“Don’t worry on my behalf, though I appreciate the look on your face, Dylan. Ididtrain him.” Amelia’s eyes crinkled. “With a frying pan.”
“Youhithim?” Rae sounded appalled.
“No, hon, but I would have if I’d had to, to make my point and then repented of it later. As it was, I didn’t have to because he learned real quick not to hit me.” Amelia’s gaze turned steely. “All I had to do was show him my frying pan and remind him he’d have to sleep some time.” She heaved out a sigh. “It wasn’t a very Christlike thing to do. I should have left him, which I did after six months. And I vowed I’d never put up with a man treating me like that again. I’d known Micah in school. As soon as my divorce was final, he stepped into my life, and I’ve never looked back. He’s a great man and a wonderful father. We had a lot in common. There are so many things that have to fit in a marriage. It’s a lot of hard work, like having kids, but it can be one of the most fulfilling things you'll ever experience in your life.”
Rae nodded, and Dylan felt a twinge of jealousy. He’d never had anything like that, but she’d had it with Mike. Dylan wanted to share it with her.
“Since you know Ihaveexperienced it, you know why I’m not looking for a relationship. No man should have to compete with my memories of Mike,” Rae said. “It wouldn’t be fair to him.”
Dylan had wondered about that very thing, but hearing it verbalized made him shift uncomfortably in his seat.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself now,” Amelia said. “What we’re looking at issocializing, and I don’t mean going out with the girls from the office or coming to my house for Sunday dinner. Girlfriends are awesome, and we love doing things with them, but they aren’t men.”
“Duh,” Dylan said with a chuckle.
“Don’t you get cheeky with me, young man. You know what I mean. Spending time with members of the opposite sex is fun.”
“It is,” he agreed, glancing at Rae.
“But I have that with Dylan,” Rae said.
“Yes, you do,” Amelia said with a wink, “but you need to broaden your friend pool.”
“Thanks,” he said with a flat tone.
“The same goes for you.” Amelia pointed to their computers. “Now get busy answering all those questions.”
3
When Amelia had gone, and it was only the two of them typing away at their questionnaires, Dylan wanted to ask Rae how she felt about what they were getting involved in. It was fun watching how thoughtful her expression turned as she considered some of the questions, twisting a strand of her long brown hair around a finger.
“This is harder than my final exam,” he said. “It’s like they want me to reach deep inside for the answers. That’s not the kind of introspection I normally do.”
“Same here. When I was growing up, I was taught not to speak too highly of myself, or people would think I was conceited. It was like the ultimate bad thing. I don’t know if that’s why it’s so much easier to name my faults than my virtues. But if all I do is point those out, I’ll come across as a total loser.” Rae rubbed her temples.
“I’ve noticed you’re way too hard on yourself.” Dylan started to massage her tight neck muscles, wishing he didn’t have to pretend the intimacy wasn’t more than friendly.
“You always know exactly where the tension’s the worst.” She almost purred. “I don’t know if having such critical self-talk is just me or me being a girl.”
Dylan hadn’t really thought about it before, but then his mind went to Jayden’s mother.
“My sister’s like that,” he said. “After so many years of being belittled by our father, I’ve never been able to convince her she’s good enough.”
He’d often wondered how much their father’s constant disapproval had contributed to Nora’s addiction. She’d been in and out of rehab so much that at Christmas their wealthy father had refused to pay for it anymore. Now, Dylan didn’t know where she was. Nora hadn’t made any effort to see Jayden since January. The saddest part was the little dude rarely asked about her anymore.
“You’re quiet all of a sudden,” Rae said softly, and Dylan gave her neck muscles one more squeeze before dropping his hands.
“Just thinking of Nora.”
“I’m sorry,” Rae said. “I know you’re worried about her.”
“And Jayden. I’m afraid he’s going to forget her.”
“Then don’t let him.” She shifted in her seat to face him and covered his hand. Could she not feel the attraction thrumming where their skin touched?
“How?”
“Go through any photo albums you have. Don’t avoid talking to him about her. I mention Mike to the kids all the time.”
