“I came by care transit, and I’m sitting with the committee members.”She nodded toward a table.“I saw Lance earlier.He asked about you.”
“Did he?”Raven asked, determined not to show how much this piece of information moved her.
“Don’t play coy with me.I’m too old for games.”Betty accepted her wine and fixed Raven with a sharp look.“Are you two going to sort yourselves out, or am I going to have to intervene?”
“There’s nothing to sort out.We’re just backing off.Slowing things down.”
“Mm-hm.And how’s that working for you?”
Raven thought about the past few weeks.She missed his quick laugh, his calm demeanor, his steadfastness—so much that she still reached for her telephone to share daily observations before remembering that Wren was her priority right now and she was the one who had insisted she needed space.
“It’s fine.”
“Liar.”
“Hey!”Raven protested, before she saw the softening of Betty’s gaze.
“You know, Raven, I’ve watched my nephew fall in love before, watched him get hurt before.I could tell his relationship with his ex-wife was a disaster waiting to happen.”
“Love?”She shook her head as though to dislodge the idea.“We’ve only been dating a few weeks.”
Betty sipped her wine.“He’s been different since you came along.Happier.More himself.I don’t know what spooked you, but I hope you’re not going to throw away what you two have just because you’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.I’m being practical.Wren needs me, and I can’t be there for her and for Lance at the same time.She needs my full attention.”
“Does she?Are you sure that’s true?”
Raven opened her mouth to respond, then closed it, her gaze returning to where her daughter was sitting with friends, laughing, enjoying herself.Was it true that Wren needed Raven’s full, undivided attention?It had been true for many years, but Wren was no longer a child.She had lived on her own, held down a job, paid rent.
And it wasn’t like Lance had ever given her an ultimatum or made her choose.All he’d asked was to get closer, to get to know her better.And what had she given him in return?
Distance.Rejection.She wouldn’t blame him if he rejected her in return.
“He’s here,” Betty said, nodding toward the far side of the room.“In case you were wondering.”
Raven scanned the room and found him quickly.He wore a casual jacket and his signature blue jeans—these ones a little dressier than normal.He was standing near a group of people, listening to the conversation, but a moment later he turned in her direction.
Their eyes met, and the space between them seemed to lessen.He smiled and set his glass on a nearby table.
“Go talk to him,” Betty said.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“How about ‘I’m sorry I pushed you away’ and ‘I’d like to try again’?That seems like a good start.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It’s exactly that simple.You’re the one making it complicated.”Betty patted her arm.“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I see someone I need to corner about a donation.”
Raven didn’t move, just continued to watch Lance.
“Go,” said Betty.“Life is too short to put things off.”She wheeled away, leaving Raven alone to ponder her next move.She knew the ball was in her court.
She had pushed him away.She would have to be the one to go to him.
On the dance floor, she spotted Sarah and Simon, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her waist.They were moving like they had danced together for years.Oblivious to those around them and looking completely happy.
That could be her and Lance.If she’d let it.
