Page 14 of Promise Me, Katie (Bennett Sisters #1)

In one week, Sarah Brandon had worried more about the health and happiness of her son than his entire life.

Hearing him pacing the floor in the middle of the night, she knew he wasn’t sleeping much.

He certainly wasn’t eating enough. And she’d never seen the same angry, frustrated expression on his face this many days in a row.

Julia had been Matthew’s first love and the mother of his child, so saying goodbye to her had been hard for the entire Brandon family. But it didn’t seem to completely break Matthew’s heart. At least not in the way Sarah’s heart would break if she ever lost Matthew’s dad.

Over the years, Sarah and her husband watched as Matthew and Julia’s relationship had grown.

From starting out as friends who became high school sweethearts, then newlyweds who one day became expecting parents, it had been a blessing to watch all their hopes and dreams for their son come true.

But shortly before the birth of their granddaughter, Sarah noticed a change in their relationship. A growing divide between them.

On countless occasions, she dismissed it as Julia struggling with the changes to her body in the third trimester of her pregnancy, seeing as she seemed to have sailed through her first and second trimesters with ease.

But in the middle of her third trimester, Julia grew irritable and short-tempered.

Then, after Libby was born, any budding maternal attachment Julia had seemed to dissolve quickly, leaving Matthew bearing the bulk of responsibility for their growing family.

At the time, Sarah even wondered if Julia struggled with post-partum depression, praying her daughter-in-law would regain the enthusiasm she once had for becoming a mother.

But circumstances didn’t change. Then, when Matthew announced that they were moving to Windsong for Julia’s job, Sarah feared things would only get worse.

But she never imagined it could be this bad.

Watching Matthew walk around in an angry daze had grown unbearable. And she wasn’t about to let it go on any longer.

“So, what are your plans?” she asked, hoping to break through Matthew’s silent trance as he watched his daughter play with a pile of toys on the living room floor. “Matthew!”

“Yeah, Mom?”

“I’m going out for groceries, and I noticed Libby’s running low on diapers. Should I buy a small pack to tide you over or a truckload?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means are you staying or are you going?” Sarah hated moments like this. Moments when all she wanted to do was throw her arms around her precious boy and promise he never had to leave home again. “You haven’t said much, so I didn’t know what your plans were.”

“Oh, sorry,” he said, his attention shifting back to Libby as she chewed on anything she could fit into her mouth. “Did you notice she’s getting two more teeth on the bottom?”

“Yes, son. Remember I’m the one who pointed them out to you?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, right.”

Annoyed, Sarah set her pen down next to her shopping list, then marched over, gathered up her granddaughter and a handful of toys and put her in the playpen before hauling her son by the arm to the far end of the room.

Matthew Sr. stopped what he was doing to watch them over the top of his reading glasses. Then he closed the book in his hands and joined their huddle at the edge of the room. “What’s up?”

“I have no idea.”

“What’s up,” Sarah whispered in frustration, “is that you’re sitting around like a lump, and it’s not doing you any good. And when you’re no good for yourself, you’re no good for that little girl.”

His dad nodded. “I have to agree with your mother. Maybe it’s time to figure out your next steps. Get some structure into your day. You might even feel better if you went back to work.”

Matthew didn’t know how to deal with the vast array of emotions he’d been feeling. Anger, frustration, sadness, and regret. All those and then some were taking their toll, and even though he knew it on the inside, he didn’t realize that it was that obvious on the outside.

“I wanna go back to Windsong,” he blurted out, surprised to see relief in his parent’s eyes when they glanced at one another. “I guess I haven’t wanted to tell you.”

“Oh, honey.” Sarah hugged him. “Why not? We trust you know what’s best for you and Libby. We’re just happy you’ve even considered your future.”

“Very happy.” His dad clapped him on the back. “We’re gonna miss you both, but we’re always here whenever you need us. All you have to do is call.”

The next day, Matthew got out of bed bright and early, showered, packed, and loaded up the SUV with his and Libby’s things. When it came time to say goodbye to his parents, he promised to keep in touch.

“Try to call at least once a week and let us know how you’re doing,” his mother said.

“Call as often as you can,” his dad countered. “We’ll be here.”

After a final round of hugs and kisses from his mom and a firm handshake and hug from his dad, Matthew strapped Libby into her car seat and headed back to Windsong.

** *

“You’vegotto be kidding me!” Matthew snapped when he showed up to drop Libby off at Callie Macomb’s in-home daycare the next day. “Who told you that?”

“That came straight from the Chief,” Justin said, hating to be the bearer of bad news. “If you got a problem with it, you need to take it up with him.”

As Matthew paced the length of the porch, he was thankful Callie had Libby inside while Justin took him outside to talk. He felt like punching something or someone. Then he thought about Grant Adams and wished he would have punched him when he had the chance. Repeatedly.

“So that’s it?” he ranted. “I have no say in the matter. I don’t even get the chance to prove I’m fine.”

Justin watched as Matthew stomped back and forth.

“Is that what you call this thing you’re doin’ here?” he said. “Fine?”

Matthew turned on Justin. “Is this why I came home to a note taped to my front door and messages on my voicemail from some guy named Pastor Humble?”

Justin shrugged. “I guess.”

“Pastor Humble? Is that seriously his name?”

“Hey, man, take it easy. As far as preachers go, Pastor Pete’s a real cool dude,” Justin said. “Maybe you oughta give it a shot.”

“So, it’s the church or a shrink?”

“Well, it’s technically called Grief Group. But it isata church.”

“Really?” Matthew stared at Justin. “You’re gonna split hairs over this right now?”

“Sorry, man, I’m not trying to be a jerk about it. So don’t go shootin’ the messenger.”

It was then that Matthew realized Justin wasn’t entirely happy with the situation either.

“Just let me ask ya this… if the Chief hadn’t insisted on these terms, are ya really sure you’d be okay comin’ back to the job?”

“Yes!” Matthew snapped before even thinking it over.

“Really?”

“I think so,” he said after taking a beat. “I mean, I’d like to think so.”

“See, buddy.” Justin clapped him on the back. “That’s precisely why the Chief wants this. Ifyouaren’t sure, why shouldhe be?”

After leaving Libby with Callie Macomb, Matthew went to have a closed-door sit-down conversation with Chief Bennett to plead his case.

“So, I guess you heard?”

“Yes, sir. That’s why I’m here.”

“Save it, son.” Jerome shook his head. “My mind’s made up.”

“That’s it? You won’t even hear me out?”

“I’m not the person you need to talk to. But you’ve got options. Make your decision and talk to one of them. Then we can get ya back to business once ya get the all clear.”

Matthew didn’t know much about Chief Bennett, but he knew enough to understand that what the Chief said was what the Chief meant.

“I’d like to go home and think about it if that’s possible.”

“Of course, it is. Take all the time you need. But don’t take too long. You’ve been a good addition to this department, and I’d like to have ya back out there if you’re able.”

“Thank you, sir,” Matthew said. “I appreciate you seeing me.”

“I appreciate you coming in,” the chief said as Matthew got up, saluted his commanding officer, then headed for the door. “And, son, on behalf of the entire department, I’m real sorry for your loss.”

** *

That Friday night, Matthew entered Hope Community Church, searching for someone to help him find his way. But there didn’t seem to be anyone around.

Remembering he still had the Grief Group flyer the Chief’s secretary, Josie, had given him, Matthew pulled the folded paper from his back pocket to figure out how to locate the kitchen.

“Pastor says you should ignore the part about meeting in the sanctuary,” Josie had said. “Apparently the group is significantly smaller now, so they meet in the kitchen.”

Considering how empty the parking lot was, Matthew wondered if he’d come too early.

Still, it was better to be early than late since he was hoping to make a good impression on the pastor.

And why not? The man’s word pulled enough weight in this town to save him from getting his head shrunk by Dr. Haven Harper.

If he was lucky, Pastor Peter Humble would release him from this Grief Group thing sooner rather than later.

“Hello…” he called out, entering an empty kitchen. “Anyone home?”

“Well, hello there, you must be Matthew.” A smiling face peered out from an open closet door, followed by a lean form and a firm handshake. “Peter Humble, nice to finally meet you.”

“Thanks for having me.”

“Hey, do you mind helping me grab a few chairs? There’s a stack in here practically welded together.”

After helping pull three chairs from the top of a stack and replacing the heavy boxes that had been on top of them, Matthew thanked the pastor again for the opportunity to be included in the group.

“I’m really looking forward to returning to work,” he added for good measure.

“Please, take a seat,” Peter suggested after doing his best to form three chairs into a circle. “Dinner is on its way. Can I get you some coffee or tea while we wait?”

Matthew looked confused. “Is this it? Just three of us?”