understand, her husband...drinks too much.” Mrs. Hudson looked sad and contemplative. “Athena asked me to tell you where she was.”
“Me?” he asked, jumping on that as a sign that maybe he was more. “She asked you to tell me specifically?”
“I’m sorry. Everyone here. She asked me to tell everyone here where she was.”
“Oh.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to get your hopes up. She just seemed to think it was a big emergency. And I’m a little worried about her friend.”
“Did she mention her friend’s name?”
“I believe she said her name was Nicole? I think that’s what she said.”
Preston’s heart sank. He’d been around when Athena’s friends had been in and out, and he distinctly remembered Nicole.
She’d been married to an alcoholic.
Because of his own problems, it struck him. Not enough to get him to change course. But he’d seen the disdain and dislike Athena had for her friend’s husband, and the lack of respect. Andrew had said that more than once, she was worried that Nicole’s life was in danger.
“Was she taking her friend to the hospital?” he asked.
Mrs. Hudson’s eyes scrunched up. “I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure she was just picking her up. I think she might be bringing her here. But I don’t know for sure. I’m not sure Athena did.”
Preston nodded. “Thank you.”
He thought Mrs. Hudson would walk over and join the groups of people, but she walked toward him instead and placed a hand on his arm.
“She is very fond of you.”
Her words made his heart race.
“I’m more than fond of her, I’m afraid.”
“I think it’s because of Nicole, and maybe another friend or two like her, that makes Athena afraid to be more than fond.”
“I understand that. I can even respect and agree with that. She’d be taking a chance on me.” Even without the alcohol, she’d have been taking a chance on him. He’d always been a daredevil, unafraid, even eager, to take risks.
“She would.” Mrs. Hudson narrowed her eyes though, and in a gaze that just seemed to see into his very soul, she looked at him. Then she smiled softly. “I think it would be a chance worth taking. I don’t think she would regret it.”
“I’d do my best to make sure she didn’t.”
“I can see that.” Mrs. Hudson nodded thoughtfully. “You’re a good man. And I believe you’d be good for Athena.”
“She deserves a good man.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. That’s what you are.” Mrs. Hudson said that with such assurance he almost believed her. She seemed to indicate that she thought he was good enough for Athena.
He hadn’t even come to that conclusion. In fact, he would think Athena was settling if she ended up with him.
“It’s not an easy thing to go through what you’ve been through. And it’s not an easy thing at all to overcome an addiction. Especially walking completely away from it. She must mean an awful lot to you, if you’re willing to do that for her.”
He couldn’t let Mrs. Hudson think a lie. “It was probably knowing that I had a son that was the instigation for me to make the change I needed to make.”
Mrs. Hudson nodded. “I see. Even more to admire. But,” she said, and her serious look melted slightly away as she smiled a little. “I think Athena had something to do with that as well.”
He didn’t have to think about it for more than two seconds before he nodded. “I’m sure you’re right. I maybe didn’t give up drinking for her, but I want her to see what I did and be...” He wasn’t sure what he wanted from her.
“Proud of you?” Mrs. Hudson supplied. “Or to love you more for it?”
“Both. Maybe more.”
“I think that’s enough feelings talk for now.”
“That’s enough feelings talk for the rest of my life.”
“Speaking of, where’s Liam?”
“He’s playing with your grandkids in the activity room.”
“I’m glad he’s made some friends.”
“Yeah. He likes it here.”
“Are you staying in Cowboy Crossing?”
He thought about what his dad had offered him and what he’d always thought he was going to do with his life until it got interrupted. He had to give an honest answer. “I don’t know.”
It wasn’t too long after when Chandler Hudson announced, “Turn the lights off. Gather the children. They’re three minutes out.”
The kids came running from the activity room, and Liam stood with them in a group while Preston stood in the back. In the dark. Wishing Athena was there.
Andrew was duly surprised when he walked in, and everyone yelled “happy birthday”