Page 82 of The Grizzly Situation
He sighed. “Partially. When she died, he wasn’t there. In his head, he failed her and the boys by not being available to help them. I know a doctor who has prescribed some meds for meto take when Benjy has to go out of town. They don’t quiet the anxiety completely, but I don’t have that breakdown anymore. I’ll talk with him about getting some for Brent.”
“I don’t mind?—”
“And if you stay, you’ll eventually end up resenting him. It’s inevitable. Take the help when it’s offered. Trust me, it’ll be better for all of you in the long run.”
I wasn’t a bear. I didn’t understand the depths of feeling, especially when it came to a mate. Chaim knew and understood.
“Thank you.” We pulled up in front of the house. “And we’re home. I’m going in to see him.”
“Be prepared. There’ll be lots of sniffing, hugging, kissing.”
“Oh, no. How awful. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
He disconnected and I put the phone back in my pocket, then jumped out of the car and rushed for the house. Amelia met me at the door, wringing her hands.
“It’ll be okay,” I promised her.in
“He went into your bedroom,” she told me.
I breezed by her, dropped my phone on the table so we wouldn’t be disturbed, and went to our room. Fortunately, he hadn’t locked the door. I opened it and gasped. Brent was sitting on the bed, wrapped in blankets and holding my pillow to his nose.
“Uly,” he whispered, big, fat tears rolling down his cheeks.
“I’m here, baby,” I said, closing the door and moving for the bed. As soon as I was in reach, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me down beside him, burying his face in my neck and inhaling deeply.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t think Chaim was serious about how much it hurt.”
A shaft of light swept through the room as the door opened. Two shadows crossed the floor, their sniffles loud.
“Momma?” The voice was broken, raw. They’d been crying too. My heart was hurting hearing the pain.
“Hey, guys. C’mere,” I said, holding out my arms.
They were on the bed and curled around me instantly. I had all three of my guys sniffing me, putting their hands on me, and touching me. Brent kept apologizing for pulling me away from seeing Jamie, and the boys were sobbing. I hated what I’d done to them, and vowed we’d figure something out for the future. Maybe Jamie and Deb could come here.
But I could never leave. Was Chaim right? Would I come to resent Brent and the boys?
I glanced down to find Eddie and Jack sleeping on my lap. Then Brent was asleep on my shoulder. I wrestled us all down onto the bed and lay there, keeping my family safe and secure in the knowledge that Momma was home.
And I wasn’t planning on leaving again.
Chapter Twenty-Two
BRENT
Sunlight streamedin through the floor to ceiling windows, heralding another beautiful day. If only I felt good about it. I lay there, Uly’s head on my chest, his fingers splayed over my stomach. Eddie and Jack were curled up at the foot of the bed, wrapped around each other. The picture of contentment.
Meanwhile, I lay here feeling like the biggest ass in existence.
Uly had asked for nothing since he moved into the mansion. He cooked, even though we had Amelia. He cleaned, though we had housekeepers. He played with the boys, even to the distraction from things he wanted to get done.
And I’d freaked out and kept him from seeing Jamie and Deb. This mate thing was a lot more potent than I gave it credit for. From the moment Uly left, a gnawing hopelessness crept into my heart, eating away at me. The boys were listless, wandering around, looking for Momma, even though we’d explained he’d be gone a week.
And I was no better. I was supposed to be strong for the sleuth, but once the door closed and I watched the car withUly pull away, I’d gone into our room and curled up in bed, clutching his pillow to my chest, and cried. It was the same when Jenna died. Even though I knew Uly was alive, there was that overwhelming sense of loss, of being alone, of never knowing happiness again.
But I was doing my best to tough it out. For Uly.
I wouldn’t have lasted, though. I knew it. Everything in me was crumbling because my mate wasn’t where I could see him. Touch him. Smell him.
