Read Online Finding Hope (Love's Compass Book 2) by Melanie D. Snitker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Melanie D. Snitker
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noon. I’m hoping to drive there for that, hit one of the natural food stores there in Dallas, and then head back in the afternoon. I would rather get home to my own bed and avoid a hotel if I can.”
“I don’t blame you. Is your mom going with you?”
He knew the answer to that, but he wanted her to tell him herself.
“No. She had to go through this when Dad was sick. I don’t want her facing it again. I’ll take care of everything myself.”
He wasn’t going to comment about the fact she shouldn’t be driving in the first place. “You don’t know how you’re going to feel after your doctors appointment or how you’ll react to the chemo treatments when they begin. You need to have someone there who can drive in case you’re in pain.”
Determination filled her eyes and she pierced him with an expression that dared him to contradict her.
“Maybe. But I want to spare her. I want to spare my whole family.”
There was palpable tension and Lance hated that he’d brought it into the room. Having four sisters, he had experience defusing a situation both from a sibling, as well as a male, perspective.
“I get that. Trust me. Here’s the thing, though. Moms will worry. Mine worried like crazy about my sisters. Avalon, especially. She’s strong, independent, and walks to the beat of her own drum. I mean that all in a positive way. She keeps her problems to herself. All to spare my mom any unnecessary stress. Which always led to my mom agonizing about her more since she didn’t know what was going on in Avalon’s life.”
Lexi was watching him, her brows knitted together. “Okay. What’s your point?”
“My point is, you may think you’re sparing her, but she will worry about you going by yourself. She’s going to stress over the possibility that you’ll be too tired to drive with your incision still healing. It’s going to upset her anyway.”
She let the back of her head bounce off the plush futon cushion a couple of times and groaned. “I know.”
“What if I drove you?”
She shook her head. “No. You’ve taken enough time off for me. This isn’t your fight.”
“Lex, I’ve known you for as long as I’ve known Tuck. You were as much a part of my life growing up. I will tell you I’m worried about you making a drive like that this soon after your surgery. I would feel better if I could take you to your appointment. Maybe it’s the best of both worlds, you can protect your family from having to go through this with you, but ease their fear since they’ll know you’re not making the drive alone.”
He watched as she thought through his offer. That determination in her eyes faded as acceptance pushed its way in.
“If I say yes, I’m paying for gas and lunch.”
He knew when to relent. “Agreed.”
“Fine.” She turned back to her food. “I’ll bet you served as the peace keeper in your family, didn’t you?”
“I wouldn’t say that. Just ask my sisters. Gwen, especially, would have a million stories to convince you of the opposite.”
“Your sisters have interesting names. What are the other two?”
“Marian is the oldest, then Gwenevere followed by Avalon and Elizabeth.”
Realization dawned on Lexi and a teasing grin lit up her face, adorable little crinkles coming to life near her eyes. “Don’t tell me, Lance is a nickname.”
He felt the heat spread up his neck and reach his ears. “My first name is Lancelot.”
“Wow. How did I never know that?”
“Because I’ve made it my life’s mission to keep it a secret.”
She drew a cross over her heart. “I won’t say a word, I promise.”
“Thank you.” He chuckled. They used to tease each other when they were kids and he’d missed that. He hadn’t fully comprehended that until now.
He enjoyed the time he spent with Lexi. The realization he would like to continue this trend hit him with such a force that he paused with a burrito in his hand.
“Are you okay?”
Her voice and look of concern
“I don’t blame you. Is your mom going with you?”
He knew the answer to that, but he wanted her to tell him herself.
“No. She had to go through this when Dad was sick. I don’t want her facing it again. I’ll take care of everything myself.”
He wasn’t going to comment about the fact she shouldn’t be driving in the first place. “You don’t know how you’re going to feel after your doctors appointment or how you’ll react to the chemo treatments when they begin. You need to have someone there who can drive in case you’re in pain.”
Determination filled her eyes and she pierced him with an expression that dared him to contradict her.
“Maybe. But I want to spare her. I want to spare my whole family.”
There was palpable tension and Lance hated that he’d brought it into the room. Having four sisters, he had experience defusing a situation both from a sibling, as well as a male, perspective.
“I get that. Trust me. Here’s the thing, though. Moms will worry. Mine worried like crazy about my sisters. Avalon, especially. She’s strong, independent, and walks to the beat of her own drum. I mean that all in a positive way. She keeps her problems to herself. All to spare my mom any unnecessary stress. Which always led to my mom agonizing about her more since she didn’t know what was going on in Avalon’s life.”
Lexi was watching him, her brows knitted together. “Okay. What’s your point?”
“My point is, you may think you’re sparing her, but she will worry about you going by yourself. She’s going to stress over the possibility that you’ll be too tired to drive with your incision still healing. It’s going to upset her anyway.”
She let the back of her head bounce off the plush futon cushion a couple of times and groaned. “I know.”
“What if I drove you?”
She shook her head. “No. You’ve taken enough time off for me. This isn’t your fight.”
“Lex, I’ve known you for as long as I’ve known Tuck. You were as much a part of my life growing up. I will tell you I’m worried about you making a drive like that this soon after your surgery. I would feel better if I could take you to your appointment. Maybe it’s the best of both worlds, you can protect your family from having to go through this with you, but ease their fear since they’ll know you’re not making the drive alone.”
He watched as she thought through his offer. That determination in her eyes faded as acceptance pushed its way in.
“If I say yes, I’m paying for gas and lunch.”
He knew when to relent. “Agreed.”
“Fine.” She turned back to her food. “I’ll bet you served as the peace keeper in your family, didn’t you?”
“I wouldn’t say that. Just ask my sisters. Gwen, especially, would have a million stories to convince you of the opposite.”
“Your sisters have interesting names. What are the other two?”
“Marian is the oldest, then Gwenevere followed by Avalon and Elizabeth.”
Realization dawned on Lexi and a teasing grin lit up her face, adorable little crinkles coming to life near her eyes. “Don’t tell me, Lance is a nickname.”
He felt the heat spread up his neck and reach his ears. “My first name is Lancelot.”
“Wow. How did I never know that?”
“Because I’ve made it my life’s mission to keep it a secret.”
She drew a cross over her heart. “I won’t say a word, I promise.”
“Thank you.” He chuckled. They used to tease each other when they were kids and he’d missed that. He hadn’t fully comprehended that until now.
He enjoyed the time he spent with Lexi. The realization he would like to continue this trend hit him with such a force that he paused with a burrito in his hand.
“Are you okay?”
Her voice and look of concern
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