“Everyone has second thoughts when faced with the rest of their lives with one person. Sounds like with Mason, you don’t have any.” Amy tried to make her focus on now and not what happened then.
Sierra wouldn’t let her get away with it. “Exactly. Yet you kept quiet about the fact that I had second thoughts about David because of my feelings for Mason and that Mason had feelings for me. Why?”
“You picked David. It worked out fine. You had two kids and a good marriage. Now you’ve got Mason. It even looks like he’s been waiting for you all this time. Lucky you.” It didn’t sound like Amy was really happy for her.
“What was it really, Amy? Why keep the secret?” She really wanted to understand why Amy would keep her and Mason apart for no reason.
“Everything was always so easy for you. You had two great guys who wanted to be with you. David wanted to marry you. After years of just being friends, out of the blue, Mason decides he has feelings for you. While I believed him, I thought that maybe it was possible he didn’t want to lose you to his buddy, but he also didn’t want to give you what David offered: marriage, family, a good life. So I kept it to myself because I didn’t want to see you give up all those things I thought you wanted. You were ready for them. At the time, Mason was married to his job.”
Sierra had to admit, that was true. Mostly. She still wondered, if given a chance, like they had now, would Mason have married her back then? Would they have been happy all this time?
“He could have told you about his feelings no matter what I’d said back then. It’s clear now, the two of you are meant for each other. Is that because you’re both ready for each other now because you know what you don’t want?”
Maybe.
“I’m sorry if you think I purposely set out to hurt you. I didn’t.”
Sierra wasn’t so sure about that. Amy could be selfish. “It’s hard for me to hear that maybe if I’d listened to my heart I’d have been happy with Mason all this time.” Maybe David would have been happier with someone else, too.
And then she heard what she’d just said and sighed. “I don’t mean that.”
She’d chosen David instead of going to Mason and telling him how she felt. She was responsible for her choices and her life.
Amy touched her hand, trying to make amends for not telling her Mason had feelings for her. “You and David made a good life together. You had the boys. David’s death was a tragedy, but now you and Mason have a second chance at forever.”
Exactly.
This time, she’d go for what she wanted and not settle for anything less than a truly happy life.
Amy traced her fingers along the gray lines in the marble countertop. She glanced at the front door for like the tenth time, her gaze turning worried as she waited for Rex to return.
This talk with Rex was long overdue. With Amy’s ingrained need for everything to be perfect, she had to be worried about this going well and making sure she said and did the right thing to make this better. Despite still being a little pissed Amy kept things about Mason from her, Sierra covered her sister’s hand on the counter, stopping her nervous motions before she wore a hole in the stone. “You and Rex want to work this out, which means you will. He wants you to be happy, Amy. We all do.”
“Don’t you think I want to be happy?”
“I think you need to figure out what makes you happy now. Things change. What we thought we wanted before kids, after kids, at the beginning, somewhere in the middle, at the end, it’s not the same as when we started. Allow yourself to let go of what’s not working and find something that makes you feel fulfilled again.”
“That seems easier said than done.”
Sierra squeezed her sister’s hand. “Talk to Rex. Figure out what that looks like together.”
Amy nodded, then met Sierra’s gaze. “I really am sorry. I should have told you what Mason confided in me. The truth is, I was jealous for no reason. You know I had a thing for him back in the day, but he never looked at me the way he looked at you.”
“You mean the way Rex looks at you,” Sierra pointed out.
Amy found a genuine smile.
Sierra knew Amy’s other secret. “You would have preferred Rex and Mason both wanting you.”
Amy always had to be the center of attention. She gave Sierra a mischievous grin. “I wouldn’t have hated it.”
Sierra let it go. She didn’t want to fight with Amy or resent her for a past she couldn’t change.
“How about you get Rex back and I’ll keep Mason and we both just be happy for each other?”
Amy nodded, relief in her eyes. “Deal.” Though her eyes clouded with worry as she looked toward the front door again.
“Kids! Let’s go.” Sierra picked up the tote bag by the front door that Amy had packed with sweatshirts and snacks for her kids. Just in case.
No doubt Heather had everything the kids would need for dinner and a movie tonight.
The four kids rushed down the stairs and headed for the front door just as Rex walked in. “Hey. What’s all this?”
P.J. as the oldest led the way. “We’re going to Aunt Heather’s. Bye.” He hugged his dad and ran out the door.
Emma followed up with a hug for her dad. “Bye.”
Rex let Emma loose, gave Danny and Oliver a pat on the head as they passed, then focused on Amy. “You’re taking the kids over to your sister’s?”
Amy held her hands clasped together in front of her. “Sierra’s taking them for a couple of hours so we can talk.”
Rex stared at his wife for one long moment, then turned to Sierra. “No Mason tonight?”
“He’s got dinner with a client.”
“He told me he’s head over heels for you.”
“I feel the same way.”
“Good for you guys. I hope it works out.”
“Thank you, Rex. With everything that’s happened over the last year, it’s nice to have something good in my life. He makes me happy.”
“You deserve it.”
“Are we going or what?” Danny yelled from the porch.
“And that’s my cue to get going.”
Amy hugged her and held on for an extra moment before Sierra headed to the door.
Rex gave her a quick hug. “Thanks for taking the kids.”
“No problem.” She turned to Amy. “I’ll have them back at nine.”
Rex walked into the kitchen to get something out of the fridge. With his back turned to them, Sierra mouthed, You’ve got this, to Amy, gave her a big thumbs-up, and headed out the door to take four little rascals to dinner.
She hoped Mason’s investigator helped her resolve her issue with her deceased husband and she could let the past go and move on.
Chapter Twenty-Four
It took ten minutes to get all the kids to agree on a movie, but Heather and Sierra got them settled in Heather’s big bed.
Hallee’s eyes drooped as sleep crept in, but she fought to stay awake. Heather would come back in ten minutes and move her to her crib. For now, she let her daughter hang with the big kids. She looked adorable tucked up against Oliver’s side as he lay on his back, one knee bent, his other leg crossed over it, swinging.