Page 90 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
Her mother was in the room. Her aunt too.
“My daughter is shy, but since Brennan’s SUV was at my house overnight, we know Alana has a smile on her face for more than one reason.”
She threw her hand in the air. “I’m out of here.”
27
LOVESICK FOOLS
“Grandma,” Becca yelled and ran into his mother’s house Christmas Day. “I got everything I wanted.”
His mother bent down to catch her granddaughter charging her. “You did? And I bet you’ve been playing with it all this morning.”
“Not everything,” Becca said. “Daddy said we can’t open it all at once, so just a few things. He said I’ve got all week to play.”
Becca wiggled to get down and made a mad dash toward the living room where there were more gifts scattered under the tree. It was a good thing he had a house to store them, but his daughter’s toy room was going to take some cleaning out to make room.
“I can take her a day. You might need the break.”
“I’m good with her home,” he said. It’d been the plan all along so his daughter could enjoy the toys she got. It was only two more days at this point. “I can get work done while she’s busy and napping,” he said. “I don’t have a ton going on.”
“But spend some time with that new friend of yours.”
He closed one eye at those whispered words sent his way. “I would like that. I believe I’m having dinner with her family on Saturday night. Becca too.”
He was a tad worried about that. He felt sure Becca wouldn’t be confused, since he had simplified things. Alana was his friend, but a different kind of friend. It was working.
“And when do I get to meet her?”
“Do you have plans on New Year’s Eve?” he asked. It was a lot to ask, he knew that.
“To babysit or have dinner?”
His head went back and forth. “I was thinking more like a late lunch when Becca got up from her nap.”
“And for me to keep her overnight for you?”
“Well, if you don’t have plans, that’d be great, but if you do, it’s not a big deal.”
“Grandmaaaaaaaaaaa. There are gifts!” Becca pointed to the pile, having finished lining up the presents in the order she planned to open them.
“Yes,” his mother said. The two of them moved into the family room for his daughter to tackle the array of presents.
He sat down and took his phone out so he could capture as many shots as possible.
Becca was growing so fast and he wanted to hold on to the memories.
He’d even sent several to Alana this morning and she’d loved them and asked for more.
It was after three and not one word from Rene. He long since gave up assuming Rene would care enough.
Maybe she was working, but the least she could have done was send a text for him to share with Becca, if not call.
He had to stop worrying about those things.
That he’d get leveled with blame when Becca was older for not doing enough to help build that mother-daughter relationship.
Did he still have deep-rooted emotions about not having a man in his life growing up?
