In Her Mind (Mountain High Valley Low ) Read Online Free PDF Page A

his head back once again.
A pretty caramel-colored waitress with a short natural hairstyle approached our table and stood for a moment. The atmosphere told her we needed a minute and she smiled, nodded, and walked away. After a while, she came back with water for both of us. Not a single word was spoken, but all was certainly understood.
“How do we do this, Shelly? How do we fit all of this into our lives right now? I want be a father to Brice and I want to be able to spend time with him. I want to do for him and have no problem with giving him what he needs.”
What about what I need? I thought, but didn’t dare say it out loud. I was so happy that he was finally on the same page as I was. I knew Brice was the key.
“Brian, all of that is possible. I know I ran before, but I realized that it wasn’t the right thing to do. I never wanted to deny Brice an opportunity to have a real relationship with you. At first I assumed that you didn’t want that, but when you found me I realized I was wrong. It still took a while for me to come around, but now I’m here and I promise you I’m not going anywhere. We can work it out and be the family that we are supposed to be.”
“Family? Shelly—”
“Yes. A real family. I know we’ll have to take things slowly and that it’s going to take work and patience.” I couldn’t believe I was on my way to having what I’d always craved, Brian and Brice as a part of my life, together at the same time. “Also, Brian, I’ll make this lost time up to you, you’ll see. I’m going to be closer now so it will be easier to work things out. I’ll be moving back to Brooklyn.” When I said Brooklyn, Brian’s eyebrows creased.
“Shelly, I think you misunderstood me.”
Just then the waitress returned. I ordered a chicken salad and tea, and Brian told her he needed more time. As I was about to continue, my cell phone rang. My parents’ home number appeared across the display. I pressed the button along the side of the phone to make the ringing go away. I’d call him back when I was done with Brian. Things were going too well.
“That’s my dad, but I can call him back,” I explained to Brian. I needed to keep this conversation going.
“Shelly, I’m about to get married. I’m sorry if I’ve misled you. When I asked, how should we do this, I was referring to our arrangements with Brice.”
Those words stopped me dead in my tracks. Did he think he was getting Brice without me? Did he really and truly think that was even possible? I told him nearly two years ago and I’ll say it again—it’s all or nothing! The change in his expression told me he knew there was a definite shift in my attitude. I started shifting Brice in my lap and fumbling with my napkin.
“Actually, Brian, I don’t understand. I told you long ago that it was all or nothing. You came after me. I know it took a while for me to come around, but I did. You wouldn’t have contacted me if you didn’t want it all. You knew the rules,” I said through tight lips. A faint knocking began at my temples.
“Shelly. All I ever wanted was to be there for Brice. He’s my son. I want to do right by him. I didn’t have my father in my life for long and I don’t want my son to grow up with a void. People do it every day. You don’t have to be a couple to raise a child together.”
My phone rang again. It was my father and I silenced it once more. I had more pressing issues to deal with at present. Brian sat back in his chair and sighed hard again. My hands were getting sweaty and they had already begun to shake. The waitress brought my salad and tea to the table and walked away. I attempted to empty two packets of artificial sugar into my steamy cup and spilled it all over the table, almost knocking the hot cup over in the process. My jumping stirred Brice awake and he began to cry. My nerves appeared to be frying. Brice shifted in my lap once more and whimpered his way back to sleepy land.
I was still trying to