He nodded. “I hate to admit it, but Grant is right. The change will be good for me and force me to stop living with memories.”
“Memories aren’t bad.”
“In and of themselves, no, but when they prevent you from living in the present, they become a problem.” He rubbed his jaw. “I was afraid that moving forward would invalidate the time I shared with Crystal. I clung tightly to the memories as though that would keep her with me, but she’s gone, and nothing will change that. It stinks, but I accept that now.”
“That’s a very wise and self-aware observation.”
“Every now and then I surprise even myself,” he joked to lighten the mood. “How about you? Have you stood strong in your resolve against Daniel?”
“I have. I thought a lot about what you said, and I had a realization. As much as Daniel hurt me with his cheating, God used that to finally end the relationship.”
“Astute observation.”
“Know what else I never noticed? One of his ears is substantially larger than the other. What if we’d had kids and their ears were imbalanced?”
He burst into laughter. “I’m sure you would love those children just as much as if their ears were symmetrical.”
A pink blush dotted her cheeks. “That came out so wrong. I didn’t mean for it to sound superficial. I only meant that when we’re in love, or think we are, we’re blind to the person’s faults, but that’s not a healthy attitude. Everybody has flaws, and love isn’t ignoring those flaws but loving that person in spite of their flaws.”
“You’re going to be all right.”
His praise won him a smile. “Thank you.”
They were next in line. “What do you want? My treat.”
She took a second to read the menu. “A cinnamon hazelnut latte.”
“Coming right up.” When their turn came, he ordered Cece’s latte and a drip coffee for himself.
“Where should we go?” Cece blew on her drink once it was delivered over the counter.
“I have a suggestion if you promise not to laugh.”
“Which means I probably will.” She smiled back at him. “What is it? I promise I’ll try not to.”
“There is a nutcracker museum. I always associated them with Germany, but I found out Finlovian nutcrackers are extremely popular in Europe also.” He braced himself for her laughter.
“Why would I laugh at that? Nutcrackers are amazing.” A wistful expression filled her eyes. “My father collected them. Every year at Christmas, my brother and I would play with them when he brought them out for the season, and then we’d get fussed at because they weren’t for play.”
James lifted the cup of black coffee to his mouth. After drinking mainly tea this week, the hot, caffeine filled liquid was exactly what he wanted. “That’s the first I’ve heard you mention your family.”
They left the café, walking in the direction of more shops. Cece didn’t acknowledge his comment, and he worried he’d touch on a sore subject.
Cece kicked a stone out of their path. After they’d passed three stores, she spoke. “My family situation is complicated. Dad passed away suddenly five years ago. My brother didn’t deal well with the loss and turned to drugs. He lost his job, then his wife. Mom let him move in with her, but all that’s accomplished is enabling him to continue his habits. She’s so afraid of pushing him away and losing him also that she won’t say anything.”
Of all she could have told him, he didn’t expect that. “I’m sorry.”
“It is what it is. I love my mom, but Drake, my brother, takes advantage of her. I have a suspicion he’s also skimming money from her, but without access to her financials, I can’t prove anything.”
“Have you spoken to your mom about the situation?” he asked carefully.
“Many times, and she always has an excuse for him. That or she denies there’s even a problem.” The breath she blew out caused a stray hair to flutter. “She doesn’t seem to understand that she could lose him permanently through death if he doesn’t stop. Or maybe she does and that’s where denial comes into play.”
“Family dynamics are complicated enough, let alone add addiction to the mix.”
“Tell me about it. My heart breaks for my brother. He was such an amazing guy growing up. I never would have thought he’d be an addict. I’ve tried getting help for him, but he’s not ready to change yet.” She took a deep breath, held it a second before releasing it. “I call every day, and I try my best to stop over once a week and check on her, but there’s a strain now that never existed before Dad died.”
“I’ll pray for each of you, if you don’t mind.”
