Free Disclosure of the Heart (The Heart Series) by Mary Whitney

she huffed out of the room, I said, “I hope she’s not upset.”
    “Who bloody cares? That’s not something I want to see with my sister.”
    But would he have wanted to see it with me? I gave him a sly look before turning away.
    “Let’s sit down,” I heard him say. I looked over, and he walked toward a bench.
    Joining him there, I said, “It’s such a beautiful room.”
    “My mum would love it. The next time they visit, I should bring them here.”
    “Are they coming soon?”
    “Nothing is planned.” His eyes moved around the room as if he were studying the people around us. Only two other visitors remained, and they headed toward the door—likely fleeing before the impending snowstorm outside would hit. Adam’s expression became grim. “Actually, I don’t know why I said that. They won’t be coming again. There won’t be any more plans. My dad is so ill that it’s not possible.”
    “Oh, Adam. I’m sorry.” My heart sank for him again. “How often are you able to see them?”
    “I usually go home once a month. Sylvia does as well. I haven’t been back in six weeks, though, so I’m taking time off after Berlin to see him.”
    “That must be very difficult.” My grandmother had died of cancer, so I knew what it was like to watch someone’s life come to a close over the course of visits. It was like reading a book that you hoped would get better with each chapter, but instead it got worse. Some stories never had a happy ending.
    I tried to find something encouraging to say. “It’s still nice that you can visit often—that you can see him even though you live in another country. I bet he really appreciates it.”
    “Well, my mum does.” He laughed. “I guess he likes having us around. Sylvia talks his ear off. He and I don’t talk much, so we end up watching a lot of football.”
    “But isn’t that what men do?” I smiled. “Instead of talking about important things, they just talk about sports.”
    “Excuse me.” He was playfully indignant. “Are you saying my father and I are insensitive?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “And do you see your family often?” He seemed eager to change the subject away from himself.
    “Some. They were both here for the inauguration. I usually see my dad a fair amount. President Logan’s home is still in Chicago. And when I’m in California for work, I visit my mom. Last year with the campaign, my life was crazy and I was never home, so she didn’t visit me, but she’ll come to DC now that I’m here.”
    “What about Houston? Do you ever go back there?”
    “Occasionally, to see friends and…” My speech halted altogether, and I stared at him. Once again in my life, I was about to tell Adam something about my sister I never told anyone. His gaze held mine as if he knew what might be coming. Had he set me up for it? Was he curious himself? Whatever the reason, as usual I wanted to tell him.
    “When I’m there,” I said, “I stop by my sister’s grave.”
    “That’s understandable. I would do the same thing. Besides, you grew up with her in Houston. It’s home,” he said delicately.
    Whenever he treaded so lightly around my emotions, yet acknowledged them just the same, it just made me more comfortable expressing them. “But it’s not home anymore.” My lip shook, and the tears I normally suppressed tumbled forth. “I feel bad that we’ve all moved away.”
    His eyes went wide, like he was mortified he’d made me cry. “Nicki.” He put his arm around me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry or make you sad.”
    “It’s like we’ve left her behind,” I gasped, recognizing my guilt for permanently abandoning Lauren to a friendless graveyard. The nook of his arm provided safe haven for feeling what I needed to, just as it always had, and I wanted to bawl my eyes out. But I couldn’t. This time I was an adult in a public place. Even if no one was in the room with us, I shouldn’t have been crying in the arms of another man than