Free Finding Dr. Right (Contemporary Medical Romance) by Lisa B. Kamps Page A

independent scared her. Realizing that Matty was growing up and didn’t need her anymore terrified her.
    “Oh, Catherine.” The sympathy in his voice bordered on pity, and the tears she tried to hold back flowed. She reached up and wiped at them, angry at herself for letting them fall, angry for letting herself reach that point in the first place.
    Brian leaned close and took her in his arms and for once she didn’t pull away, couldn’t pretend that she didn’t need to lean on anyone. She buried her face in his shoulder and let him hold her as the tears fell, her body shaking from the force of the sobs. Time dragged by until the flood finally slowed to a trickle, then stopped. Catherine wiped her face, offering him a weak smile that was immediately followed by a hiccup. Brian chuckled and gave her a tissue, which she used to blow her nose.
    “Oh, boy.” Her voice trembled, shaky and hoarse from crying. Brian patted her on the shoulder then sat back on her desk, heedless of the papers that rustled under him.
    “That’s why you’re not supposed to keep things bottled up.”
    Catherine hiccuped again and covered her mouth, hiding her smile. “Some mother I make. When did I turn into such a mess?”
    “Catherine, you’re a great mother. Don’t let yourself think otherwise. As for the mess…” Brian hesitated then shrugged.
    “You need to let yourself lean on others once in a while. There’s nothing wrong with that, and it doesn’t mean you’re weak.”
    She saw seriousness in his pale eyes then leaned her head back and sighed. He was right, as usual. But it was so hard for her, never feeling like she could depend on anyone, always feeling like she had to do everything herself.
    “I don’t know, Bri. Everything is changing so fast. Matty is changing. I feel like he doesn’t need me anymore.”
    “Catherine, Matty will always need you. You’re his mother, and boys need their moms, no matter how old they get. But for now, let him spread his wings a bit. He’s enjoying it. You should be, too.” Brian stood, rubbed his hands down the sides of his slacks then clasped them together. “Speaking of which, when are you heading out to pick him up?”
    Catherine glanced at her watch, surprised at how much time had gone by. “In a few minutes. He’s supposed to get out in an hour but I wanted to swing by early and see how he was doing. Or is that too much of a mom thing to do?”
    “No, it’s not too much of a ‘mom thing.’” Brian laughed. “I think Matty enjoys the chance to show off. You want some company? I kind of enjoy watching all the showing off myself.”
    Catherine grabbed the purse from under her desk and stood, smiling at the glitter of anticipation in Brian’s eyes. “You’re worse than a kid, do you know that? What is it with men and sports? All of you act like little kids!”
    “Hey, be sympathetic. It’s a genetic defect.”
    “A defect, hmm? That would explain a lot. Okay, Mr. Sports Nut, lead the way.” Catherine followed him from the office, already feeling better than she had in a long time.
    She tried to hang on to her good mood, but it evaporated at the sight that greeted her when she walked to the far side of the large remodeled warehouse. She wrapped her hands around the metal post and squeezed, fighting back the panic and anger and fear. Her jaw clenched with so much force that her back teeth actually hurt. “Catherine, don’t.” Brian’s whisper reached her through a haze of conflicting emotions. She shrugged his hand from her shoulder and gripped the post tighter as she watched.
    She should be happy. She
was
happy. And terrified and angry. Catherine told herself to focus on the positive feelings as she watched Matty skating in circles with none other than Nathan Conners. Skating! She couldn’t believe it.
    Both of them were laughing, so caught up in the moment that neither had seen her yet. Catherine’s breath caught when Matty lost his balance and nearly fell.