Justin frowned. What was with everyone today? First his grandmother, now Mitch? “I don’t plan on competing with anyone. She wants to leave so she can get married. Probably to this," he gestured in frustration, "stranger.”Mitchael grinned. “That might be a little premature. She’s never actually met this guy, right?”He shrugged. “Not yet, but they’ve been corresponding for months, apparently. I’m just as confused by the whole thing as you are. Maybe Tess can talk some sense into her.”“Don’t count on it,” Mitchael replied. “My wife thinks it’s romantic and has volunteered to be with Allena when she meets this guy.”What?Justin tossed his hands in the air. “Great! Has everyone lost their minds in the last twenty-four hours?”“Possibly,” Mitch said, laughing again. “Tess said her sister has been thinking about it for some time.”“Nice to be told.” Jesus!“You can be a hardass,” Mitchael said, grinning. “Maybe she avoided telling you because she knew you wouldn’t listen rationally.”Wha
“Bobby’s asking to meet,” Allena said, sighing and keeping her voice low so that Cassie wouldn’t pick up on the strain in her tone.“Are you having second thoughts?”She shrugged. “Second and third, and fourth,” she admitted. “I just want to be sure I’m doing the right thing. I mean, you know what I mean—”“I know, and I guess there are no guarantees in any relationship,” Tess added. “But you’ll never know unless you take the chance.”“So,” she queried, her voice quiet. “You think I should do it?”“You know what I think,” Tess replied gently.Tell Justin how she felt. Oh God, I can't.“I can’t,” she whispered.Tess got to her feet. “I’m here for you, whatever you decide. And now I think I’ll go and make coffee for you and tea for me,” her sister said, and then called Cassie’s name, asking her if she wanted milk and cookies.Cassie was on her feet in a microsecond, and Allena continued to cradle Charlie after they left the room. Alone, with her thoughts and the sleepy baby in her arms,
On Wednesday morning, Allena rounded up the kids, got them dressed and ready for the day, and then headed into town to take Jayden to school. He’d gotten past the hugging stage about a year ago, preferring to high-five her at the school gate. But for the past couple of days, he’d clung to her, oblivious to his school friends walking past. Allena hugged him tightly, smoothing her hand over his hair, telling him she loved him.“I saved my allowance,” he said as she crouched down in front of him, straightening his backpack. “You can have it if you want.”Allena looked at his serious expression. “Why would you want to give me your allowance…?”Her words trailed off, and he shrugged in a way that was so much like Justin that her heart rolled over.“I know Dad said it wasn’t about money, but you know my friend Simon—well, his mom has a job at the library, and she stayed there when she got more money—”Allena squeezed his small shoulders gently, pain and guilt radiating through her entire bo
“You know, Justin’s being more unbearable than usual at the moment,” Justin’ sister, Leah, said.Allena didn’t disagree.It was after ten the following morning, and she was in the kitchen with Leah and Mittie, chatting about the older woman’s upcoming Asian tour. Leah was several years younger than her brother and a talented artist as well. She was also much more naturally outgoing than he was—easier to warm up to, which was why Allena had befriended her so quickly when they met.Allena shrugged and took the coffee cup. Mittie passed her and replied to Leah. “I guess he’s got things on his mind.”“He’s got you on his mind,” Mittie announced, grinning broadly.Allena almost spluttered her coffee across the table. “What?”“Granny,” Leah said and sighed. “Stop making things worse.”Allena looked at Leah and smiled. “Your grandmother is only—”“Stirring,” Leah said, raising both her brows. “We all know what Justin is like.”“Don’t we just?" Mittie said and chuckled. “I love my grandson, b
Allena stalked past him and left the room, her chest so tight that her ribs ached. She raced down the hall and headed for her rooms, slammed the door, and flopped onto the couch, every part of her body hurting.She was on the verge of letting the tears flow when there was a sharp rap on her door. She got to her feet, rubbed her hand over her face, and walked across the room, only to find Justin standing on the other side of the door.Allena sucked in a breath and stared at him.“What do you want?” If she sounded rude, she didn’t care. But she wasn’t in the mood for an argument or a rehash of the very obvious tension burning between them.“To talk.” He said, and then sighed. “To apologize.”Allena turned on her heel and walked further into the room. She stood by the couch and faced him, hands on her hips.“So, talk.”“I’m sorry, okay?” he said quietly and moved across the room, standing a few feet from her. “I shouldn’t have made that remark about your personal life. And I shouldn’t ha
“Has Justin found your replacement yet?”Allena smiled at her sister as she stretched out on the yoga mat. Tess has started attending the classes with her and she was delighted for the company. Hanging out with her sister was one of her favourite things to do. And Thursday night yoga class was their opportunity to talk and catch up. Justin usually finished work early onThursdays and spent extra time with the children, which gave her a free evening. “No,” she replied and stretched out her calves. “He has another two interviews scheduled for tomorrow. Both applicants with the right references.” She’d told her sister about the two unsuitable candidates they’d interviewed the day before. She hadn’t told her about the argument or the kiss. Mostly because she couldn’t believe it actually happened. Her lips still tingled at the memory. Her heart ached knowing he’d said it was a mistake. Which of course it was, and obviously it didn’t mean anything. But Tess was a romantic and would read way
After two interviews the following morning, Justin decided to offer the position to the grandmother looking for a part-time job. He wanted someone trustworthy and reliable and since he knew his chances of finding someone as perfect as Allena were impossible, those qualities would need to be enough.Someone as perfect as Allena…Funny, but he’d only just come to realize how true that was. She’d accused him of treating her as though she was invisible. He’d denied it at the time, but since then he’d had days to think about, and now he realized she might be right.He’d taken her for granted and now he was paying the price. She was on the verge of leaving and would soon have a different life. With someone else. With the fireman. She’d fall in love with him. Marry him. Have children with him.And he couldn’t bear thinking about it.“She was nice,” Allena said when he returned to the office after the last interview. “You were right.”“Sometimes that has been known to happen,” he said and grin
The last thing Allena wanted to do was think about Justin getting married. Second, she corrected. The very last thing she wanted to do was spend an hour or so at the pizza parlour and pretend that she wasn’t dying inside.Of course, the kids quickly pulled her out of her funk, and once they were seated and had ordered, she listened as Jayden spoke about the latest book on dragons that he was reading. Jayden usually didn’t say much—he was like his father in that way, but she’d sensed his need for quiet conversation and reassurance for days. And Cassie clung to her, holding her hand, demanding hugs and kisses before bedtime.Determined to make the transition as easy as possible for the children, Allena realised she needed to spend lots of time with both of them over the ensuing weeks, so they both understood why she was leaving in a way that made them feel safe and loved.As she watched the kids munching on breadsticks, Allena’s logic blurred. She’d always known how hard leaving them wo