37. Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Roxie
I wake up overheated and so damn comfortable. Lennox’s body is intertwined in mine, and leaving is the last thing I want to do. But adulting and all that deem it necessary for me to wake up and move on with the day. Ivy has school, and I need to do some research on these classes Dr. Grant wants me to run before I meet with the lawyer.
I shake his shoulder a little, seeing if he’ll wake up. His arm is dead weight on top of me, so just rolling out is proving to be difficult.
“No, stay in bed,” he whines. It’s super cute.
“Can’t. Gotta get Ivy to school, sorry,” I whisper.
“Only because it’s for Ivy.” He rolls over with a smile on his face.
After getting out of bed, I stretch my back. “What are you doing today?” It’s still weird that he isn’t my patient anymore. We still work out and do stretches, but it’s definitely not professional.
“Probably go bug Arlo or Oakley. Make sure they know I’m still kicking.” He stretches his arms up so the sheet falls just above his pelvis.
“That’s good,” I say, distracted.
“Rox.” His laughter makes my eyes jolt back up to his. “You can have whatever you want later, once we’re both back home.” He winks .
“Yup. Sounds great,” I mutter, trying to figure out if there is a way I can get Ivy ready for school and out the door without actually having to do it. Nope, there isn’t.
I’m still feeling a little on edge after last night as well. All the emotions that were wrung from my body are floating around my head, making me feel off-kilter today.
I mosey over to my side of the house after kissing Lennox one last time, then get dressed before Ivy wakes up.
Breakfast is almost made when Ivy and Lennox come strolling into the main living area.
“Morning, Lenny!” Ivy calls before her brows furrow. “What happened to your body?”
I look up, concerned, only to realize Lennox is in the process of putting on a shirt. It’s the first time he’s let her see any of his scars, and I’m very nervous about how he’s going to react.
“Ivy—”
“I had a run-in with a very bad guy, and he wasn’t very nice to me. They’re just scars now and they don’t hurt, so no worries, Pixie.” He says it so casually it blows me away. Sure, I’ve seen his amazing progress, but this is something else entirely. He didn’t tense up, didn’t lash out; he just explained things to Ivy in a way she would understand and moved on. It’s huge for him.
I lock eyes with him and mouth, I’m proud of you, before plating up breakfast.
While I’m driving Ivy to school, I make a decision that will change everything if she isn’t on board.
“Hey, Ives?”
“Huh? ”
“What do you think of Bluebell Falls? Of living with Lennox?” I ask.
“I think it’s the bestest place ever. And Lenny is the bestest person ever.”
“How do you feel about staying … permanently?” It’s a lead-in to what I really want to ask, but I’m starting to chicken out.
“Yes, pwease.” She says it so simply. I guess, for her, it is.
“And how would you feel about Mommy and Lennox getting closer?” I cringe at my tact. She may be five, but she is far wiser than her age.
“Like girlfwiend, boyfwiend?”
“Something like that.”
“Yes,” she hisses under her breath. “I’ve been waiting forever for this!” She fist-pumps in her car seat.
“We’ve only been here a few months, Bug.” I chuckle.
“I know. But Lenny likes you. And you like Lenny. You just had to figure it out.” She says it like she’s exasperated being the only one who saw the connection between us. Like she was playing matchmaker the whole time and waiting for us to get our heads out of our asses. I love her for it.
“We did just have to figure it out. And you’re okay staying at the cabin? We can look for somewhere else to live.” I want to be one hundred percent sure she’s comfortable wherever we are.
“No! Pwease, can we stay at Lenny’s? I love my room.”
“I’m glad you do, Bug. We can absolutely stay.” Contentment, that’s the overriding emotion I’m feeling right now.
The rest of the morning goes off without a hitch. I’m texting Lennox throughout, keeping him updated as to when I’ll be back home, and he does the same. I also fill him in on the conversation I had with Ivy on the drive. It solidifies a huge life change, and I’m feeling excited when I pull up to the cabin.
I’m distracted by our flirty conversation when I unlock the door, not even realizing it’s already unlocked. When I walk into the cabin, I know immediately something is wrong. It’s like the air is disturbed, and something very wrong happened here.
I walk to our side of the house quickly, not thinking about being quiet or if someone is still in the house. When I look into my room, it looks a little tussled, which sends panic through my veins. I run to Ivy’s room and see the whole thing’s trashed. Everything is torn apart, ripped, and broken. Tears drip from my eyes.
Falling to my knees, I take in the damage and know there’s a small chance it was anyone other than Greg. Who else would break in here and destroy Ivy’s room?
Everything was too good to be true. I thought I had more time to get a plan together. Instead, I’m crying on the floor of the only room that Ivy has ever felt was hers. How will she ever feel comfortable here again?
I give myself ten minutes to panic before pulling out my phone and sending a group text.
Me:
SOS. Someone broke into Lennox’s cabin and destroyed Ivy’s room. I need help.
I can’t think beyond that. The fear takes over. The need to run floods my system, but I’m frozen in place.
I’m not sure how long I stay like that, breaking down on the floor of my daughter’s room, but before I know it, I’m surrounded by arms. Ainsley, Willow, and Rina surround me. The crying only worsens as I feel their support.
“Shhh, it’s okay. We’re all here.” Ainsley. She continues to tell me it’ll be okay and they’re all here for me.
It finally calms me down enough that the tears stop. The girls give me room before helping me up and walking me to the living room.
I’m greeted by just Ledger, and my heart sinks a little that the others aren’t here. Arlo and Oakley would know what to do. Although, they’ll probably be pissed I messed up the scene or something.
“Hey, you okay?” Ledger stands up, wiping his hands on his jeans.
“No.” I let out a watery chuckle. Plopping down on the couch, I lean forward with my head in my hands. My head is pounding. I need Lennox, and he’s not here. I take a deep breath, pulling myself together enough to explain everything that happened.
“I came home from dropping off Ivy and unlocked the door, although now I know it wasn’t locked. I walked in, and the whole cabin felt off, so I went to my room first and saw it tossed up a little before running to Ivy’s. I didn’t touch anything,” I add.
“Okay. The guys are on their way, so they’ll handle all that. How are you feeling?” Ledger asks. His brotherly concern transferring to me fills me with that sense of hope that, if I can end this once and for all, Bluebell Falls will finally be home.
“I feel … blindsided. They’ve never broken in somewhere before.”
Willow brings me a mug of tea before sitting on the chair to my side. Rina is pacing with her phone in her hand.
“I’m sorry I freaked you all out. I’m sure you have a ton of other stuff to do.” I suddenly feel like I’m intruding in their lives by freaking out. This is my problem, not theirs. It’s incredible that they are here for me at the drop of a hat, but it’s not their battle. I know that.
Rina’s head snaps up before she stomps in front of me, squatting down. “We have nothing better to do, I promise you that. You’re a part of Bluebell Falls, and that means we’re here for each other. Add in the fact that you brought Lennox back, and we’ll always be here for you regardless of what happens between the two of you. You and Ivy are important to all of us.”
I nod as the tears fall again, feeling wholly unworthy of this support. Is this how families work? I don’t have an answer, but this is the kind of environment I want to raise Ivy in.
“Thank you.” I sit up and look at everyone filling the cabin. “All of you.”
Smiles greet me at the same time the front door crashes open. It scares me so much that I pull my knees to my chest as if it will protect me.
“Roxie.” Lennox’s relieved voice hits me straight in the chest.
Arlo and Oakley follow him and immediately go to our side of the cabin.
“I’m okay.” I can’t even scrape the words out without breaking down as Lennox picks me up and sits down on the couch with me in his lap.
He says soothing words on repeat while rubbing my back. He gives me time to be in my safe place and really understand what just happened.
Greg and Pam broke into the house; there’s no doubt in my mind. And now that my head has cleared a little, I know their escalation means I’ve run out of time. My appointment with the lawyer is tomorrow, and depending on what he says, I’m ending this one way or another.
They will not control my life anymore.
Not when I have so much good staring me in the face, begging me to stay here.