14. Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Calista
W hile Skye is at school, Evan and I have fallen into a nice routine. If you can call it that, since it's only been one day. I got Skye ready for school, and my mom picked her up. We figured that for the first few days, until Evan was steadier on his feet, it would be best not to leave him alone. So, Mom agreed to take her with the promise that Dad would let her go home and take a nap since she had to be up so early. Dad happily agreed because it meant he could head out and have coffee with his friends and the other men and gossip about all the manly things like weather, hunting, and ranching. All the way around, it's a win-win.
After school, either Mom or Cody will pick her up and bring her home for the next few days. If someone is here with Evan, I will do it. At a time like this, it's really nice to have a big family to help out, and since Evan is considered family, everyone is happy to help.
While Evan is checking in at work, I clean up the kitchen where I made lunch. I’m lost in my own head when there is a knock on the door, and I about jump from my skin. If it was Mom or Cody with Skye, they would just walk right in, but she isn't even out of school yet, which I confirm by checking the time.
When I peek out the window beside the door, I spot Axel and Emelie on the porch. Opening the door with a welcoming smile, I see Emelie holding a large casserole dish.
“I hope it's okay. We stopped by because Phoenix and Jenna are watching little Noah, and we wanted to check in on Evan and see how he’s doing,” Emelie says as I step aside to let them in.
“How thoughtful of you! One meal I don’t have to cook. Evan is awake, but let me go make sure he is up for visitors,” I say.
“Okay,” Emelie says. “I'm going to put this in the freezer. Cooking instructions are taped to the top, and it's disposable, so there's no need to worry about getting the dish back to me.” Emelie smiles and walks toward the kitchen.
When I get upstairs, Evan is still on the phone. He holds up a finger, indicating he will just be a minute. The call quickly wraps up after that, and he turns to me.
“Axel and Emelie are here. Are you up for some visitors?”
“Yeah, will you clean off the couch so they can sit on it?” He nods toward the couch against the wall that has some clothes on it.
Picking up the clothes, I place them in his closet, close the door, and go downstairs.
“Come on up,” I call to them when I get about halfway down the stairs.
Turning around, I lead them back to his room.
Axel is so large that he takes up most of the loveseat, so he pulls Emelie onto his lap, leaving me to stand or take a seat on the bed. I chose to sit at the foot of the bed so I could still see everyone, but I'm far enough away from Even that I can still concentrate.
“How are you feeling?” Axel asks Evan.
“Better now that I'm home. Still sore and tired. The pain meds help, but they kick my ass. I'm beyond grateful Calista is here because I wouldn't be able to manage Skye much less the house on my own,” Evan says, sending me a look of gratitude.
“Well, we want to help any way we can. I put a chicken casserole in the freezer, and I'm sure the other guys will be by, and their girls will have food, too,” Emelie says, smiling at me. “Do you think Cody can be here for a few hours later this week so you can get away and have coffee with the girls and me?”
“I will make sure he does,” Evan says before I can answer. “She deserves a break, and since she is new in town, she needs to make some friends outside of Kaylee.”
Evan adds that bit on about Kaylee because he knows I was about to mention I have friends because I have her. But I keep my mouth shut and smile. Even Kaylee says I need to make more friends.
“I'd like that,” I say.
“Good, we are heading to the distillery later. I will set it up,” Axel says like it's a done deal and already taken care of. I feel like I should protest that he's my brother and I should make the arrangements. Really, I could do it, but if they want to hang out with me that much that they are willing to take care of setting it up and getting my brother to agree, I'm going to let them have at it.
“Why don't we let the guys chat, and you and I can go downstairs?” Emelie says, standing and taking my hand.
Before she can move, her husband grabs her other hand. She stops, leans in to kiss him and he finally lets her go.
I ended up having a great time with Emelie, just talking and drinking coffee. She helps me fold the towels and sheets I washed this morning until Axel comes down to collect her.
Before I know it, my mom shows up with Skye, who has a project for school to get started on.
Mom doesn't hang around. She has book club with some friends tonight, and Skye and I settle into the routine from last night of homework and getting dinner going while Evan naps. He wakes up for dinner and then helps Skye with homework as she talks his ear off before getting ready for bed.
Once again, she insists we both read her bedtime story. She picks a different princess book, and we read it to her. When she’ finally settled and asleep, I help Evan get ready for bed.
“Your mom and dad offered to come over and help me out, too, you know. If you want to hang out with Kaylee or get out of the house there are people who can step in and help. You aren't trapped here all day and night. I want you to know that,” he says.
“Don’t worry about it because I'm not. This might shock you, but I like spending time with you and Skye. Basically, I am a homebody, so I never was someone to go out all the time. Just give me time to snuggle in and read a book, and I'm good to go,” I smile at him.
“Well, it looked like you were going to turn down Emelie's offer for coffee, and I don't want you to say no because you think you have to be here all the time.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’m good with the way this is working.”
When he flinches from the pain, I get out his pain meds, and then help him up from bed and to the bathroom.
Once Evan is in bed, comfortable and halfway to sleep, I head to my room, change into my pajamas, and grab my book to read.
Getting lost in my book, I read a little longer than I had planned. When I look at the clock and see the time, I get ready for bed. Before I get a chance to turn off the light, a piercing scream comes from Skye's room. I jump out and run into the hall just as the light in Evan's room turns on.
“I got her, and I'll bring her to you,” I call to him and rush into Skye's room to find her thrashing around in her bed.
Turning the light on, I carefully wake her up. “Skye, you are having a nightmare.” I gently rub her back.
She wakes up and is disoriented, but she finally sits up.
“Here, let's go to your dad's room,” I say, picking her up and carrying her down the hall.
Gently, I set her in Evan's bed, and she crawls to his side, resting her head on his good shoulder.
“Want to talk about it, princess?” he asks her, but then he looks up at me and mouths ‘thank you.’
I turn to go back to my room when Skye calls out.
“No! Calista please stay!” she pleads.
I look at Evan since this is his room after all.
He nods to the other side of the bed.
“Okay, let me turn off all the lights in your room and mine, and I will be right back.” I step out of the room for a moment to give them some space. Taking my time, I turn off all the lights and grab Skye’s stuffie. There’s no way she’ll sleep without it.
When I get back to Evan's room, neither of them has moved, but both are wide awake. I hand Skye her stuffie, as she snuggled back in to Evan’s side. Turning off the light, I crawl into bed, keeping to the other side But Skye reaches out for my hand. When I hold it, she brings it back to her side, pulling me closer to the two of them. My shoulder brushes Evan's arm, which is wrapped around Skye.
We lay there in silence, and before we know it, Skye is back asleep.
“She said the nightmare was of me getting hurt,” he whispers.
“I am so sorry.” I rest my other hand on his arm.
“It's my worst nightmare as a father. But I love my job too,” he says.
“You don't have to make any choices right now. Just focus on getting better.”
He nods, shifting to get comfortable. When he starts to drift off, Skye turns and lets go of my hand.
I use that opportunity to slip slowly out of bed and head to my room. It feels like I'm intruding on an intimate Daddy-Daughter moment, and being this close to Evan is doing funny things to my heart and my brain.