“I just need to talk to her.”
She nodded.“I understand.But I know my daughter, and she might need some time before you talk.”
That was the last thing he wanted to hear.He felt as though with every moment that passed, Felicity was getting further away from him.
Sympathy shone in her mother’s eyes.“When I talk to her, I’ll tell her you stopped by.”
He turned and walked away.He couldn’t believe he’d once again lost Felicity.The only difference this time was that he hadn’t gotten down on one knee, and she left without saying a single word to him.
Had he read things wrong with her?Was it possible she didn’t have feelings for him?Was it all a bunch of wishful thinking on his part?
He should have known better.It hadn’t worked out the first time; why did he think it would work out now?The walls around his heart went up.
He entered his apartment, and Sunny greeted him with an excited bark from her crate.When he let her out, he picked her up.She licked his cheek before leaning against his chest and tucking her head beneath his chin, as though hugging him.
“I’m sorry, girl, but you’ll be better off with someone else.”He ignored the pang in his chest as he said the words.
Then he reached for his phone and called Merry.He was done fostering Sunny.He was done putting himself out there.He was going to accept his bachelorhood and get on with life.
Chapter Twenty-Six
She’dmadeadecision.
It was Friday afternoon—Christmas day—when Felicity knocked on her mother’s door.Even though her mother knew she was coming, and she still had a key, she didn’t want to startle her mother.
When the door swung open, her mother stood there in jeans and a white sweater.A smile lifted the corners of her mother’s mouth.“My Christmas wish came true.”When Felicity sent her a puzzled look, her mother said, “All I wanted for Christmas was for you to come back.”
Her mother held out her arms to her.Felicity stepped into her mother’s warm embrace.It had taken them more than two years to get to this point.She never wanted to have that sort of physical and emotional distance from her mother ever again.
Her mother drew her into the apartment.“How are you?”
“It’s like I told you on the phone.I needed some time to think.”
“Can I get you some coffee?”
Felicity nodded.She took off her coat and placed it over the back of a chair in the living room.Then she took a seat at the kitchen island.
“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Her mother filled the water reservoir for the coffeemaker and started brewing a cup of coffee.“You don’t have to apologize to me.You let me know you were okay.But did you let Justin know?”
“I did.I messaged him.I just wasn’t ready to talk to him on the phone.”Felicity sighed as her shoulders drooped.“I know I didn’t handle this well.”
“It seems we have that in common.”When Felicity sent her a puzzled look, her mother said, “I didn’t handle it well when your father died.I never apologized to you.”Her mother leaned on the counter and looked into her eyes.“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you the way I should have been.I’m sorry I didn’t say the right words.”
“Mom, you don’t have to apologize.”
“But I do.”Tears shimmered in her mother’s eyes.“I am your mother.I’m supposed to take care of you, but I failed.”
Tears rushed to Felicity’s eyes.“We both struggled when Dad died.He was the glue that held us together.”She swiped at her eyes.“But I think we’re learning to be our own glue.It has just taken us a bit to figure things out.”
Her mother smiled through her tears.“I bet your father is smiling down at us right now.”
Felicity nodded.“I bet you’re right.”
Her mother turned and got the mug off the coffeemaker.She placed the mug in front of Felicity as well as milk and sweetener packets.“I miss him every day.”
“Mom, it took me a bit, but I think I finally understand why you sold the house.And I want you to know that it’s okay with me.Because I just want you to be happy.”
