Jaci Burton - Straddling the Line

“I’m glad you did. But I thought she was coming out of it, that she was through the worst of it.”

Ginger nodded. “I think she wanted to walk into her house and see that nothing had changed. It’s bad enough her daddy isn’t here anymore. And now everything else is different, including me.”

Trevor felt the need to defend Ginger. “You have a right to move on with your life.”

“I know that, and you know that. But I don’t think she understands just yet that Bill is, was, and always will be the great love of my life. And whether my weight or my occupation changes, how I feel about him never will.”

She pushed back from the chair. “I need to go talk to her.”

Trevor stood. “I’ll go with you.”

She laid her hand on his chest. “No, honey. This one I have to do alone. I’ll bring her back with me.”

Trevor watched Ginger grab her keys and walk out the door, wishing there was something he could do to help.

But Ginger was probably right. This conversation had to be between mother and daughter. And he couldn’t intervene.

He’d never felt more helpless.

HAVEN SAT ON THE CEMENT BENCH THEY’D ERECTED in front of her father’s grave, staring at the headstone marked with his name, his dates of birth and death, and the words Husband, Father, Friend To So Many etched on his tombstone.

She swiped at the tears, knowing how her dad would tell her not to cry over him.

“I’m sorry, Daddy. I know you’d be mad at me for the things I said to Mom. But it’s like she’s forgotten you. She’s got this whole new life now. It’s like she’s moved on, and I can’t seem to do that. I guess I’m not as strong. I need your help.”

She shuddered as she inhaled, wishing like anything she could feel her dad’s big strong arms around her right now. Just one more time.

“Remember when we’d sit in the living room and watch football together? Remember the popcorn fights? Mom would get so mad at us about that.”

“That’s because I’d have to do all the vacuuming, and a week later I’d still find popcorn kernels.”

She half turned to find her mother standing just behind her. She came and sat on the bench next to her.

“I’m sorry for what I said to you. It was rude and unforgivable,” Haven said.

Her mother put her arm around her. “You have no need to apologize. You were always taught to say what was on your mind.”

“Not like that. It was disrespectful. Please forgive me.”

“You’re forgiven. I know what I’m doing must seem to you like I’ve moved on from your father, when nothing could be further from the truth, Haven.” Her mother stared at the headstone, and Haven saw tears shimmer in her eyes. “God, I loved that man with all my heart and soul. There will never be a love in my life like him. He was the first, the last, and everything to me.”

Haven sniffled, and then she realized that her mother had buried the love of her life. It had been utterly and completely cruel of her to throw those words at her mother. Haven had lost her father, but her mother had lost the man she had loved for more than thirty-three years. She took her mother’s hand and squeezed it.

“But your father made me promise that I wouldn’t stop living, that I’d continue to follow my dreams. And I did promise him that. When the school told me about the dorm parent situation, I figured I’d make good on that promise and go back to school—back to teaching again. I’d gotten a little complacent. And if I sit in that house and wallow about losing your father, I’ll lose myself as well, Haven. I can’t do that. I have to keep living. Not just for you, but for myself. And for your dad.”

Haven nodded. “I know you do.”

Her mother turned to her. “And so do you. Your father would be so disappointed in you if you allowed your world to stop because he died.”

Haven inhaled on a sob. “I know he would. But I miss him so much.”

“We still have each other. For as long as I’m alive, we’ll still have each other. But you have to go out and find your life, my sweet baby girl. Promise me you’ll do that.”

Her mother wrapped her up in her arms. And just like that, she felt the warmth of love surrounding her. It was as if for that moment, she felt her dad’s presence there, as well. Maybe it was just her imagination, or wishful thinking, but a sense of well-being enveloped her.

“I will. I promise, Mom. Things will be better now. For both of us.”

She looked at her dad’s headstone, and for the first time since he died, she was able to think about the future without that future feeling empty.

Okay, Dad. For you. For Mom. It’s time for all of us to move on.

TREVOR PUT AWAY THE LEFTOVER STEW AND DID THE dishes, and even made another pitcher of tea, needing to keep his hands and his mind occupied while he waited for Haven and her mom to get back. When he heard the car doors, he wiped his hands on the dish towel and pulled out clean glasses in case they wanted a drink.

Haven was the first to show up in the kitchen.

She arched a brow. “You did dishes?”

“Yeah. Are you still hungry?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“How about some tea? I made more of that.”

“Aren’t you all domestic. I’d love a glass of tea.”

He poured her a glass and handed it to her. “Where’s your mom?”

“She went upstairs.”

“Are you okay? Are the two of you okay?”

“We’re good now. Thanks.”

He took a seat next to her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

She took a couple of swallows of tea. “Not particularly, other than to apologize to you as well. I wasn’t my best today, but things are going to be better now.”

She didn’t owe him any explanation. That was between her and her mother. “You don’t have to apologize to me, Haven. I told you before that you’re allowed to feel however you feel.”

“Thanks for that. But I was rude, especially to my mom.”

“You settled that, though, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, then. Nothing more to talk about.”

She took a deep breath. “I thought we might go for a walk, if that’s all right with you.”

He nodded. “Sure.”

She grabbed her zip-up hoodie and he pulled on his sweatshirt before they stepped outside.

Trevor felt the chill in the air, even through his sweatshirt. It made him think of football. Crave it. He wanted to be in Tampa, with his team. Much as he’d hated losing to Atlanta, to be shut out of postseason baseball, he had to switch his mind-set.

Tampa had already played three games without him. He had to get his ass in gear and his body ready for football. He was already in shape, but football was a different game.

“You’re quiet,” Haven said.

“Thinking about football.”

Her lips curved. “Already making the switch mentally?”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re ready to play.”

He shifted his focus to her. Her eyes were red rimmed and swollen. Time to shut off thoughts of himself and his game. “I’m ready to play. How about you?”

“What about me?”

“How do you feel?”

They’d arrived at a public park just outside campus, so he took her hand and led her to one of the picnic benches. They sat on top of the bench.

“I feel fine now. I went to the cemetery. I talked to my mom, and I know this sounds silly, but I also talked to my dad. Everything feels clearer to me.”

“Good.”

“I guess I was stuck in the past and I didn’t want anything to change. I didn’t want my dad to have died.” She looked over at him. “I’ve been in denial, refusing to face a life without him.”

He swept her hair away from her face. “It’s been hard for you.”

“Yeah, it has been. And that I can face now. It’s been hard. It probably always will be. I think that’s what was so hard about seeing my mom tonight. She was moving forward, and it appeared to be so easy for her.”

“It’s not easy for her, Haven. You have to realize that.”

“I do now. It was petty and childish of me to say those things to her, to accuse her of not mourning my father. She loved him. With everything she had, she loved him every day they were together. She still does.”

He nodded and scooted closer to her. “You both did. He was a very lucky man to have both of you.”

“He had so many people who loved him. You, all the guys.”

“Yeah, we did. It was hard losing the postseason and not getting that phone call from him telling me everything was going to be okay. I miss him, too.”

“I know you do. He left a legacy, Trevor. People will remember him.”

Her voice was stronger now, her eyes clearer.

“Of course we will. I couldn’t have survived college without him. He was more like a father to me than my father ever was.”

“Thanks for that. It means a lot to me to hear it.”

“It’s the truth.”

“I guess it was just hard for me to let go of his memory.”

He tilted her face to his. “You never have to do that. Don’t even try. You just have to let go of the pain.”

She nodded. “You’re right.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. For a while, they just sat there side by side, his arm around her in the dark. A few students walked by, no doubt heading back and forth to the nearby library, which was open all night.

God, he sure as hell didn’t miss college, at least not the academic part. That had been hell for him. He missed playing, though.

Haven shivered next to him.

“Ready to head back? It’s getting cold out here,” he said.

“Okay.”

He slid off the table, then grasped Haven around the waist, pulling her into his arms. She nestled against him, then wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. She tilted her head back and looked up at him.