Alex normally hated to talk about one of the darkest times in his life, but it was so easy to tell her because he sensed her genuine interest. “He battled cancer for about seven years and died ten years ago.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“He was a good guy, and they were great together. Still dancing in the living room after twenty-five years of marriage. The hardest part of my mother’s illness is she keeps forgetting he’s gone. She asks for him all the time.”

“God, that must be so hard for you and Paul.”

“It sucks. It’s like she has to lose him all over again every time we tell her he’s gone. I hate that so much.”

She turned toward him, her arm curling around his waist as she snuggled up to him. “She’s very lucky to have two such devoted sons.”

“She was very devoted to us. The other day, after the incident in the yard, she was totally lucid. She told me how sorry she is to be doing this to us, that we should be married with families of our own by now.” All at once, he caught himself and realized he might be over-sharing. He kissed her forehead. “Sorry. I didn’t come over here to dump all my shit on you.”

“That’s not what you’re doing, Alex.”

“I sort of liked it better when you didn’t know.”

“I’m glad I know, and I hope you’ll never hesitate to talk to me about what you’re going through.”

“It’s not fair to you that I’m getting so involved with you when I don’t have a damned thing to offer you. But I can’t seem to stay away.”

“I’m glad you’re here, and you don’t need to offer me anything other than your company.”

“You and I both know it doesn’t take long for things like this to become far more complicated than that.”

“It doesn’t have to be complicated. I’m not looking to add to your stress level or give you one more thing to worry about every day.”

“You’re too good to be true.”

“No, I’m not,” she said with a laugh that became a yawn.

He stroked her hair and back. “Go to sleep.”

“Don’t you have to get home?”

“No, Paul is there. I’ll be right here.”

She exhaled a deep breath and relaxed against him.

Holding her while she slept was the best part of what had been a long, shitty day.

He’d dozed off, too, waking when she became restless, her lips moving and her hand clutching his arm. Alex couldn’t tell if she was in pain or dreaming, and he hated to wake her when she was feeling so lousy.

“Toby, wait… Don’t go. Please don’t go.”