Page 53 of The Way Back Home
She shook her head. “Seems like a small ask for letting me crash your holidays.”
“They’ll understand. They know you’re recovering.” When Teagan went still, he hastened to add, “Relax. I just told them you took a nasty fall at Hopewell, which is true. They won’t ask for details. They’re cool that way.”
They hadn’t even askedhimfor details when he decided not to return. They’d just given him space and let him know in a hundred different ways that they were there for him, no matter what.
Guilt settled over him as he pictured the banked worry in their eyes and the concern in their voices. Seeing Teagan dealing with her issues, completely alone, made him realize how fortunate he was to have such a supportive, loving family. His self-isolation andI’m an islandbullshit couldn’t have been easy on them either.
“What about that heat you were worried about? Isn’t that why you wanted me to come with you?”
“Yes,” he said, though he was beginning to realize it was about more than that. “And you’ve helped more than you know,” he said with quiet honesty. “But I think it’s time I deal with it.”
She nodded and looked at her hands. “For what it’s worth, I think so too. They’re good people, and they love you.”
“That obvious, huh?”
She gave him a small, sad smile. “Yeah, it’s pretty obvious. Go. Mend fences, or bridges, or whatever the saying is. I’m going to get a hot shower and lie here, looking at the Christmas tree.”
“Okay. I won’t be long.” He grabbed his coat, then hesitated at the door. “Teagan?”
“Yes?”
“You’ll be here when I get back, right?”
Hurt flashed in her eyes. “Yes, I’ll be here.”
Noah glanced over his shoulder as he closed the door behind him. The mental snapshot was a nice one. Teagan was curled on his couch with a hand-crocheted afghan covering her legs, wearing the contented weariness of a woman who had enjoyed the day.
Leaving her alone in his cabin felt wrong, which only confirmed it was the right thing to do. He was getting too used to having her around. Liking her too much. Lines were beginning to blur. At least for him. He had no idea whatshewas feeling. She kept her emotions even more tightly locked up than Alex.
Noah made the short walk without consciousthought, his mind elsewhere. He was at their door, stepping into the foyer before he knew it.
Pausing, he took a moment to hang up his jacket and mentally prepare. Not because he worried so much about what they would say, but because he felt like he’d failed spectacularly.
The house was much quieter than it had been earlier. The kids had gone home with their parents, and his unmarried siblings were off doing whatever it was they did these days. That made this slightly easier, in any event.
His mom was sitting at the table with a cup of tea, the scents of baked ham and fixings permeating the space, conjuring memories of Christmases past.
“Hi, Mom.”
Her gaze lifted, and she gifted him with the kind of smile only a mother could give, filled with a depth of love he couldn’t fathom.
“Noah. I’m so glad you’re here.”
No scoldings. No recriminations. Just genuine happiness to see him.
A blade of guilt pierced his gut.
Her eyes flicked past him. “Is Teagan with you?”
“No. She’s resting in the cabin. She sends her apologies.”
“Poor thing. She’s had a rough time of it, hasn’t she? I’ll pack up something for you to take back.”
“Thanks, Mom. We’d appreciate that.”
She was giving him an out. Letting him know that she wasn’t going to press him for information. Which was probably why, as she rose and started to assembleanother basket, Noah exhaled and sat down at the table.
“I’m sorry.”
