it just wasn’t right. And then after your father left, well…I was too busy picking up the pieces. And besides that, who would ever be interested in a divorcée with four boys to take care of?” She laughed a little at herself. “Well, it doesn’t matter anymore. That’s all in the past, but there are times, especially when you say things like everything has a way of working out, where I let myself believe that maybe it could. Work out between us, Imean.”

Declan’s mind reeled. His mother had been carrying a torch for the man he’d idolized his whole life, and he’d never known. But now he did. And it wasn’t too late. He grinned and pulled his mom into another tight hug. “I don’t know if it’s just because my jaded heart is so full of love right now, or if I’m just exhausted from the craziness of the last few days, but Mom, I do believe that everything will work out. And I think it’s about time we found Adam Duncan and told him just how much he’s meant to both of us throughout the years.”

His mother pushed away and gave him a gentle smack on the arm. “The last thing you need to be worrying about right now is your old mom and some crazy idea shehas.”

“It’s not crazy, Mom. I think Ican—”

“I mean it, Declan.” Her eyes lost their laughter and grew very serious. “Don’t do this right now. Things work out the way they are supposed to and right now is your time to build a family and a life with Evie and Jonah. I’m not your project, Dec. Focus onthem.”

“But, Mom. It really won’tbe—”

“Declan McCormick. Don’t push me onthis.”

He opened his mouth to say something else, but closed it again. He knew when to let a subject drop with his mom. She was one stubborn lady, and he was not going to win the argument. At least not today. But he wasn’t going to drop it. Not yet. “Okay,” he agreed with her. “Besides that, I do very much want to focus on my new family.” That much was true. He glanced over at Jonah, who was still fast asleep. “In fact, I think it’s past time for me to get themhome.”

“I would agree with that.” Maureen stood and gave him a big hug. “Congratulations, son. I couldn’t be happier foryou.”

He sensed her, almost before he heard Evie’s footsteps behind them. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Not at all.” Maureen held out her arms to Evie, who went immediately to them and accepted a hug from his mother. “I was just telling my son how happy I was that he realized what a special woman you were, before it was too late. He’s a lucky man. Welcome to the family, Evie. We’re just so pleased to haveyou.”

“Oh, Mrs. McCormick—”

“Maureen.”

Evie smiled. “Maureen. It’s me who’s the lucky one. I can’t believe we almost let this get away fromus.”

Declan took her hand. “We never would have let it get away.” He squeezed. “And we neverwill.”

“No,” she agreed. “Now that we’ve opened our eyes, I don’t think either of us will be willing to close them again.”

He couldn’t help it. Even with his mother standing right beside them, he needed to kiss her. And that’s exactly what he did. With his eyes wide open, staring into hers, he kissed the love of his life with everything hehad.

---