Free Incarnate by Claire Kent Page A

life. And he’s always felt like he has to make up for it. But it’s different with you.” Erin squeezed Anna again. “When we had you, we were so in love. We’d finally gotten everything worked out after so much confusion. He was there all the way with you. It was…We were so happy. He was so happy.”
    Anna’s face was twisting slightly as she tried to take all of this in.
    “He loves you so much, baby.” Erin stroked Anna’s soft blonde hair. “You make him so happy. Everything about you makes him happy. And he feels like, with you, he did it right.”
    “So that’s why he pays so much attention to Mac?” Anna’s voice was wobbly.
    “It’s one of the reasons. I can understand why it might occasionally look like you’re not as important to him. But I never want you to believe it.” Erin put both of her arms around Anna and held her as tightly as she could.
    Anna hugged her back for just a minute. It wasn’t long but it caused a swell of tenderness to rise in Erin’s chest.
    Then Anna let go and Erin relaxed back, keeping one arm around Anna’s shoulders, not ready to release her completely yet.
    With a sigh, Anna asked, “You’re going to tell him about all of this, aren’t you?”
    “Yes. Unless you insist I keep it a secret. He needs to know.”
    “It’s all right. You can tell him. Just make sure he knows I’m not…I mean, make sure he doesn’t think I don’t…I don’t want to hurt his feelings.”
    It might have been the sweetest thing Erin had ever heard—that Anna had been hurt and insecure about how Seth treated her but was so worried about Seth feeling the same way. With a muffled sound, Erin pulled Anna back into a hug.
    “Mom!” Anna finally wailed, when she’d had all she could stand of the cuddling.
    “Sorry,” Erin said, loosening her hold. “And I’ll make sure I break it to him gently.”
    Anna nodded and was about to answer when something in the bedroom doorway distracted her.
    Seth appeared, taking a step into the room. “At the risk of incurring your wrath, I can perhaps make things easier by saving you the trouble of having to tell me.”
    “You were listening.” It was an accusation but not an angry one. Anna’s voice sounded more tired than anything else.
    “I was. My only defense is that I hadn’t intended to eavesdrop.” Seth’s words were casual and his face was calm, but Erin could tell he wasn’t either of those things. There was a tension in the set of his shoulders and a shakiness in the expression of his eyes that revealed everything Erin needed to know about how their discussion had affected him.
    He’d been hurt by it and was fighting the need to withdraw into his defenses.
    The fact that he had stepped into the room—hadn’t retreated into his office to brood—was a small miracle.
    Anna’s features twisted a few times. She was clearly emotional but too self-conscious to let it show. “You can come in, if you want.” Her voice was almost normal.
    Seth nodded his thanks and walked over to sit on the casual chaise across from the bed. He put his hands on his lap, then on the edge of the chaise on either side of his thighs, then back on his lap.
    “Mom told me about what happened after Mac was born,” Anna said. The words sounded like some kind of peace offering.
    “I heard. Everything she said was true.”
    “Does Mac know about that?” Anna looked up at Erin.
    “She doesn’t know. We never told her.”
    “I won’t tell her, if you don’t want me to.”
    Erin cleared her throat and met Seth’s eyes before she looked back down at Anna. “I told you. So it’s yours to decide what to do with it. You can tell her if you want. You just can’t tell her when you’re mad at her.”
    “Okay.” Anna squirmed a little and huddled a little closer to Erin. She felt very young to Erin at the moment and Erin couldn’t help but savor the intimacy it allowed—since it happened so rarely anymore. After a brief pause, Anna looked back at