“Honey, we’re so happy for you. I love this new direction.” Sophia hugged Autumn tightly. “I’ll be in touch. I’m glad we did this tonight.” Sophia’s attention turned to Robert. She stepped around Autumn, giving him a quick, loving hug then rearing back, keeping him in the circle of her arms. “Now it’s your turn to find someone. What about that airman you were reading to?”
“Why do you even know about that?” Robert asked, throwing a hand and an accusatory expression Autumn’s direction. Sophia shot him a sheepish glance and let him go. “We’re family. She should tell me these things. I understand you two aren’t talking right now. My advice to you is to just take a chance. See what’s there. Life’s too short and you’re certainly not getting any younger.”
Both his hands went to his heart. Her arrow couldn’t have taken better aim. “Oh Lord, now I’m old? You’re doing wonders for my ego.” That got the desired laughter and earned him a kiss on his cheek before he and Autumn were left at the table alone. Autumn wasted no time reaching for his untouched dessert then plopping down in Kennedy’s abandoned chair.
“Sit with me,” she said, motioning with her fork then digging into her second piece of tiramisu before her bottom fully settled into the seat. “I’ve started craving this. It’s so good. I ordered several slices last week. I’m going to gain a million pounds.”
“Well, don’t do that,” Robert teased, reaching for his glass of melted ice water. “Keep it under forty pounds. I should say less, but you only live once.”
“Right? That’s what I say.” She took another heaping bite, rolling her eyes as if heaven had actually landed in her mouth. “You know, I told Cam I wanted lots of children because I want them to have a big family. I don’t ever want my children to feel as lonely as we feel right now—or I feel, I don’t want to put feelings on you that you might not have.”
Like normal, they were so in sync with one another. She nailed how the world had gotten much smaller since their parents had died. Robert put the glass down and reached out, patting her thigh. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around more.”
“It’s not that.” She held the full fork midair. “I realized I took us for granted. We were a really great family. They gave us so much love and everything felt complete. I loved our life. I miss my family; I miss it all so much. It’s not been the same since Granddaddy Paulie left, but we were young, and Daddy tried hard to make sure our lives were full. I don’t want what I feel right now for my children or yours if you have any.”
“I don’t see children in my future. Hell, I can’t even find anyone who wants to go out with me,” Robert said with a huff, sitting back in the seat, crossing one leg over the other.
“You can find a date anytime you want one.” She again moved the fork back and forth to her mouth. He wished what she said was true. “I wanted you to bring that airman home with you. He looked so…” She dreamily looked away as the fork paused again halfway to her mouth. “Dreamy. He looked dreamy, like the pictures of the soldiers in the movie Grease. Remember them? He has that strong jaw and full lips.”
“When did you see him?” he asked, knowing there’d not been a single time he’d shared anything more than Landon’s name with her.
“A guy helps my brother out of the worst funk I’ve ever seen, of course I’m going to search for him,” she said in a tone indicating he might be the dumbest person on the planet. Even with his need to keep Landon to himself, tucked away in that private place where no one could mess with the memory, he decided Autumn had a point. If the tables were turned, he’d want to thank the person who helped Autumn.
“Yeah, he’s nice looking,” he grudgingly admitted, intentionally understating the beauty that was Landon. In fact, the man might be the most gorgeous guy he’d ever seen.
“Better than that.” Autumn sat back, taking a deep breath. She looked down at the almost empty plate before pushing it away as if it no longer held power over her and turned her full attention to Robert. “So why didn’t you make a move?”
“I wasn’t thinking about that at the time.” Which was a very honest answer. How could he hit on the very man to whom he had cried? A man with intimate knowledge of exactly how weak he’d been. He absently rubbed at the twinge of pain that scraped across his heart.
“Are you thinking about him now?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“No… I don’t know. Yeah, I guess. Doesn’t matter though. He’s not interested,” Robert said, grabbing his fork then reaching for the dessert plate, taking the bite Autumn left behind. Landon stressed him out, totally pushed him to dysfunctional eating.
“Why do you say that?”
“He has all my contact information and has made zero moves, which is outlined in the first chapter of the he’s-not-into-you playbook. I’ve thought back over the time we shared; he never gave me the interested vibe. He was just kind when I needed it the most.” Again, another very honest answer on a subject he didn’t want to talk about.
“So, you’re thinking about him.” She looked thoughtful before she asked, “How’s he doing with his rehab?”
“I hear really well. He should be released to full duty soon, get back to his life,” Robert explained. Robert had continued to pull strings after Landon had arrived back in the States. He’d gotten him the best care money and connections could provide.
