“But you haven’t really talked to me in months! I thought… I thought we were making progress until Ben showed up and then…” I couldn’t say anything more. I wanted her to fill in the blanks.
She let out a pained chuckle. “I stayed away for Ben, not because of Ben. He seemed like such a wonderful man and just like with Grady, I could see how much he meant to you. I didn’t want to scare him away from you. I didn’t want him to be hesitant about a relationship because every time he came around, the mother of his girlfriend’s dead husband was there. I thought I was doing you a favor.”
I laughed through my tears as relief flooded me. I could never have anticipated that answer. Katherine was such a surprise. It was a shame I didn’t find this out before Grady passed away.
“Ben isn’t like that,” I assured her. “He… he isn’t afraid to be reminded of Grady. He isn’t intimidated by my grief. He somehow manages to help me deal with the pain and add more to my life than I deserve.”
“No, Sweetie…” She squeezed my hand, letting me know how serious she was. “You deserve all of the happiness you can find. That includes Ben. If you think you’re ready for something with him, then I think you should go for it. Go as far and fast as you want to. Your happily ever after is far from over.”
I blushed, realizing how much of my speech she had heard. “Thank you, Katherine.”
“No, Liz, thank you. Thank you for keeping me in your lives and bringing such joy to mine. It makes me so very proud of my son to know that he could find such a treasure.”
We sat there for another hour, talking about Grady and remembering little things he had said or did. We probably looked ridiculous sitting on the stiff grass, crying our eyes out. But we didn’t notice anyone else. It was just Katherine, me and Grady’s memory.
His ghost had drifted away and I was left with only the warm memories of a man I loved.
By the time we parted ways, I had a smile across my face and hope in my heart. I had also made a decision.
Ben was right. I didn’t have to give Grady up to be with him. I just had to be with Ben and trust that my love for both of them only made my life better.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I didn’t have to wait long to see Ben again. He came over that evening after he got home from work just like he’d said he would.
I was a little more put together than the last night. I had a plan for dinner, there were no surprise homework projects and Emma had stayed long enough for me to get a shower. My hair was fixed, I had makeup on and my kids were mostly taken care of.
He knocked politely and Abby ran to let him in. I forced myself to wait in the kitchen for him. I wanted to talk to him, but I didn’t want to do it in front of the kids.
We had things to say that they didn’t need to hear.
Still, I had softened to him so much that I couldn’t help but smile at him when he appeared in front of me.
He walked straight up to the counter where I stood chopping vegetables and greeted me first. I smiled at him, noticing that he had shaved and his clothes were more put together today.
He smiled back and said, “Hey.”
“Hey. Want to stay for dinner again?”
He tilted his head to the side and tried to figure me out. Good luck, buddy.
“Am I invited?”
I looked back down at my chopped carrots, “I just invited you.”
“Well, then I guess it depends on what we’re having.”
“Chicken pot pie.”
“Sounds better than takeout.”
“Depends.What kind of takeout?”
He frowned, “China Garden.”
I made a face. “I don’t know if it competes with China Garden. They have egg rolls.”
He set his elbows on the counter and stole a slice of carrot. “That’s true,” he conceded. “But you have math homework and chocolate milk.”
