AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“A date?” I wiggle my brows, and Stacy rolls her eyes.
“I don’t have time to date, you know that? My shop takes all my time.”
“Girl, you have to find time. Your shop isn’t going to keep you warm when it’s cold.”
Stacy pushes up from the swing, and rolls her eyes at me.
“Thank you for your interest in my love life, or lack thereof. But I’m fine.” With one last wave, she saunters back to the house.
In her absence, I consider her words. I am unhappy. The reason is clear. I ruined things with Liam by letting him go.
When Liam told me he was joining the Army, I thought it was an April Fool’s prank. But while I was laughing, he wasn’t. If anyone knew how close I was to my father, it was Liam. He saw how his death affected me and how I blamed the military for taking him from me.
When he told me that he was joining the same group that had taken my father, something inside me broke. Any time he brought up going, I would change the topic. The last day I saw Liam was the day he stopped over to show me his enlistment papers.
I shut my eyes against the biggest regret of my life. I wanted to apologize for how I acted. I knew how badly I hurt him. I could’ve asked the O’Connell’s how to get in touch with him, but I was so afraid of him dying that I couldn’t do that either. I was paralyzed by fear.
When Andrew and I connected and started talking, it was the first time that I felt a flicker of life. I used Andrew. I didn’t know it at the time, but I did. Andrew was there for me every step of the way after Liam left, and he helped me to heal.
A pair of arms surround my shoulders, and I smell my mom’s scent before I see her. I lean into her, the tears building falling freely down my face before I can stop them. She rubs her hand up and down my back, softly whispering words of comfort.
“I’m so confused, Mom,” I cry. “It feels like my entire world is upside down. I don’t know what to do.”
My mother pulls back, her thumb wiping tears off my face. “We all feel this way sometimes,” she says softly. “Don’t let it pull you down.”
“Is it weird that I feel sorry for what I did to Andrew, but yet at the same time I’d do it all over again?” I look away from her. “Andrew was nothing but good to me. How could I—”
Mom sits on her haunches, grabbing my hands firmly. “My daughter is a kind and wonderful woman. I don’t know why you did what you did yet, but I’m sure you had your reasons.”
I gaze into her eyes. “I wish that I had been brave enough to talk to everyone before I did what I did, especially Andrew. But I wasn’t. My only comfort is that everyone blames me, and not him.”
“I know.” Mom nods. “You are not cruel, Penelope. Even if you handled this extremely poorly, hurting someone now rather than later is kindness. He will understand one day, and forgive you. I’m sure of it.”
I lean into my mother’s arms again, craving her warmth.
“What you did took courage, even though it hurt others in the process. When you stop beating yourself up it will get easier, okay?”
I sit up and see a mug on the swing next to me. My mother follows my gaze and giggles.
“It’s cold, I brought you tea. But I’m sure it’s cold already. Let’s go inside, and I’ll reheat it. Come on.” She grabs my arm and picks up the mug with the other. She wraps her arm around me and pulls me close.
“Thank you, Mom,” I whisper. “I love you.”
Chapter 13
Liam
Today is my first day of work, and excitement and nerves war within me. It’s the first time since I’ve been home that I’m feeling good about something and that makes me worried. I take a last look in the mirror at the cargo pants I chose to go with my company T-shirt and tactical boots.
I take a deep breath and blow it out, then turn away from the mirror.
Tex is still sleeping by the bed and is unused to early morning activities. I give him a gentle shake, and he rolls over, exposing his belly. I laugh and give him a quick rub before leaving to grab his harness.
“Come on,” I call, exiting the room. “Let’s get you breakfast.”
He’s bounding down the steps after me before I call him again, and reaches the kitchen first. My stomach is a bit queasy, so I opt to skip breakfast for myself. Tex is eating when my phone starts to ring. Of course it’s my brother calling to check in.
“Hey, Sean.”
