“True.” He rubbed the scruff on his jaw, a tell that revealed when he was about to say something uncomfortable for him. “I also never threatened any of your boyfriends about behaving themselves. Or . . .”
She stared at him. “Are you blushing?”
“Jesus.” He swiped a hand across his face. “Yes, apparently. I’m trying to say that we never had . . . the talk. You know, about being safe. And protected.”
Hannah gaped at him. “No need to have the birds-and-bees talk at this point. Dad, that ship sailed a long time ago.”
He smiled sheepishly and nearly sagged with relief. “Thank god, because to be honest, I think I’ve forgotten more than I remember.”
She laughed. “You almost just scarred the both of us for life.”
With a chuckle, he shook his head. “Yeah, thanks for stopping me.” His smile faded and his gaze searched hers. “So . . . we’re okay?”
She hugged him again. “We’re okay.”
“Good.” He nodded. “So now you can go do whatever it is that you need to.”
“With work or with James?”
“Well, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I hope you work things out with James, but I’m not going to interfere.”
She drew a deep breath. “I don’t think we can work things out.”
He scowled. “What are you talking about? It’s obvious to anyone with eyes in their head that you two love each other. You’ve always loved each other.”
She smiled sadly. “Yes, but we both know that love isn’t always enough.”
He let out a ragged breath. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry Mom hurt you,” she said quietly.
“No, I can’t let you put it all on her. I hurt her plenty too, and frankly, I waited way too long to fix my wrongs. I got what I deserved.” He shook his shaggy head. “I screwed up my happy ending, but you don’t have to do the same.” He gave her a tight smile. “I’d tell you to learn from your old man, but the truth is, we all have to make our own mistakes.”
“Well, don’t you worry, I’ve made plenty,” she quipped. “Recently . . . Dad . . . I’m worried about leaving you here alone on Christmas . . .”
“I’m not alone. Sally’s here. James too, and soon his parents. I said I wanted you to do what you need to, and I meant it.”
She kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”
“We’ll hit land within two hours, so you should probably go pack.”
Hannah nodded and started to walk away, but then she turned back. “Dad?
“Yeah, Smalls?”
She smiled. “Whenever you do get back on that bike, if you need the talk, I’ll be there for you.”
He was laughing when she walked away this time. She was smiling too, even though her heart hurt like hell.
Chapter Thirteen
JAMES STOOD at the top of the passerelle beside the moored Therapist. They were in the port of San Juan in Puerto Rico, and he was watching out for his parents when he finally saw them coming down the main dock toward him.
His heart, trampled on and hurting, still managed to clutch at seeing the joy on their faces at the sight of him. His mom got him in a tight hug, squeezing the air from his lungs, holding on when he tried to pull away. Finally, with a small laugh, he gave in, letting her hug him half to death.
“He’s turning purple,” his dad said.
His mom pulled back and kissed James on both cheeks, then narrowed her eyes and frowned. “What’s wrong?” She noticed the duffel bag at his feet and her frown deepened.
James hugged his dad and then looked at both his parents. “I’m sorry, but I’m not staying.”
“Susan, talk to your son.”
His mom didn’t take her eyes off James. “How about we let him talk instead?”
“There’s no talking on vacation,” his dad said.
James’s mom turned to look at her husband. “Honey, you have avoided this as long as possible. It’s not fair.”
His dad sighed heavily. “Yeah.” He turned to James. “Okay, let’s sit.”
They boarded and sat on the deck beneath a warm sun, surrounded by the bustle of the harbor around them. His parents looked at him, his mom worried, his dad . . . resigned.
“I know this is going to sound sudden,” James said. “But please know I’ve given this a lot of thought. Dad . . .”—he drew a deep breath—“I don’t want to take over Webber Lumber. I know you had high hopes for Jason. Instead you’ve had to make do with me, and I’ve never been as dedicated as he was or nearly as good. But the fact is, I can’t be like him because I’m not him.”
His dad, looking devastated, made a sound of regret.
“Told you,” Susan said with a soft reproach before reaching for James’s hand. “Baby, listen to me very carefully. We don’t want you to be Jason. We’ve never wanted that.”
“We’ve never wanted you to be anything but you,” his dad said, voice thick with emotion.
“You mean that?”
“More than anything.” His dad rubbed a hand to his chest. “I thought you were going to tell me you were going off to do your own thing and weren’t going to have any more time for us.”
Some of what felt like two tons of weight came off James’s own chest. “Of course not. I’d never walk away from you, from either of you.”
His mom wiped a few tears and hugged him tight.
His dad did the same. “You’re not the only one who came to some hard realizations after we lost Jason. Mine’s simple—life’s too damn short to be anything other than happy.” He paused. “But you sure don’t look happy right now. And I know that look. It’s about a woman, isn’t it.”
“Dan,” his mom said quietly.
“Well, it is.” He turned back to James. “Right?”
James blew out a sigh. “Tell me I’m not that easy to read.”
“It’s Hannah,” his mom guessed.
“Okay,” James muttered, “so I am that easy to read.”
“You two admit you’re in love yet?” his mom asked hopefully, and James knew that Hannah had been right to try and hide their . . . well, whatever the hell it’d been between them, or their moms would absolutely have already had their wedding planned.
“It’s not what you think,” he said. “She . . . well, she left me.” He paused because actually, technically he’d been the one to actually leave, but she’d been the one to mentally go first.
“Son, when it comes to love, everyone walks away a time or two. Sometimes you’re the one to go, and other times you’ll be the one doing the chasing.”
“And the groveling,” his mom added with a meaningful look at his dad.
“Obviously I’ve done my share of both,” his dad said wryly. “That’s how relationships work. The system falls apart only when you’re both too stubborn to go after the other person. And I know you’re not too stubborn for love because you’re a Webber.”
“Aw,” his mom murmured, “that’s so sweet.”