Page 104 of Guarding My Love

“You seem to be confused a lot and I’m sorry for that. I can’t hold your hand anymore. I think I need a little space.”

“You think?” he asked. His heart was knocking so hard in his chest that he was pretty sure it was going to break out and dive into the bay and swim away.

“I know,” she said. “You know all about needing space, right?”

She started to walk away and he let her.

35

THE BIGGER PICTURE

“Can I help you?” Charlotte asked when she opened the door ten days later. There was a woman on the porch and she wasn’t able to get a good enough view of who it was by her camera.

“Charlotte.” It was Foster’s mother.

Crap. She wouldn’t have answered if she’d realized that.

“Aileen,” she said. “I didn’t know you were in town.”

“I figured as much,” Aileen said, moving into the house, not waiting to see if she’d be invited. Not that she’d tell Foster’s mother no.

“It’s nice to meet you in person,” she said.

“You don’t have to pretend with me,” Aileen said. “I know there are problems with you and Foster.”

Her shoulders dropped. “He told you?”

“Nope. He hasn’t talked to one person in over a week.”

“I thought he didn’t talk to his family much,” she said.

“He texts or emails rather than talks. He’s not even doing that. He’s holed up in his office or on his boat. He only replies if he absolutely has to and even then it’s hours later and one or two word responses. I know my son.”

“Then you know he’s stubborn,” she said. “Please. Make yourself at home. Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’m fine,” Aileen said. “I am staying at West’s this weekend and drove here. Thankfully I knew where you lived and didn’t have to let anyone know what I was doing.”

She smiled. “I bet Foster knows,” she said.

“Because he hasn’t talked to anyone, he doesn’t even know I’m in town,” Aileen said. “His loss. But then I’ll have the element of surprise on my hands to kick his butt. Just tell me what he did wrong.”

“Why do you think it’s him?” she asked. “Maybe it’s me.”

Aileen laughed. “Sweetheart, you just gave me the answer I needed. You defended him. That tells me whatever is going on, you might not want it to be, but you’re afraid it’s happening due to something you did.”

“I asked for some space. He’s giving it to me. I haven’t heard from him since I asked for it the Friday before last.”

“Oh, that had to sting for him. The timing of it all.”

She wasn’t sure why Aileen was smirking. “What happened?”

“I was talking to Foster that day. He hung up with me to leave early and go on the boat. I asked how things were going with you two after what happened with your ex. He said they were great. Couldn’t be better.”

“And then I hit him with wanting space,” she said.

Maybe that was why he was staying away.

Or he was so clueless that he had no idea what was going on and it was for the best that she’d done what she had.

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