Will laughed. “Buying the house was Jess’s idea, wasn’t it?”
Connor stared at him. “In a way, yes. How’d you know?”
“Your sister is a big fan of the grand gesture. She was very impressed when Trace bought that house for Abby to prove he was ready to settle down.”
“Come to think of it, Abby wasn’t much happier about that than Heather is about what I did. Maybe I need to stop listening to Jess. She doesn’t seem to have her finger on the female pulse, after all.”
Will chuckled. “Oh, Abby liked the house well enough.”
“Then why did it take so long for Trace to actually get her down the aisle?” Connor asked, thinking back to how rattled Trace had been by Abby’s refusal to set a wedding date, even after they’d been living together for ages. He met Will’s gaze. “Do you know?”
“Actually, Kevin is the one who nailed it,” Will admitted. “He figured out that Abby kept waiting for Trace to morph into some kind of control freak the way her first husband did after they were married. She was sure he’d suddenly start demanding that she quit work, live full-time in Chesapeake Shores and so on. Once Kevin called her on that and told her that Trace was nothing like Wes Winters, she decided it was okay to follow her heart.”
“I see,” Connor said, considering the information. “Do you suppose something like that’s going on with Heather?”
Will looked puzzled. “I’m not following. Heather’s never been married before. Her one big relationship has been with you.”
“And we both know that I insisted for a very long time that I would never get married. She obviously doesn’t think I’ve changed, even though the words coming out of my mouth say I have.” He paused, then added, “Or she doesn’t want to believe me.”
Will nodded. “Okay, I’m with you so far. What are you thinking?”
Connor wasn’t sure he could put his suspicions into words that would make any sense, but if anyone could grasp what he was getting at, it would be Will. He not only had the training, but he had excellent insight into human nature.
“Okay,” Connor began slowly, trying to pull together his thoughts. “Heather’s parents have had a rocky marriage. From what I gather, there was always a lot of tension in the house. Heather prides herself on having risen above that. She insists she still believes in love despite all evidence to the contrary in her own home.”
Will nodded. “I get that. Keep going.”
“But what if that’s just a line she’s sold herself?” Connor asked, warming to his theory. “What if down deep she’s as scared as I am that marriage doesn’t stand a chance? She can hardly admit that to me, of all people, not after she’s taken such a strong position on the subject.”
“Makes sense,” Will agreed.
“Wouldn’t that mean she has to come up with a thousand and one excuses to keep turning me down, trying to lay the blame right back at my feet?”
“So essentially you’re saying that now that she has the real option of getting married to you, she’s the one who’s gotten cold feet?” Will said slowly, his expression thoughtful. “You know, it could be. She might not even be aware that the tension in her parents’ marriage has influenced her so deeply.”
Connor’s momentary sense of triumph at having unraveled an emotional mystery was short-lived. “So how am I supposed to fix that? I’ve always been the doubter. I’m new to being the one who thinks marriage is the answer.”
Will gave him an amused look. “If I tell you that, I’ll have to charge you for a session,” he taunted.
“Bite me. Don’t start holding out on me now. I’m about to buy a house for my family. I don’t want to wait around till we’re in our seventies to work things out and move into it.”
“You might have to wait a while,” Will told him realistically. “Not until you’re in your seventies, of course, but it could take time for you to prove to Heather that your sudden turn-about is real and for her to recognize that it’s her subconscious that’s now holding her back.”
Connor frowned. “Isn’t there a way to speed up the process? Lately I’ve been thinking about a fall wedding.”
“Then you might have to call her on it,” Will said. “Lay out your suspicions. Turn the tables on her. See how she reacts to this theory of yours.”
“You really think she’ll admit it?” he asked doubtfully. Heather was as stubborn as any O’Brien.
“No,” Will said cheerfully. “But once the idea’s out there, she’ll have to at least consider it.”
Connor tried to envision the conversation. He couldn’t see any scenario under which it would turn out in his favor. And yet, what choice did he have, unless he wanted to remain in limbo?
“Maybe you could drop by, have a chat with her?” he suggested in desperation.
“I don’t do sneak-attack sessions,” Will said. “If she wants to come to see me, I’m happy to work through this with her. I’m just not sure I’d want to be in your shoes if you suggest it.”
“Believe me, I get that. I didn’t take it too well when she told me I ought to see someone to deal with my issues.”
“I think on behalf of my profession, I’m insulted,” Will said.
“You shouldn’t be. Why would I go hire a stranger, when you’re my friend?” He slapped Will on the back. “And a darn good one at that!”
“Then you can pay for our drinks,” Will said cheerfully. “The check’s not as much as I usually charge, so consider yourself as having received the friends-and-family discount.”
“Gladly,” Connor told him. “But I will remember this moment when you come to me looking for a shoulder to cry on about my
