Page 21 of April is for Asher

“First of all, you can take medication for your allergies and be fine. Second of all, he doesn’t treat cats, he treats horses and cows and bears and deer. Animals that are as large as you. If I remember correctly, there’s a vet in town that treats pets like dogs, cats and hamsters or other smaller animals. And it’s not him.”

“Well, what about his absolutely crazy schedule? If he gets a call about an injured animal, he drops everything to be there. And then misses important things like this doctor’s appointment.”

“Come on Jenna, he didn’t miss that appointment because he dropped everything to rescue an animal. He missed that appointment because a family with a little kid was in a car accident right in front of him. Then he did what any decent human being would do, and he helped them and made sure that they were okay.

“With the little bit that I know about him, I’m willing to bet that if he had gotten a call for an animal and he had your doctor’s appointment he was going to, he would have called someone else to do it.

As for him being like Dad, I want you to know that Dad had a big effect on me, too. The difference is I’ve been talking to a therapist about it. Because it affected my dating relationships, and I knew there was someone special out there for me. When I met my husband, I knew he was the one.”

I love the way she goes out of her way to call him her husband and smiles every time that she does. It’s so cute and I’m really happy for her. I hope to find that level of happiness one day.

“One thing I learned in therapy is that some people just don’t have the ability and mentality to be a parent. And that’s how it was with Dad. He was not made to be a parent. But I also know to this day, he still loves our mother fiercely. He would give her anything that she wanted and what she wanted was a family and kids. There’s no telling what their agreement was. But they were happy.

“Dad got to chase his career. Mom got her family, and a husband that supported her. And for the record, my room was next door to theirs and they had a lot of sex while I was growing up. So, whatever their marriage was, it worked for them. That’s all that matters.

“There are guys out there that can’t wait to be a father. All they want is a family. Dad just wasn’t that guy. Don’t let him dictate your future.” She pauses to take a sip of water.

Before I can respond, she continues. “Remember, Asher was there for everything else. He missed one thing. Don’t write him off because of one incident. Especially for something that he stopped to do and what so many people wouldn’t. Most people would have called 911 and kept going. But he stopped to check on them and stayed to pull the people out of that car.

“Can you imagine how scared those parents were for their kid in the backseat? How scared that child might have been? You’re about to be a parent. Now, Jenna think about. If it had been you, would you have wanted someone to stop and help you and make sure that you were okay and waited until the paramedics got there? What would you rather? Someone who simply called 911 and left you to worry about your kids by yourself, or someone who stopped and helped?”

Dammit, of course, she’s right. Even if my stubborn pregnancy hormones don’t want me to admit it to her right now.

“Besides, the biggest question is, how does he make you feel?”

I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face if I tried.

“You don’t have to answer me. That smile says it all,” my sister says,

As mad as I am, he still gives me butterflies in my belly when I think of our time together. Remembering him still makes me smile. It’s a very confusing feeling.

After dinner, I drop her back off at my house and head to this beautiful park that overlooks the city right by the airport. Stopping there, I watch the sunset and let myself think and remember.

As beautiful as this park is, it’s nothing compared to the views from Mustang Mountain.

CHAPTER12

ASHER

After my nightof drinking with the guys, the killer hangover the next morning, and Hades howling outside my window, I’m guessing to tell me what an idiot I am, I get my ass in gear.

What Luna had to say about Jenna and her dad made me realize she’s going to need some extra reassurance. I’m just the man who is going to give it to her.

I took the rest of the day to get a few things in order and today, I made the drive into Billings later than I had planned.

Which is way later than when I wanted to get to her new place. She was already out to dinner with her sister. But her brother-in-law offered to call them, but I told him no and that I’d wait. They probably need to talk and decompress anyway, and I didn’t want to ruin it. Plus, she needs to eat.

So, I’m sitting on the front steps of her apartment waiting for her to get back when her sister comes walking up.

“What took you so long to get here?” she asks, sitting down beside me.

What I finally ended up doing was texting her for Jenna’s address here in Billings. Thankfully, she’s been on my side.

“In order to prove that I mean what I say, I had to get a few things. Where is she?” I ask.

“We had a pretty deep conversation at dinner, so she went up to Swords Park to watch the sunset and to think.”

Pulling out my phone, I look for the park.

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