Chapter 6 #2
"Most of them."
I lean my head back against the rest and swipe my good hand over my mouth.
The bristles feel odd against my fingers.
I'm not used to having a beard since firefighters have to be clean shaven for the respirator to fit properly.
"Do I need to find someone else to stay with the girls?
" I leave me out of the equation. My girls are the important ones here.
Maybe she'd agreed because of me needing care, but when it boils down to it? I have to know they're okay.
"What? Why would you do that?"
"Why would I find someone else?" I ask her, sliding her a reproachful glance. "You're really asking that?"
"Fine," she said, emphasizing the word. "I'll clear things up with Bronwyn as soon as we get back and settled."
"Good. But seriously—why didn't you tell her? Why wait?"
"I don't know," she says, gaze shifting everywhere except in the rear-view mirror where I'm watching her.
I glance over my shoulder and see that Dani is zoned out with her headset watching something on her iPad.
"I guess because when I got back to Bronwyn's last night, it was late, and Gabe was still there, and—it was awkward."
"I'd think it'll be more awkward now," I say. "Since I told Gabe your plan."
"I hope not," she mutters. "I guess I waited because—I don't want Bronwyn to think I'm upset about her relationship with Gabe or that this has anything to do with that."
That had me taking another look across the interior. "Does it? Do you have a problem with them?"
"No. I don't," she stresses, glancing into the mirror before focusing on the road. "She deserves to be happy. But it is awkward seeing as how I'm Jason's sister, and while I certainly don't begrudge her joy…"
"You're sad that it's not with your brother," I finish.
"Of course. It's complicated, you know? She and Jace—they were rocky," she says.
"I probably shouldn't tell you this, but before Jason got sick, Bronwyn had gone to see an attorney.
She'd even had divorce papers drawn up. But the day she picked them up—literally that same day—Jace got the news he was sick. "
"Wow," I say, unable to say anything else. I can't imagine being in that situation.
"Exactly. Bronwyn stayed. She didn't give him the papers. Didn't even bring it up. Not at all."
"She told you this?"
"No, Jason did. He stumbled upon them hidden away, but by then several years had passed, and it was… He was terminal, and it was near the end. And the entire time, Bronwyn had been nothing but a loving, caring wife and caretaker. Had he not found the papers, he never would've known."
I can't help it. My thoughts go to a dark place as I wonder if Bronwyn only stayed for the money she wound up inheriting. I didn't know her well, but it didn't fit what I knew of her. Still…
"I know what you're thinking," Lindsey says next, drawing my attention back to her.
"And the answer's no. Bronwyn isn't like that.
She would've stayed regardless. And the divorce papers actually listed her as being at fault for changing her mind about children.
Besides, I'm not even sure she knew how much insurance Jason had taken out on himself.
He could've changed his will. Could've divorced her to cut her out of things.
It was near the end, but he was completely lucid.
He could've done any of those things, but he didn't. We've known Bronwyn our entire lives, and he was right to leave her the money.
I mean, she's honoring him even now with how she moved to Carolina Cove and the bookstore and his books, you know? "
I'd heard a little about that from Gabe. How it had been a dream of Bronwyn's husband to settle down here and how the man had ordered her to tackle their dream on her own. "You admire her."
Lindsey nods and slows for yet another red light.
"I do. She's one of the best people I know."
I hear something in her tone. Something…off. "You're a good person too, Lindsey." I see her grip tighten on the wheel and the tapping stops entirely.
The music fades into the noise of passing cars and horns and motors, and Lindsey is lost to her thoughts. And I watch. Wait. Trying to pick up on whatever it is making her so pensive.
"Am I?" she asks softly. "Because all I know is that I'm not sure I could've done what Bronwyn did. I mean, it's not like she shared a child with my brother, you know? And yet right now, if my—if my baby's daddy called up with a sob story, I wouldn't answer."
"That's because you've seen his true colors and know he wouldn't do the same for you. He's already hurt you and shown you who he is. But like you said, Bronwyn and Jason had a better relationship that spanned decades from the sound of it, so the two situations aren't really comparable."
"Maybe," she muses. "I suppose lifelong friendship has a way of changing things."
"So why didn't you tell her you're moving in with me?" I'm not so medicated that I don't realize she hasn't told me why but sidetracked the question down a different path.
"Because maybe…maybe I'm afraid she'll judge me. I mean, I don't have the best track record. I jumped into the thing with my—the baby's father. Look what happened there. Now I'm moving in with a stranger."
"You don't think she'll be supportive?"
"I think," she says in a determined tone, "that I need to do this on my own, like I said. It's my life and my mess, and—I have to be the one to figure it out. Hopefully before the baby comes."
She sounds certain. The problem?
Nothing about this arrangement feels simple.