that Mason knows, where do we go from here?”
She finished her sip then rested her wineglass on her thigh before setting her hard stare on him. “I suppose that’s the question, isn’t it?”
He gave a slow nod.
“Well, is living here in River Rock out of the question?” she asked with a laugh, obviously joking.
“No, it’s not,” he said, dead serious. Her laughter died, and he reached for her hand, sliding the strength of his along her delicate fingers. “Since I’ve come back, I feel happier than I’ve felt in a long time. Today, well, today was amazing.” And finally saying what had been lying between them, he asked, “Aren’t you feeling that same way?”
She glanced down to their entwined hands. “I am happy.” When her eyes lifted, there was unrelenting sadness there. “But I also can’t live in this happy bubble where I only think of myself. Yes, things have been amazing. Yes, I’ve dreamed of having this with us and with having you in our lives. But you don’t live in River Rock, Sullivan. And I know, while you’re doing a lot to help yourself, that living here is not something you want.”
He processed that. “What if what I wanted before has changed now?”
Her eyes searched his. “Then, you can change your mind, but…” Her long pause spoke of remaining pain. “I can’t make that decision with you. Not this time. I…” Her voice hitched as she slowly shook her head. “I can’t go through all that again. So, while I will continue to protect Mason’s best interests, I also know you’re good for him. Having a daddy is important, and it makes me happy you’re in his life. But, as for us, anything beyond saying goodbye at the end of your suspension, is just not in my capabilities right now.”
And that was maybe the saddest part of all. Sullivan had made mistakes. Big ones. But none more terrible than what he’d done to her heart. “I understand.”
She squeezed his fingers, and as she did with everyone, she attempted to make him feel better about it all. “I need this time together as much as you do. I appreciate every second of it, but in all this, I can only think of Mason. I feel like we’re in a really good place. We can’t screw that up by going too deep and drowning again.”
“Then, we’ll stay afloat,” he promised. Mason was at the top of his list of priorities, but so was Clara, and now he knew a hard truth. He wasn’t doing enough to heal her heart. Not even close. And that needed to change.
9
A couple of days later, after dropping Mason off at school, Clara returned home to focus on the brewery. She’d never sent the counteroffers she’d drawn up, and the distributors were checking in to see if she’d made a decision, as was her lawyer. But Clara remained hesitant to send anything in yet, so she delayed by saying she needed more time to review the contracts. Her demands were high, and she needed to be sure she wasn’t asking for too much and they’d all walk away. She was well into responding to emails when she received a text from Sullivan: Can you make it out to Coors Field this morning?
She fired off her response: Are you going to tell me why I need to go there?
You’ll see when you get here. Can we meet in an hour? If possible, bring your sisters.
Confused but growing curious, she responded: Make it an hour and a bit. I need to wrangle them up.
Perfect. See you soon.
She sent quick texts to Maisie and Amelia, asking if they could join her, which they agreed to after sending many questions. Questions that didn’t last long when, on the drive into Denver, Clara filled her sisters in on Sullivan and Mason’s talk last night.
“Kids are smarter than people give them credit for,” Clara said after she’d caught them up and they’d arrived at Coors Field. Located only two blocks from Union Station, the Coors Field building was designed to impress with its curved front architecture and clock tower. Once she parked, she stepped out into the cloudy day and shut the car door behind her, finding the parking lot empty and Sullivan’s truck nowhere in sight. “Mason’s young,” she told her sisters. “He doesn’t really understand why Sullivan hasn’t been there this whole time. He’s only happy that he now has a dad and that his dad plays professional baseball.