Chapter 3
“He’s touching her,” Daniel said from his place staring through the window of Remi’s old bedroom.
Avaleigh, sitting in the living room watching the morning news, heard his voice but didn’t hear what he’d said. “What?” she called out as she sipped her coffee.
Daniel’s footsteps preceded him into the living room. “I said, he’s touching her.”
“Is she recoiling?” Avaleigh asked.
“No.”
“Then you’re being an asshole again,” Avaleigh said, returning her attention to the television.
“Don’t you even care?” Daniel asked.
Avaleigh pressed her lips together and looked at him. “Where did he touch her?”
“Her hand. He reached across the table and laid his hand on hers.”
“What did she do?” Avaleigh asked.
“She just sat there.”
“She didn’t pull her hand away?”
“No.”
“She didn’t crawl across the the table and plant herself in his lap?”
“No!” Daniel answered.
“She didn’t rip her clothes off and demand he take her on the spot?”
“Of course not!” Daniel answered, his voice rising with the offensive picture Avaleigh had painted for him.
“Then you’re still being an asshole. Leave her alone.”
“What if he does something she doesn’t like?”
“She’ll probably punch him.”
“You just don’t get it!” he announced.
“I do. You’ve spent your whole life protecting me, then protecting the kids.
Remi has grown up and moved on with his life, most likely on his way to becoming a full time part of Riley’s pride.
Now you’re down to just me and Angelle. We’re both human.
We’re both vulnerable. You have nothing to do with yourself other than protecting us.
You’re in overdrive and frankly you’re driving me insane. ”
“Avaleigh!”
“No, don’t Avaleigh me! Most of the time I’m content to sit back and let you do your thing, but this is really pushing my limits. Leave her alone! Angelle is a grown ass woman. If she needs you, or me, she’ll let us know. Stop underestimating her. Give her the freedom to find her way.”
“But…”
“Daniel, I love you, but you’re treading on ground that is not yours to tread on. And you’re pissing me off. Stop watching her. Stop inserting yourself into her private life, and trust the young lady we raised. She’s quiet. She’s not stupid, and she’s not weak. Leave her the hell alone.”
Daniel stayed in place, watching her, listening to her for only a few moments longer before he stomped into the kitchen.
“And for Gods sake, find another hobby that doesn’t include spying on our daughter!” Avaleigh called after him.
~~~
Angelle finished off the food on her plate and sat back in her chair. “I’m stuffed.”
“Me, too,” Boon said, though he kept eating.
“What are we going to do with all this food?” she asked, looking at the platters, they’d just managed to make a dent in.
“I hear y’all have leftovers?” Maverik said, opening the door and leaning out far enough to peek around the door frame.
Angelle smiled. “Yes! So much left over.”
“I’ll help with that,” he said, walking out onto the deck and taking a seat at the table.
He looked around. “Damn. I need a plate. Hold on, I’ll be back.
” Maverik disappeared inside the house before coming right back with a plate in his hands.
“Got it!” he announced as he sat down and started loading up his plate.
“What are you doing?” Valerie asked, following him out onto the deck.
“Having breakfast,” he answered.
“You already had breakfast,” Valerie said.
“Yeah, but I can always eat.”
Boon laughed. “Sounds like my dad. There is never a time he can’t find room for more food.”
“See, baby?” Maverik asked, “he gets me.”
“Are y’all finished?” Valerie asked.
“I am,” Angelle said.
“I’m getting there,” Boon said.
“Would either of you like some coffee?” Valerie asked.
“No, ma’am. But thank you,” Angelle said.
“Of course, baby,” Valerie said.
“No, ma’am. I’m still working on the apple juice,” Boon said.
“I was going to put out orange juice, but Boon reminded me that you prefer apple juice,” Valerie said.
“How’d you know that?” Angelle asked.
“I pay attention,” Boon said proudly. He finished off the potatoes and onions on his plate and nodded enthusiastically. “You’re right. These are really good.”
“Told you,” Angelle said.
“So, what’s on the agenda for the day?” Valerie asked.
“I’m gonna eat most of this, then I might need a nap,” Maverik answered.
“I meant Boon and Angelle,” Valerie said, playfully tapping his shoulder.
Boon opened his mouth to answer, but Angelle beat him to it. “I was about to invite Boon to take a walk to the creek with me. Maybe try to fish a little.”
“Oh, he’ll love it there. It’s a really pretty place,” Valerie said. “Give me a sec, I’ll be right back,” she said.
Valerie came back with a plastic container and scooped most of the potatoes and sausage into it, then went back inside. A few minutes she was back with a picnic basket. She set it on the deck beside Boon. “Some water, some snacks, and the rest of your potatoes,” she said to Angelle.
“Thank you, Aunt Valerie.”
“You’re welcome, baby. Now, go out and have a nice relaxing day.”
Boon watched Angelle, wanting to be sure that she really wanted him to tag along.
She stood up, then pushed her chair back in place at the table. “I’m going to go change into real shoes, then I’ll be ready.”
“I’ll walk you home,” Boon said, getting up to walk back to her house.
“It’s just right there,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”
Boon nodded as he shoved his hands in his pockets and watched her go.
“Just kills you to let her walk herself back home, doesn’t it?” Maverik asked, his eyes focused intently on Boon.
“It does,” Boon admitted.
“Little advice… she’s not from the place you’re from.
And contrary to what a lot of people might think, she’s not helpless.
Don’t mistake her nature for weakness. The best thing you can do is give her the freedom to be herself, without trying to control her space.
She’ll let you know if she needs you to step up,” Maverik said.
“Or just wants you to,” Valerie added.
“Thank you,” Boon said.
“I know you got all the instincts like we do, but don’t smother the girl. She is Avaleigh’s daughter, and won’t take kindly to that,” Maverik said.
~~~
The front door opened and Angelle stepped calmly inside, then rushed through the house to her room.
“Hey, is everything alright?” Avaleigh asked. She sat forward in her chair, but forced herself to stay where she was, despite wanting to follow Angelle to her bedroom
“Yep! Everything's good. Just need to change shoes.”
Angelle came back into the living room barefoot and carrying a pair of socks and her tennis shoes. She sat down on the sofa and started putting them on.
“Where you going?” Avaleigh asked.
“To the creek.”
“Had enough already, huh?” Daniel asked, joining them in the living room.
“I invited him to take a walk with me.”
“Oh, okay,” Daniel said, trying not to allow his concern to show.
“We might try fishing for a little while, too,” Angelle said, standing up and stomping her feet to make the legs of her jeans fall down over the tops of her shoes.
“That sounds like fun,” Daniel said.
“I thought so.”
“No better way to get to know somebody than inviting them to share in the things you enjoy,” Avaleigh said.
“Yeah, that’s true. Boon said something like that, too.”
“You like him,” Avaleigh said, smiling softly.
Angelle paused, then looked at Avaleigh.
“I really do. But that means I might really get hurt if he doesn’t end up liking me like he says he does.
It’d be a lot simpler if he never told me how much he likes me.
He says I’m his mate, but I should take all the time I need to be comfortable and make sure he’s what I want. ”
“Then why is he here all the time?” Daniel asked.
Angelle shrugged. “Because how will I know if he’s what I want if I don’t spend time with him. Besides, he needs to see what I’m really like. But if I let him see what I’m really like, and he doesn’t like me, that’ll be the part that hurts.”
“There’s no guarantee in anything in life,” Avaleigh said.
“Not even between mates. You just have to decide that what things might be, or could be, are worth the risk of it not turning out the way you want it to. Besides, this is just the beginning for y’all.
Let it happen. See how it progresses. Enjoy being with him, spend time with him, and see how it goes from there. ”
Angelle nodded, but seemed unconvinced.
Daniel sat down on the sofa near where she still stood, and looked up at her.
“Angelle, Mom’s right. There is never a guarantee.
But if you’re meant to be with somebody, and that person makes you happy, keeps you safe, loves you more than their own life, would you want to miss out on that because you’re afraid of what might happen? ”
Angelle shook her head. “No. But what if something doesn’t work out?”
“Then you’ll survive, and you’ll move on, and you’ll be smarter if you ever want to try again some time later on with somebody else.
And you’ll never wonder ‘what would have happened if I’d tried’ later on down the line.
The only regret you should have at the end of your life are the things you didn’t try, not the things you did try that didn’t work out. ”
“Because those things are called lessons,” Avaleigh said.
“Exactly,” Daniel agreed. “If it doesn’t work out, then at least you have the peace of knowing you tried your best. You won’t have to wonder.”
Angelle suddenly moved closer to Daniel and hugged him tightly. “Thanks, Daddy. You’re right. I’m not going to let fear stop me from finding out if we’re really supposed to be together.”
“Good girl,” Daniel said, patting her back. “But, are you afraid of him?” he asked, unable to discount the possibility.
“No. I’m afraid of growing to need him, and not being able to have him.”
“Oh, well, then I just kick his ass,” Daniel said matter-of-factly.
Angelle laughed.
Avaleigh laughed.