Here in My Heart: A Novella (Echoes of the Heart) by Anna DeStefano Page A

wanting to help with the kids. I think he keeps in touch a little more with Travis. All I do know for sure is that Oliver’s choices now have nothing to do with what Brad did seven years ago. And I don’t think Vivian’s do, either.”
    “He . . . Brad talked her into financing my radKIDS classes, after he—”
    “After he asked Vivian to let you move in here, and give you the manager’s spot at the restaurant? Yeah, we knew that, too.”
    Dru shook her head, wondering if she understood anything or anyone anymore. “You and Mom knew?”
    “You wouldn’t have wanted him involved.” Joe sighed. “Vivian asked Marsha and me for advice. She felt bad about not telling you, but we agreed that if she did, you’d never have taken her up on her offer. You were still so broken up about your brother. You were determined to blame everything that had happened on Brad. Eventually, things were working out so well, you helping out around here and taking care of more and more of the business, it didn’t seem important that you knew how it all started.”
    “It’s important.”
    Joe’s eyebrows rose. “Because it means you might have been at least partially wrong about Brad? Or because now you have to either deal with him, or turn your back on the last thing his grandmother will ever ask you to do for her? If Vi really wanted to make trouble between you two, she wouldn’t have waited this long to do it. I honestly believe she means well. She’s convinced that you and Brad partnering up will do even more good for both of you.”
    “I don’t want more.” Dru was exhausted, and her night wasn’t over by a long shot. She looked around her. “This house has been wonderful to live in, but it’s not my home. And I love my job, but I’ll love the next one, too. Of course I want things to stay the way they are. But not like this. Working with Brad—pretending that doing this together would change anything once Vivian’s gone—would be wrong. It would be—”
    “A huge risk, hooking your futures together, even if it’s just on a business level? You’re right; it would be. And more than any of our other kids, you don’t take risks. Your mother and I have always been proud of you, Dru, because of how great you are with people. But you play your personal life so safe, while you focus on taking care of everyone else.”
    “Is that so bad?”
    So Dru wasn’t reckless. So what if she didn’t spend her life shaking things up? Forget about me , Brad had said. Do this for yourself. But how could she, when working with him might get her heart trampled all over again?
    “Is it such a crime to be satisfied with the things that are already mine? Isn’t that what you and Mom have always done, no matter how much more you could have had if you hadn’t taken in one foster child after another?”
    “Of course it’s not a crime.” Joe sounded as accepting as ever of whatever Dru decided to do, even if he didn’t agree with her. “But your mother and I have taken a lot of risks in our time, so we could do exactly what we’ve wanted all these years. And if we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have had half of you kids along for the ride. There are no guarantees, even when you play it safe. And love is a risk you shouldn’t protect yourself from. When you let yourself, Dru, you love bigger than anyone I’ve known.”
    “I’m not in love with Brad.”
    “Then what about this house and your job at the Whip? And Vivian? Is not having to deal with her grandson worth turning your back on all of that? She wants to see you two letting go of what’s happened. She wants to see you, especially, not being afraid to reach for something more, once she’s no longer here to help you.”
    “I’m not afraid.” Getting the words out made Dru’s throat hurt, the way it did when she had a cold and she had to swallow whatever medicine the doctor prescribed.
    “Vivian’s offered to give you security, a permanent home here. And it’s upset you