He and West got to the water’s edge, the wave spreading up the beach and over their toes.
“It’s hard to see someone you love suffering or in pain. Watching Abby give birth was a rough one for me. I think women are just stronger than us most times.”
“I promise not to admit you said that.”
West laughed. “Appreciate it. But I tell my wife all the time she’s tougher than me. She has to be to put up with my lifestyle and our family.”
“Saylor is going to be fine,” he said. “She’s talked to Talia multiple times now.”
Talia had called to meet Saylor and speak months ago. He appreciated it since Talia was only two years younger than Saylor.
“Mom told me that.”
“I didn’t realize you got so many updates from Mom. Did she tell you to come here?”
“No,” West said. “I wanted to be here for this and wasn’t sure my schedule would allow it. Nelson was planning it anyway and he canceled his flight once I could manage it. Braylon wanted to add his support too.”
“Thanks,” he said. “It’s great to have you all here. I mean that.”
Rowan was used to doing a lot on his own. Nelson or Laken would try to come in to give family support the most, but with his sister in her last trimester of pregnancy, she was benched from flying unless necessary, per her husband. He would have told her no if she even considered it.
The only reason Talia was flying to New York for the wedding a month before she was due was because she’d be on West’s jet and have Jace with her. Jace was an EMT on top of being a fireman and said there was no way in hell she was out of his sight this far along.
He’d only met his brother-in-law twice. Once when he flew to North Carolina to find out what was going on with his sister and her relationship. Then two months later for their wedding.
Jace seemed like a stand-up guy and his sister was in love. That was all he cared about.
He wouldn’t fill his life with worrying about other people’s problems.
It was something he always separated with his time. Until he saw Saylor at the airport.
Then all those things he’d told himself went out the window.
“Mom thinks Saylor is the one,” West said.
“I told you she was. Did you tell her that?”
“I’d never,” West said. “I tried to stop giving advice.”
“But you want to do it now. What?”
“Tell Saylor how you feel. Don’t wait. I did and it caused more issues than it should.”
“I show her how I feel,” he said.
“It’s not always the same thing. My guess, she’s waiting for the words and is just as afraid to say them as you.”
His shoulders dropped. “I hope so.”
“You’re always so worried about upsetting people or causing fights. You need to get over it.”
He’d heard that enough in his life.
“Yeah. We fight very little.”
“Because you give in?” West asked.
“Don’t you give in to Abby?”
