All Consuming (Brotherhood by Fire #3) -Jaci Burton Page 0,82
are so happy.”
“I’m sure you are.”
“And Kal and you reconnecting. That was unexpected.”
She knew this was going to come up. “Yes, it was. I was happy he came to the reunion.”
“I know you two didn’t have a good parting when he left for college. He was so upset about that.”
She took a sip of her tea. “Was he?”
“Yes. He carried a lot of guilt over the breakup.”
She shrugged. “We both knew it was the right thing. It just wasn’t easy. But we were both so young. Trying to stay together would have been harder.”
Laurel’s lips curved. “That’s the adult in you, looking back on it now. Ten years ago it wasn’t so clear.”
“No, it wasn’t. I cried a lot over him. And then I made a series of really dumb decisions. Like impulsively deciding to get married and moving out of state.”
Laurel cast a surprised look. “So you’re saying your marriage was a rebound thing?”
She played with the straw. “I don’t know. I’d like to think it was more a case of me wanting to get out of Ft. Lauderdale, away from everyone and everything I knew. Carve out a life on my own, you know? My mom was making all these plans for my future, pushing me to go to college when all I ever wanted to do was become a hair stylist. I was desperate to be free to make my own choices and thought if I could just get away, I could breathe, see clearly, do whatever I wanted. The naivete of youth, you know?”
Laurel nodded. “I can understand that. But you did become a hair stylist.”
“I did. And I love it. And I had Oliver, and I have zero regrets about him.”
“Children are an amazing gift.”
“They sure are.”
Laurel took another sip of her tea. “So now you’re back home. And seeing Kal again.”
“Yes.” She couldn’t help the smile, as if every time she heard his name or thought about him, it made her happy.
And then Laurel sprouted a grin. “My boy put that smile on your face?”
“I can’t help it. He makes me giddy. I think about him all the time.”
“You used to always smile like that around him.”
She sighed. “I know. Some things never change, I guess.”
This was so embarrassing. She really had to learn to control her emotions.
“Hey, when you feel it, you feel it. I have to tell you, it makes me happy knowing the two of you are together again. He seems more settled.”
“Really?” Hearing that from his mother made her feel even happier.
“Yes. He’s been . . . I don’t know the right word to describe it . . . searching? Tense?” She waved her hand back and forth. “Whatever it was that’s made him feel so unsettled the past couple of years has disappeared. I’m guessing that has a lot to do with you.”
She felt her face warm. “Thank you. We’re having a good time together.” She needed to let Laurel know that it wasn’t serious between them. Change tracks in this conversation, because it was heading down a road she didn’t want to go. Not with his mother, anyway. “And Kal has matured so much since we were last together. He has an incredible career and seems to know exactly what he wants out of his life. I admire that about him.”
“As do you. You already know what you want.”
“I guess. Sometimes I feel as if I’ve taken so many steps backward. I’m not exactly where I want to be. Not yet.”
“Where do you want to be?”
“Independent. To know that I can carve out a future for my son and myself—by myself.”
Laurel nodded. “I understand. It’s important for a woman to know she can do it all on her own. To know she doesn’t need anyone’s help. Especially not a man’s help.”
Laurel understood, and Hannah appreciated that.
“Exactly.”
“You’ll get there. I believe in you, Hannah.”
Hannah smiled. “Thank you. Oh, there is one important thing I’d like to discuss with you, if you don’t mind.”
Laurel tilted her head to the side. “Of course.”
“It’s about Kal.”
“I’m listening.”
“You know how he’s always doing things for other people, for the community, but he rarely does anything for himself?”
Laurel’s lips lifted. “Yes.”
“I’d like to do something special for him. You know his birthday is coming up.”
“Yes.”
“I have an idea.”
Laurel smiled. “I’m listening.”
Hannah laid out her thoughts, and between her and Laurel, they came up with a very solid plan. A good plan.
Now all they had to do was set said plan in motion.