Page 51 of The Long Way Found

"And how's it going? Really."

Luke knew she wouldn't let him off easy. She never did. "It's good most of the time."

"Most of the time?"

"He's..." Luke struggled for words. "He's still figuring out how to be here again, the job, and probably seeing me again. I don't know… we haven't really discussed it."

"And you?"

"I'm trying not to sacrifice my own needs to be what I think he wants. That's my pattern. I learned that in therapy and the program. He still says he's just here temporarily, so I'm not going to assume we're, what… I don't know… together?"

Patty set her coffee mug down slowly and deliberately. Her expression shifted. Something fierce came into her eyes.

"Now, you listen to me, honey," she said. "You are not responsible for making him comfortable enough to love you. You are not too much. You are not asking for too much."

Luke nodded slowly.

"Now, you're right," Patty continued. "It is early in this… relationship, or whatever you choose to call it. He hasn't been back here long, and he has a lot going on. Meanwhile, you, my dear, have no reason to rush anything, unless you're afraid the past will repeat itself."

Luke winced. "Ouch."

"Yes, he needs to step up—and you need to calm down. But there's no reason to make yourself a second-class citizen, either, okay?"

Luke smiled despite himself. "Okay, but… I might be making it worse myself."

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

Luke smiled and patted her hand. "Sorry. Different topic. See, we're having some financial issues at The Ridge, and it's on my mind. A lot."

"You'll figure it out. You always have."

"But, I might be taking it out on him, on Jack. Like I'm struggling at work and expecting him to do something to make me feel better."

"Do what?"

"That's it—I don't know. I don't need him to do anything. The Ridge lost a big donor. I'll find the money somewhere else. Or I won't. But I've never been dating someone like this when I've had business trouble before."

"It gets tricky, Honey. You've got to learn to keep things clear: this problem is mine, this is ours, and that one's his. I learned that long ago."

Luke let that sink in. Mine. Ours. His. Separate buckets. Don't mix them all up automatically.

Patty stood and kissed the top of his head. Luke heard Mr. Ellis's truck pull into the garage.

"Now, you'd better go if you don't want to get roped into watching college baseball on TV all afternoon."

Luke hugged her. "Good point."

As he walked to his truck, he let her words soak in.

Patty was right. He did need to calm down. But Jack needed to step up, too.

The question was: Would he?

CHAPTER 18

JACK

For Jack, mornings remained a tactical drill for imposing order on what lay ahead.