Page 79 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
She was walking toward them, one hand holding a big shopping bag of gifts and the other waving at Becca.
It felt off to him. Odd.
Normally Rene didn’t seem that excited for a visit. More like it was an obligation that someone guilted her into.
At least he was lucky enough that Rene’s parents lived out west and didn’t seem to want to be involved in their granddaughter’s life.
One less thing for him to have to navigate.
“Mom!” Becca yelled and wiggled to get down.
He set her down when Rene was close enough that he wouldn’t lose sight of her.
Becca ran to Rene, who lifted her into the air. “There is my baby girl. Look at how big you’ve gotten.”
His jaw dropped over that welcome. It’d never happened before.
“I’ve grown,” Becca said.
“I see that,” Rene said. “Brennan.”
And there was the coldness. At least she masked it toward their daughter.
“Rene. Why don’t we get out of this cold?”
“I can’t wait for you to see my room and my toys and the Christmas tree.”
“I thought maybe we could go to lunch,” Rene said. “I haven’t eaten and bought my ticket to return at four. You can bring me back before then.”
“Becca has had lunch already. We just had a snack. We are pushing her nap back until later, but we can stop and get you food or I can make you something at the house.”
“Takeout is good,” Rene said. “Whatever you drive by first. I don’t think there is much here, is there?”
“More than enough to suit our needs,” he said.
The first fast food place they passed, he pulled into. There were only two on the island. One on each end.
He paid for Rene’s order and then went back to his place.
Becca had Rene’s hand and was pulling her inside the front door.
“This is a big place,” Rene said.
“It doesn’t feel it with all of Becca’s stuff, but it’s bigger than my apartment.”
“It’s a lot bigger than the place we had,” Rene said, looking around. “Do you enjoy living here, Becca?”
“I love it,” Becca said. “And Daddy said there are beaches to walk to when the weather is nicer. I’ve got a yard to play in. I’m going to build a snowman when we get snow.”
Rene walked in and looked around the first floor, then out the window in the backyard. “It looks nice out there.”
He didn’t know what was going on or through her head. She didn’t normally care this much, but maybe she was changing her tune.
“Do you want to see my room?” Becca asked.
“Let me eat first and then I will,” Rene said. She’d taken her jacket off and handed it to him, then took the bag of food and went to the couch to sit down.
No dining room table for her. Putting food before her daughter’s needs too.
