Free Song of the Brokenhearted by Sheila Walsh Page B

know,” she said in a clipped tone. The waitress arrived carrying two large plates. She set down Ava’s eggs Benedict and Sienna’s frittata. It was time for Ava to tuck away her concerns and enjoy breakfast with her daughter.
    The tension dissolved as they discussed plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas—Sienna wanted to be home for the tree-cutting and cookie-baking days. After breakfast they shopped for a while, then they watched a movie in the evening. Jason remained in his room, though Ava tried to coax him out. He wouldn’t even talk to Sienna.
    Sunday morning, Sienna announced that she needed to take an earlier flight back to California.
    And the weekend was done. Her daughter was on a flight back to California, Dane was in New York, Jason would hardly leave his room. Their family was more fractured than Ava could ever remember.

Ten
    M ONDAY MORNING , A VA DROVE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL TO MEET with the principal and Coach Ray. A Crock-Pot of stew sat in a box in the passenger seat for the funeral of Private Grant being held in a few hours. She told herself that no matter what happened at the meeting, she had a lot to be grateful for. Their family was going through a trial, but it was nothing compared to what Private Grant’s family was facing. Still, this was a first—she’d never met with school officials about disciplinary action for either of her children.
    Ava pulled up next to Dane in the school parking lot. She locked her car and slipped into the passenger seat of his luxury SUV. She didn’t look at him and barely grunted a greeting. She knew little of his trip to New York that had stretched beyond his promised Sunday afternoon arrival. He’d come to the school straight from the airport.
    â€œI think we should pray,” Dane said before she could utter a word. Ava turned toward her husband, wondering if she’d heard him right. She was the one who brought up prayer. With her irritation high over his many disappearing acts, Ava hadn’t thought to pray before this meeting.
    â€œYou’re worried he’ll be off the team?” she asked, irritated.
    Dane leaned back in his seat. “I’ve been thinking about a lot of things lately. I know it appears I’m consumed with work. But having the company in trouble, it’s made me think about what’s really important.”
    â€œAnd what is that?” Ava wanted to take this in, but her anger and suspicion weren’t easily abated.
    â€œOur family. Us.” He studied her face in a way he hadn’t done in such a long time that she shifted in the seat, wondering what he saw. Did he notice the lines around her eyes, the tiredness in her face? Dane had grown better-looking with age as some men did. He could turn the heads of women half her age, and surely did, while Ava struggled with an extra fifteen pounds and didn’t work out as much as he did.
    Ava turned away with her head against the headrest, savoring the scent of Dane’s cologne and the warmth inside his vehicle.
    â€œI guess we should get inside,” she murmured.
    â€œOr we could make out in the backseat and pretend we’re in college again,” he said with a slight smile.
    â€œWhat?” she said, surprised by his words.
    He took her chin with his fingers and guided her face toward his. His kiss was long and tender, awakening a surprising amount of feeling throughout her body.
    â€œWhere did that come from?” She scrutinized his face. “Are you having an affair?”
    â€œWhat?” Dane leaned back surprised.
    â€œTell me the truth. Are you?” Ava studied his face, searching for the lie. Dane’s lips curled into the edge of a smile as if barely holding back a tumult of laughter.
    â€œWhy would you ask me such a thing?”
    â€œSo you are.” A cold shot of adrenaline raced through her.
    â€œNo, I’m not. Why would you say that?”
    Ava wasn’t sure she believed him.