Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,209

wants to avoid the conversation altogether; how do you tell the parent of your deceased husband that you’re going out with another man? It’s an impossible position, and not just for her.

This weight sitting on my chest about my own feelings on the matter clouds everything. Would Travis be okay with this? Am I supposed to find love again, when he’s dead and gone? Should the boys have another man in their lives, when their own father can’t even be here?

Either way, I know I have to try. Presley was right when she said I deserved to be happy.

I just knew I had to clear it with Marion first. For my conscience, which was having the anxiety attack of the century here.

My mother-in-law lets herself in with the key she was given years ago, and both Matthew and Ames scramble up from the couch to give her huge hugs. Travis is upstairs. I just started allowing him open-door laptop time in his room, to afford him some privacy and build trust. It was strange that I’d have a child in the double-digit age bracket soon, and I was kind of panicking about how to deal with it all.

“Thanks for coming over,” I yell from the kitchen, and a couple of seconds later, Marion walks in.

As always, she’s in a cardigan set and beige slacks. Marion is the quintessential grandmother, whereas my own mother could show up in a halter top and the boys wouldn’t think it was strange.

“Oh, no problem, dear. I’m glad to spend time with the boys.” She kisses me on the cheek as I pull a casserole dish from the oven.

“I made that Mexican lasagna you like, so you won’t have to worry about cooking. And Ames had a bath last night, so don’t worry about that. Travis and Matthew did their homework, and by the way, I’m going on a date.”

I drop the last line in there hoping that we’ll glide right over it.

But one look at Marion’s face, and I can tell I’ve almost given her a heart attack.

“Wha …” She trails off.

To her credit, my mother-in-law doesn’t look upset, just genuinely surprised.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you when I asked you to come babysit. But, I thought this was a conversation best had in person.”

We stand in the kitchen, silent and still for a moment, before Marion’s lips tilt up into a bittersweet smile.

“And that is why Travis loved you. You’re a very honest, genuine person, Penelope,” she compliments me, going to sit in one of the white-washed kitchen chairs around my cedar table.

I join her, feeling the heaviness of this moment. This is the only other person on earth who loved Travis as much as I did, and tonight is as big of an occasion for me as it is for her.

She takes my hand in her weathered one. “I knew this day would come, eventually. I have to be honest and tell you that I’ve dreaded it, but now that it’s here, I’m almost a little relieved.”

Blowing out a breath, I have to look away from her. “I’m not. I’m terrified. And feel guilty. Almost as if I’m betraying him.”

Marion tuts. “Dear girl, don’t say that. You loved my son fiercely during the years he was alive. You gave him three healthy boys, held down the household while he went to war. They say a soldier makes the greatest sacrifice for his country, but I could argue that a soldier’s wife makes just as big of one. You did your duty, Penelope. You grieved for far longer than I actually thought you would … and whoever this man is, he must be very special to warrant you taking this leap.”

I hadn’t thought about it that way, but now that she said it, I guess it was true. I saw Forrest in a different light than I saw other men. Not the same as Travis, but we have that similar kind of spark that intrigued me.

“Are you mad?” I ask, feeling like a girl who’s just been caught doing something she shouldn’t be.

Marion looks at me, smiling sadly. “I miss my son. I will always wonder what he would have been like with the boys, now that they’re older. I get sad seeing his family without him, and my heart aches for losing him at such a young age. But mad at you? Never, Penelope. You deserve to be happy, too.”

The cloud that has been hanging over my features all day clears, but