where the lines are drawn

 

"I don't think you can fix this," Chance shook his head, no as he listened to his brother weep and the things Casey had said to Lynsey. "Maybe, maybe..you have to let her go." He cleared his throat thinking his father would never say something like that, but it felt to Chance they would be happier apart.

Chance winced, thinking how fortunate he was to know someone like Rosie. He just couldn't imagine getting so angry and saying such hurtful things as Casey had spoken of. Chance knew he'd never want to make Rosic feel bad about anything.

He looked at his coffee going cold. He went to warm it up and poured a little more in his brother's cup too. Casey was home with Erro. At least Lynsey trusted him enough, but she'd said she was only waiting for an opening later this month at the daycare.

Chance supposed this was not a good time to tell him about a May wedding that he and Rosie were planning.

"I just think you should be the best ex-husband you can be," Chance knew Lynsey was upset just being here. She still planned to move out. 

Naturally, Casey just stared at him and it hit Chance that Casey never actually married Lynsey.

"You know what I mean," he winced. It was impossible to say the right thing. He was certain Casey would only see him as a twelve-year-old when in actuality he was twenty-four. 

Chance took a sip of coffee. Really, he didn't have that much time to cheer his brother up. He had a part-time job at the veterans' hospital helping with various paperwork and solutions for those who needed help along with his library clerk job. Yes, he was looking for something full-time, but at least this filled in the gaps. Somehow, he and Rosie made ends meet.

"Hopefully, by the fall I can get Rosie to start at the University," Chance wasn't even sure Casey was listening, but he still felt Rosie needed to continue her education.

Perhaps it was an early Valentine's Day gift, but Charles showed up with a dozen red roses for Lynsey. He brought them to her office.

"I haven't done anything for you since you got the secretary position," he said presenting the bouquet. "I hope everything is going well."

She managed a smile and a nod from her desk. Naturally, she told him he shouldn't have. He said he hoped she got lots of roses for Valentine's day. But she told him this was a first. She'd never gotten roses from anyone. Lynsey put the roses on her desk and then she hugged him hard. She said she wanted to come home.

"Come home?" Charles felt bad that he'd sent her away like that, but he really thought it was for the best. "But-"

"It's not going to work," her sad eyes looked up at his. "I can't. I won't." She shook her head, no. "I don't want to be who he thinks I am."

Charles nodded back. They weren't just library friends after all.