There was a bleak finality in his tone, a weariness. If his well-suited parents couldn’t hold on to their marriage, how could he possibly expect to have a future with someone so much his opposite? Perhaps in the end his first instincts had been right. The only future he and Dana were likely to have would be whatever days they could grab before their differences inevitably caught up with them.
* * *
After that evening in his office, Jason never even hinted about wanting to marry Dana. She had no doubts about his love for her, no doubts that he still wanted her. Each night in his bed proved the depth of his hunger for what they had found together. But it was as if a switch had been turned and he no longer saw marriage as an option.
She had absolutely no idea what to do about it. Her sense of helplessness was all the worse because she had finally admitted to herself that she loved him, that she wanted a life with him. At least she was ready to take the risk, because for the first time she had realized that Jason needed her every bit as much as she needed him.
That’s what love was all about, she had realized with astonishing clarity that evening in his office when he’d come to her with all of his insecurities and desperate yearnings on the line. That moment had solidified all the emotions she had recognized over the past days. There would always be times when one person needed and the other person gave, and times when they would reverse roles. Right now it was critical for her to find some way to make Jason see that what was happening to his parents was not an indictment of marriage, but proof that love wasn’t something ever to be taken for granted.
Troubled, she found herself turning to Brandon Halloran for advice. “I think he’s going to walk away from what we have,” she told him, her expression bleak.
“Because of this nonsense between Kevin and Lacey?”
“It’s shaken his faith in love.”
“But not in you,” Brandon reminded her. “You’re still sharing that house with him. You ready to make it permanent?”
Dana smiled ruefully. “Yes. My timing’s lousy, isn’t it?”
“I don’t think it could get much better actually. He needs you now. The fact that you haven’t abandoned him ought to tell him what he needs to hear.”
“He’s not listening. I don’t think he’s comfortable with needing anything from me. He’s used to being the one needed.”
“Seems to me the real test of love is surviving the crises.”
“And this is one of those crises, right?”
“Looks like it to me.”
Dana gave him a swift hug on her way out. “I’ll let you know how it turns out.”
“Just tell me when to show up at the church. What this family needs all the way around is a good wedding.”
“You’re an old romantic.”
“Damn right, I am. I want some great-grand-children before I’m too old to enjoy ‘em, too.”
Dana groaned. “Let’s take this one step at a time, okay?”
She could think of only one sure way to snap Jason out of his mood, a way that would only work if he loved her as much as she thought he did. That night she sent Sammy to a movie with Mrs. Willis, set the table with the finest china and candles, and wore the slinky black dress Jason had given her.
He glanced around, took in the seductive setting and regarded her warily. “What’s this all about?”
“I need to talk to you about something.”
“If you’re serving prime rib, I’m really going to start worrying.”
Dana carried two plates of medium-rare prime rib in from the kitchen.
“Okay. Spill it,” he said. “What’s going on?”
“Actually, I’ve been thinking about getting my own place.”
Jason’s fork clattered to the table. “You’ve what?” His voice rose ominously.
“It’s clear I’m just in the way here. You can’t be expected to put up with Sammy and me indefinitely. I’ve picked out a couple of apartments. I was hoping you’d agree to go with me tomorrow to take a look at them. I could use your advice.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Why not? Don’t you have the time?”
“This has nothing to do with time.” His gaze narrowed. “I thought you were happy here. I thought we had something.”
Dana shrugged. “I thought so, too, but lately…” She allowed her voice to trail off.
“Lately I haven’t been paying enough attention to you.”
“That’s not it.”
“What then?”
She studied him regretfully. “If you can’t figure it out, then I’m not going to explain it. Look, if you don’t want to go with me to look at apartments, it’s okay. Sammy and I will go in the morning. We should be able to move in a week or two.”
Jason threw his napkin on the table and stormed from the room. A minute later the front door slammed. Fortunately he left before he caught the smile of satisfaction on Dana’s lips.
She cleaned up the dishes, then went into the living room. She sat in the window seat, her legs tucked under her and watched for Jason to come home. It was nearly an hour later before she saw him coming up the front walk. When he caught sight of her in the window, he paused and squared his shoulders. His step became even more determined.
The front door shook on its hinges, when he closed it behind him. He strode into the living room and straight over to her. Hands on hips, he faced her with a familiar stubborn spark in his eyes.
“You are not moving out of here tomorrow or any other time and that’s final.”
“Excuse me?”
“You may think you’ll be better off someplace else, but I’m not letting you out of my sight. I love you. If you’re not ready to marry me, that’s fine. I’ll wait. But I will not let you run off.”
He was still ranting when Dana rose from the window
