Finding Forever (Living Again #4) Read Online Free Page B

reaction to the vet, telling himself that he just wanted to make her feel better.
     

     
    “You’re late,” Evan joked, sliding a beer across the bar at Brant.
    “Thanks, and sorry. I got held up,” Brant said, avoiding the questions he knew Evan was going to ask.
    “So how’s the big beast?”
    Brant chuckled at Evan’s description of Max. “Thankfully he should be okay. I’m going to be honest, it’ll be weird without him tonight at the house. Maybe I shouldn’t go home.”
    Evan indicated the mass of people around them. “Well, I’m sure you could find many willing partners to take you home tonight.”
    Brant shook his head, sipping his beer. There was no way he could be with anyone tonight, not after the turmoil he was already in over Max and Lacey.
    “Is Brant Tucker saying no to the ladies? Oh, I hear all of them crying right now.” Evan cupped his ear, nodding like he was hearing the crying, and Brant laughed.
    “I meant more like crashing at your place, not going home with some random girl.”
    Evan shook his head. “Well maybe I have a plan to take home one of these fine women tonight, so then you’d be SOL.”
    Brant didn’t answer, and he felt Evan examining him. “What is it?”
    He shrugged, looking away and watching the amber liquid in his beer slosh from side to side.
    “This is more than Max,” Evan mused. “I’ve known you a long time, bro. This has women trouble written all over it. Who is she?”
    Brant ignored him for a moment as the waitress took their food order, but he knew that was as long as he would get. Evan was nothing if he wasn’t relentless.
    “Well, today when I took Max to the vet, I met this doctor…”

 
     
    Aubrey and Lacey sat for a long time next to the water, talking about the things they remembered about their mom while throwing the flowers into the water for her.
    “Remember that time when we were moving, and Dad asked Mom to help him move the mattress out? She thought he said push and he said pull, and she knocked him over with the mattress and we all laughed for hours.”
    “Yes,” Aubrey giggled. “Remember that time I wanted to make pancakes for mom on her birthday? I was only five, and I thought I could do it myself.”
    Lacey laughed, holding her stomach in laughter. “I’ve never seen such a mess in all my life. There was flour, milk, and eggs, all over the kitchen. I think Mom and Dad found parts of that for months.”
    “Mom didn’t even get mad,” Aubrey reminisced. “She just gave me that ‘look’ and said, ‘Aubrey, thank you for my birthday breakfast. Next time can you ask Lacey or Daddy for help?’”
    The sisters fell into comfortable silence, each of them thinking of the things they loved most about their mom.
    “I hope I’m a mom like her,” Aubrey murmured, and Lacey flicked her eyes up to hers.
    “I don’t,” Lacey said.
    “Lacey,” Aubrey’s tone warned. “Stop saying that stuff.”
    “It’s too painful, Aubrey. Look at what has happened to Dad. After Mom died, he ceased to exist. He wasn’t there for us, not really. And even to this day, he’s a shell of himself. Look at him. What do you think he’s doing today? He can’t move on from her, not even for us. It was like we lost two parents that day. I don’t ever want to take the chance of that happening to me.”
    Aubrey sighed. “Lacey, you can’t compare. What Dad’s reaction was and continues to be doesn’t mean that’s what would always happen. And we can’t predict the future. Just because you find someone and have a family doesn’t mean something bad is going to happen to you or them.”
    Lacey stood up, brushing the grass from her backside. “I can’t take that chance. I’ve got all I need.”
    Aubrey followed. “And what’s that, Lace?”
    She narrowed her eyes at her sister, tired of this same conversation. “I have you, Sam, my other friends, my job, and I have Maggie and Sophie.”
    “Your dogs? I swear, Lace, you better not turn