Page 69 of Rescuing Brinley

Love, Mom

Brinley looked up from the screen and could barely see Dash through her tears.

“She was so excited to meet you in person. I promised her I’d bring you down here sooner rather than later. This isn’t how I expected things to go.”

Practically throwing herself at him, Brinley wrapped her arms around him and felt his head go to that spot in the crook of her shoulder once more. She cried harder then. For him. For missing out on getting to meet his mom. For all the times in the future Dash would feel the need to reach out to his mother for something, then remember she wasn’t there for him to talk to.

And she cried for herself too. For never having a mom just like Pauly. Not having a parent who was proud of her. Who loved her for the person she was, instead of what she looked like on the outside.

Pulling back, she sniffed and did her best to pull herself together. This trip wasn’t about her.

“Thank you for being here. I don’t think I could do this without you.”

“Yes, you could,” she said firmly. “You can do anything. Because you’re the bravest man I’ve ever met.”

He lifted a hand and placed his palm on her face, brushing away the remnants of tears on her cheeks. “I don’t feel brave right now. The thought of walking into that house and seeing where she died. Seeing her things. Having the memories of all our good and bad times smack me in the face…all I want to do is retreat. Never set foot in that house ever again.”

“I’m here, Dash. When you get too overwhelmed, we can take a walk. Go get something to eat. Take a break. I’m not leaving your side.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me for sticking by you. There’s nowhere I’d choose to be than right here.”

Dash’s eyes closed for a moment, then he nodded and took a deep breath as he opened them again. “I have to warn you, Mom hadn’t changed my room much. I know it’s been over twenty years since I left, but she kept my room practically untouched. I’m sure the trophies I earned growing up are still on a shelf in there.”

Brinley gave him a small smile. “Did she leave the posters of pretty girls on the walls too? Because I’m sure you had some of those.”

She was proud of herself for making Dash chuckle. It wasn’t one of his usual carefree and boisterous laughs, but she’d take it.

“Of course I did. But hell no, she didn’t leave that crap up. She hated those, said they set up unrealistic expectations in young, impressionable men.”

“She wasn’t wrong.”

“Reality is a thousand times better than the plastic expectations of those women. Ready?”

“Ready.”

Brinley gave Dash his phone back, and he put it in his pocket as they exited the vehicle. He immediately took her hand in a strong grip, as if he was holding on for dear life as they walked up the sidewalk toward the front door. He put a key in the lock and took a deep breath before turning the knob and walking inside.

The house was eerily silent. All Brinley could hear was the ticking of a clock somewhere. It was immaculately clean though. A stack of books sat on a table next to a leather chair in the living room. Catalogs were piled up in a basket near the chair as well. An empty mug. An electronic tablet. A blanket.

It was literally a moment frozen in time. It hurt so badly to picture Dash’s mom sitting there, finishing up the email she sent to her son, taking one last sip of tea before getting up and going to bed, thinking that she’d sit in the same spot the next morning, doing what she always did.

Dash kept hold of her hand and slowly walked through the house without speaking. It wasn’t a big home, but it was comfortable. Warm. She could picture Dash growing up here. His room wasn’t quite as untouched as she’d imagined. Yes, there was a shelf of trophies, but the bedspread on the double-size mattress had light blue flowers and the bookshelf against the wall looked like it held dozens of recipe books.

He didn’t go into his mom’s room, and Brinley didn’t question it. He was most likely overwhelmed with emotions right now. When he felt up to it later, she was sure he’d go in there.

The sound of a doorbell scared the crap out of both of them.

As Dash went to answer it, she could practically see him shove away the big emotions he was having. He stood straighter and squared his shoulders as he greeted an older woman with a huge hug. He was the one comforting her. It didn’t surprise Brinley. Dash was the kind of man who wouldn’t want his feelings to make anyone else uncomfortable.

Except, he’d lowered his guard with her. She’d seen the vulnerable man under the tough Delta Force Operative shell he wore on a daily basis. She’d seen the man who was devastated about losing his mom. It meant the world to her that he allowed her in. That he trusted her so much.

The rest of the afternoon was spent with them talking to neighbors and other friends of Pauly’s who’d obviously heard Dash was here. He did a good job of keeping his composure, but Brinley noted when he was reaching his limit. When he needed some time away from the well-wishes of all his mom’s friends—and there were a lot.

He’d explained over and over that he and Brinley didn’t need anything, didn’t need food, that they were staying at a hotel nearby but he appreciated everyone’s offers, and that he’d figure out the details for Pauline’s service as soon as he could.

When the last person had left, his shoulders drooped and he massaged the back of his neck tiredly.