Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

A fter a long day of working beside her, Dean couldn't shake the worry he felt for Andrea. He knew she was still hurting, and he wanted to do something to lift her spirits. As he finished cleaning up after their last client of the day, he got an idea. While he was alone, he called his mother and sister, asking if he and Andrea could come over for dinner. Thankfully, his mother was more than happy to oblige and even decided to make his favorite meal.

When he was done, he went and found Andrea, who was sitting outside at the bar, watching guests splash and play in the pool.

"Hey," he said softly. "What are your plans for dinner?"

She shrugged. "I was about to order a burger here."

He took her hand in his. "How about…maybe we could go for dinner together?"

"I don't know. I'm not really in the mood."

"Not to a restaurant." He gave her a reassuring smile. "I called my mom, and she's making us dinner. I thought it might be nice to spend some time with my family. They'd love to see you. Sophia's doing much better and is totally lonely and bored being cooped up at home all the time with just my mom and me to talk to."

Andrea hesitated for a moment, glancing around the loud and fun environment around them, then she slowly nodded. "Okay. I guess so. It would be nice to catch up with your mom and sister. I haven't seen them in a few months."

"I'll drive." He took her hand and, before she could argue, he gently pulled her away from the bar and down the pathway to the parking lot.

They drove to his mother's house. The silence in the car reassured him that he'd done the right thing. He knew that the loud bar had been bothering her, but she would have sat there and endured eating dinner there or would have taken it home and eaten alone again.

When they arrived, his mother greeted them with a warm hug. "Andrea, dear, it's so good to see you again," she said, her smile genuine and welcoming.

He knew that his mother often got massages at the camp or just hung out at the pool with some of her friends, who all paid for access to the grounds.

Sophia walked into the entryway and joined them, wrapping Andrea in a tight embrace.

His sister had stopped wearing the head scarves a few weeks back since her hair was slowly growing again. Currently, it was nothing more than dark stubble like he had after a few days without shaving, but it looked good enough that Sophia didn't feel like she had to cover it any longer. There was a certain defiant beauty to her new look, a testament to her strength and resilience.

She'd lost so much weight fighting the cancer that most of her clothes hung on her, but her spirit seemed as vibrant as ever. Her memory had stopped being messed up by the drugs and she was feeling more herself. At least she kept trying to convince them of that fact.

He did notice she didn't sleep all the time and, not that he'd tell her this, but she was slowly gaining some of the weight back.

"How are you feeling?" Sophia asked.

"Great, how about you? You're looking much better," Andrea said with a smile.

After chatting for a few moments about Sophia's health, they all went back to the kitchen. The scent of homemade lasagna had hit him the moment he'd turned off his truck. Now it filled the air, and his stomach growled very loudly. Loud enough that his mother handed him a breadstick as she continued preparing the meal.

Sophia poured them each a glass of wine as they waited for the meal to be ready. They sat at the counter bar area and chatted about work, the camp, sailing, horseback riding, and, oddly enough, donuts.

His mother had set the table with care, and once the food was done, they all sat down to eat. He went around and refilled the wine glasses as he watched Andrea relax a bit more. With each moment that passed, the conversation pulled her away from her worries. His mother and sister were experts at making someone feel welcomed and loved. They talked about everything and nothing, the ease of the conversation providing a comforting backdrop to the wonderful homemade meal.

After dinner, the four of them moved out to the front porch, where the evening air was cool and refreshing. They had switched out the wine for coffee and tea, and they each enjoyed some of Sophia's homemade tiramisu. His sister always made huge batches of it, and he was thankful there was some still left over from the other day.

While Dean and Andrea sat on the swing, his mother and sister sat in the chairs facing them.

He could see Andrea was enjoying herself, but there was still a dark shadow in her eyes. He decided it was time to share something that he and his family had kept private for a long time.

Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he set the porch swing swaying lightly.

"I want to tell you something I've never told anyone else before," he began, his voice steady. "Something about my family." He nodded to his mom and sister.

Andrea looked up at him, curiosity creeping into her eyes.

"Okay." She shifted slightly. "What? Your mother is really a Russian sleeper spy?" She chuckled as she looked over at the woman in question, who laughed in response.

"Not to my knowledge." He chuckled and then narrowed his eyes at his mom, who smirked at him.

"If I was"—she changed her voice to a thick accent—"I'd have to kill you now."

Everyone chuckled lightly. Then Andrea's smile slipped again. "You're all so wonderful. Really." She sighed. "I've always been jealous of the closeness the three of you have."

"Which is part of what I…what we wanted to confess." He took a deep breath. "Sophia and I are both adopted," he blurted out. Andrea stilled and frowned up at him, then back to his mother and sister, who both nodded and smiled.

"I had a rare form of cancer when I was child," his mother said with a shrug. "I don't remember a time when there was any hope of having biological children."

"She lost her ovaries before she was ten years old," his sister added as she took her mother's hand in her own.

"No one knows this," he continued, "because my parents never made a big deal out of it. And neither Sophia and I have told anyone." He smiled over at his sister.

"I didn't even tell Luke," she added with a roll of her eyes. "Thankfully."

"Our folks, well, they just wanted to give us the best life they could. Even after our dad died, we kept the secret because it just, well, it didn't matter. She is our mother." He nodded to his mom.

"We're a family. No matter what," Sophia added.

Andrea's eyes widened, her mouth opening slightly in surprise. "I…I had no idea."

Dean nodded, taking her hand in his. "We wanted to share this family secret with you because we know that you're struggling with everything that's happened. I want you to know that family isn't just about biology. It's about love and support. My parents couldn't have kids of their own, but they never let that stop them from creating a loving home. Now my sister is in the same boat. Her husband wasn't as strong as our father was when things got rough."

"The man has no spine," his mother chimed in.

He frowned and nodded in agreement as he thought about Luke.

"Still, you three ladies have a lot in common. Only, well, we won't abandon you. We're here no matter what," he added.

His mother chimed in, her voice gentle. "We've always believed that family is what you make it. Love is what binds us together, not blood."

Andrea looked down at their joined hands, her thoughts clearly racing. Dean could see the impact his words had had on her, and he hoped it would give her something to hold onto.

"Thank you for telling me this," she said softly. "It means a lot. I'm still raw. But…" She glanced around at each of them. "It means more than you know."

His mother sighed and then stood up. "Well, I think that's our cue to head in for the night."

"Thanks for stopping by," Sophia said, hugging Andrea. "Now that I'm able to get out a little more, I'm thinking of coming in for a massage. Dean has mentioned you're teaching him."

"I am," Andrea said with a nod.

"I guess I need to think about my own future." She sighed. "I'll need a new career now that I'm back on my feet."

"I'm certified to start your training if you want to do what Dean's doing. You'd still have to take a few online classes and there are a few tests you'll have to pass." she offered. "We could always use the help."

Sophia's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Andrea nodded and laughed when his sister hugged him. "I'd love that. I have a few more weeks before the doctors say I can go back to work, but I'll hold you to it."

"You know where to find me when you're ready." Andrea hugged his sister back.

"Thanks," Sophia said and disappeared inside the house with his mother.

"Ready to go?" he asked, taking her hand.

As they drove to her place, Andrea seemed lost in thought. Dean didn't push her, giving her the space to process everything. He hoped that sharing his family's story would help her see that she wasn't alone, and that there was always a way forward, even when things seemed bleak.

When they reached her place, Andrea turned to him, her eyes full of a mixture of emotions.

"Thank you for tonight. It was…it was really nice," she said softly.

"I'm glad it helped." He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Dean watched Andrea walk to her door, her shoulders slightly hunched as if bearing the weight of the world. As she turned to give him a final wave, he saw a flicker of a smile, and his heart swelled with hope and determination. He drove away slowly, his mind swirling with thoughts of how he could continue to support her, knowing that tonight had been a small step forward.

The next day, Dean kept busy with work, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Andrea. He texted her a few times, just to check in, but kept it light, not wanting to overwhelm her. He knew she needed time to process everything. When he finally finished for the day, he decided to swing by her place again, bringing along her favorite ice cream as a small gesture of comfort.

When he arrived, Andrea was sitting on her porch, staring out at the darkening sky. She looked up as he approached, a tired smile playing on her lips.

"I thought you might like some company," he said, holding up the ice cream.

Her eyes softened, and she nodded. "That sounds nice. The ice cream is a bonus," she added with a chuckle.

They sat together, sharing the ice cream in silence. The stars began to appear, twinkling against the backdrop of the night sky. Andrea leaned her head on his shoulder, and Dean felt a wave of protectiveness and love hit him like a ton of bricks as he felt her shiver against his chest. He wanted to shield her from all the pain, to make everything better, but he knew it was a journey she had to navigate herself, with him by her side.

"Dean," she said after a while, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'm scared. Afraid of the future. Afraid of…myself."

He wrapped his arm around her more tightly, pulling her closer. "I know. I'm here. Always."

"I know that now. Yesterday evening helped me understand. Helped me put things into perspective." She sighed. "I…just don't trust very easily."

"I get it, I've met your family." He kissed the top of her head. "I'm willing to prove it for as long as you don't kick me out."

She glanced up at him. "Keep bringing me ice cream or donuts and I won't kick you out," she joked, and he chuckled.

They stood quietly for a moment before Andrea's phone rang, breaking the silence. She pulled it out of her pocket and sighed as she answered the call.

He watched her face as she spoke to her sister, the color draining from her cheeks as the conversation continued. He could only hear one side, but it was clear Amy was excited about something.

After the call, Andrea turned to him.

"Amy asked—well, actually, pretty much demanded—that I throw her a baby shower. At the camp," she said with a slight sigh.

His temper spiked at the same time that his heart ached for her. He knew how much she was hurting and how difficult this must be.

"What did you tell her?" he asked.

"I told her I'd think about it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I had it put on the camp's schedule but that's it so far. She keeps calling me every day with more demands. Now I've got a ton of things to do and less than two weeks to do them all."

He reached out and took her hand in his.

"You don't have to do anything you're not ready for. It's okay to put yourself first right now," he told her, trying to convince her it was true.

Andrea nodded, but he could see the turmoil in her eyes. Nothing he could say would convince her not to throw the party for her sister. Someone who had never been there for her and never would be.

He really wanted to spend the night there with her in his arms, but when she mentioned she had an early morning, he kissed her and headed home to his empty bed. Again. He missed her beside him every moment he was alone.

Over the next few days, he tried to give her some space. He checked in with her through texts but respected her need for solitude. When he finally saw her again at work, his heart ached at the exhaustion etched on her face.

"Hey," he greeted, trying to keep his tone light.

"Hey," she replied, managing a weak smile.

"How are you holding up?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

"It's been busy and crazy. Working here helps," she admitted, her voice soft and vulnerable. "Zoey and the rest of the Wildflowers found out about…well, my sister demanding that I throw her a baby shower and the lot of them have taken over the party planning. They won't let me lift a finger."

"I may have let slip something about it and how Amy treated you at the hospital when I was talking with Elle the other day." He smiled.

She poked him in the chest playfully. "Thanks," she said softly.

He nodded and stepped closer, taking her hands in his. "I meant what I said. I'm here for you. If you need anything, even if it's early-morning coffee and donuts or a late night ice cream delivery service, I'm your guy."

Andrea looked into his eyes, and for a moment, he saw the glimmer of hope that he had been praying for.

"Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you and your family. Your sister stopped by today to get a massage and officially apply for an internship to learn how to become a therapist."

"How'd that go?" he asked.

"Wonderful. Her doctor says she can start working a few hours a week, so she's going to come in on Tuesday," she said happily.

"I think she's going to be better at massage therapy than I am. I'm too busy with my job. Actually, Brent has been threatening to give me a raise and make me a manager."

"That's wonderful." She hugged him.

"Yeah," he agreed. "I guess it is. I don't want to leave you and Kara hanging though."

"We'll be fine. Your sister is eager to learn and really wants the job to keep her mind busy."

He nodded. "Then I'll take the manager job." He brushed his lips across hers. "Which means I have to get back to work. See you tonight?"

She frowned slightly. "I'm having dinner with my mother."

His eyebrows arched. "Need backup?"

She chuckled. "Thanks, I think there are a few things I need to get off my chest and, well, it's not going to be pretty."

He nodded. "Call me if you need me." He kissed her again.