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Declan snorted. “Don’t delude yourself, Mom. He hasn’t changed. He only told me about what he did because you came back. I don’t think I can get over that.”
His mom shrugged. “That’s up to you and what you can live with. I didn’t want bitterness and anger to consume me, so I chose to explore myself away from Mistletoe, to figure out who I wanted to be. You have to do the same and take responsibility for your own feelings.”
“How do we get past the things I’ve said? How do I fix this?”
“Make up for lost time?” she said, coming around the front of the cart and reaching for his hand. He let her hang onto it for several seconds before he pulled away. “Declan, all of this happened a long time ago. Why don’t you come back home and we can all talk together tonight?”
Declan shook his head. “I don’t get how you can want to be with him. He wasn’t honest and painted you as the villain.”
“Like I’ve said several times, that’s between me and him. As for you and me, how about I run the store through the holidays? Give you a break.”
“You don’t know how,” he said.
“Your father will help me.”
“He hasn’t been there in months.”
“We’ll figure it out.” She squeezed his shoulder. “Do what you need to do, but you can’t blame your father for everything wrong in your life, just like I couldn’t. I am responsible for my actions, and maybe if I had just left when it happened, things would have been better for all of us. I can’t answer and can only say I made what I thought was the best decision at the time.”
“For the record, I don’t think any kid wants their parents to stay together if they’re miserable.” Declan shoved his hands in his pockets, adding, “How has he been?”
“Your father is doing well. We’ve been running around like a couple of kids, reacquainting ourselves with each other. He misses you, though.”
Declan didn’t respond to that, although he did miss Liam. “He can’t be alone for long, you know that, right? It’s early stages still, but sometimes he forgets to shut off the oven or the burner.”
“Kim’s with him now. Lovely woman.” Before he had a chance to react, his mother gave him a hard, fast hug and pulled away. “You take all the time you need. Maybe this will give you a chance to figure out who you are and what you want. Just don’t push me away anymore. I’m here to stay.”
“Are you? Even knowing that in a few years he won’t be himself anymore?”
“I’d rather have the few years building something better than what we had than regret not being with him. Nobody is perfect and lord knows love is a hard thing to hold onto, but I’ve managed to find it again and I plan on hanging around until one of us takes our last breath.”
Declan didn’t ask her again how she could forgive him. If she hadn’t fully answered him yet, he didn’t expect her to answer now. He’d never been in love with anyone and didn’t think even love could let him forgive someone for cheating.
“Are you ready to check out?” he asked.
“I have a few more things to buy, but I’m going to text you every day. Are you still sleeping in the back of the store?”
“How did you know?”
“I saw your truck outside it the other night.”
“No, I’m staying with a friend.”
“Male or female friend?”
Declan’s cheeks warmed. “Not that it matters, but a female friend.”
“Is it Holly Winters?”
“Why would you ask that?”
His mom smiled softly. “Because I can tell she cares for you. She seems like a sweet girl.”
Declan laughed. “Sometimes she can be, and then she’ll be scraping across my last nerve.”
“Ah, that’s how all great loves start.”
“Mom, I’m not in love with Holly.”
