38. Spoiled
Spoiled
Elena
I can’t believe he did that.
The truck is loaded , from the cab to the bed, full of all kinds of stuff.
From groceries, to clothes for her and I, to a bean bag chair for Cynthia’s room…there’s barely enough room for us on the drive home.
She didn’t even need that fluffy thing. To her credit, she didn’t ask.
Wade’s the one who saw her lingering near it, then randomly came back with the “sold” label and had it wrapped up for taking it home.
I glance at her asleep again in the backseat and shake my head.
“What’s wrong?” Wade’s deep whisper is followed by his warm grip on my thigh.
“You’re spoiling us.”
His mustache tugs up at the corner of his mouth. “But I want to.”
Squeezing my legs around his fingers, I let my own trace the inside of his elbow. “You’re a good daddy.”
His heavily lidded gaze finds me, then he drags his eyes back to the road. “I want a million of ‘em, Elena. Can we do that?” His words are quiet, but the meaning behind them resonates in an echo in my mind.
“You really are serious?” I guess if I was worried about kids, I should have made him wear a condom.
Except, I’m not.
He grunts and pulls his hand away. “When you call me ‘daddy’, it hits me here.” He reaches down to cup his groin with a hungry grin in my direction.
I have to fight the laugh.
“But when she calls me ‘dad’?” A low rumble climbs out of his chest as he pats his heart. “It hits me here like a damn spear.” His fingers tuck back between my legs high enough his pinky brushes the swell of my pussy. “I want that, with you, a million times over.”
“Wade—” I bite my lip to try and hold back the tears that are suddenly making my vision blurry. “—you know that means you’d be stuck with me?” I can’t blink fast enough to keep the droplets from spilling down my cheeks.
He glances in the rearview mirror, then slows the truck down and pulls off the shoulder.
Before I can protest, he’s on my side flinging my door open.
He reaches across me, unbuckling my seat belt and pulling my legs out to face him.
I love it when he manhandles me, but am also completely confused when he lifts me easily to set me on the small incline.
Except when he digs in his shirt pocket and drops to his knee, it hits me what he’s doing.
The diamond glimmers in the sun between his thick fingers.
“I love our family, Elena. I don’t ever want to wake up another morning without you. Will you let me be your daddy forever?” His brow furrows seriously, reminding me of when Cynthia is concentrating on one of her drawings.
“You better say ‘yes’!” Cynthia yells out.
She’s unbuckled and draped between the two front seats to watch.
“How can I argue with that?” I grab the brim of his cowboy hat and tilt it back far enough I can kiss him. “Of course I will.”
His arms crush me against his muscular body until I can’t breathe. As he loosens his hold, his lips brush my ear. “I was afraid this was all too fast. I didn’t want to wait though. I don’t want to lose you, too.”
I’m not sure why it makes me wince. He’s talking about Mom.
But then I realize, it’s okay that he loved her.
If he hadn’t, none of this would have happened.
So, yes. I can love him fully, without jealousy over his past. Because it is giving me a future I never dreamed could have existed.
“Today is the best day of my life!” Cynthia squeals, bouncing in her seat.
Wade chuckles as he lifts me into the truck. “Hold that memory tight. We’re on our way to meet your grandpa next.”
Her face falls. “Is he mean?”
Wade snorts. “Only to me. He’s gonna ask you what color horse you want.” He turns, bracing against my backrest to look at her. “In all honesty, he’s just as excited to meet you as I was.”
“Great,” she groans, buckling her belt. “Now you made me cry happy tears, too.”
I haven’t spent much time around Wade’s father, but each short visit was pleasant enough.
He’s been polite, yet stand-offish.
When Wade raps his knuckles against the door, then pushes it open, Abraham stands from his recliner.
His gray hair is combed slick and his shirt is pressed, much different than the every other time I’ve seen him.
Granted, that was often when he was on his way back and forth to the pasture to take care of his horse, or running the tractor.
“Dad? This is Cynthia, your granddaughter.” Wade steps to the side, every bit the proud father.
I twist my new ring nervously and give my sister a small encouraging nod.
When she steps around me, Abe’s eyes well.
“There’s no denying you. I can see your grandma and your dad in you.” His chin trembles and he holds out his callused palm. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You’re not as old as I thought you’d be,” she says bluntly, sliding her fingers into his hand. “Do you have any pictures of her?” Her gaze moves around the room, then stops over a series of framed sketches featuring horses in a variety of poses. “Did you draw those, grandpa?”
She lets go, fixated on the pictures.
He gives a soft chuckle. “I did. Don’t pay them any mind, they aren’t very good.”
She props her hands on her knees to peer closer. “No way, these are awesome. I can’t make animals look real yet.”
“She’s quite the artist too, Dad. I bet you two could learn a lot from each other.” Wade rocks on his heels with a smile.
Her lower lip pops out. “I suck at real life stuff, but I love making funky things. Objects and landscapes, mainly.”
“It’s my hobby now that I’m retired.” Abe gestures towards the dining room.
Well, studio. Easels and a variety of sketchbooks are piled amidst a scattering of charcoals and pencils of all different sizes.
“Wow!” Cynthia’s jaw drops as she beelines for the eclectic mess. “Is it okay if I come and draw with you?”
Abe smiles, still obviously struggling with tears. “Any time.” Then he pauses, and surprisingly turns to me. “I heard I might be gaining two new family members in the same day?” His brows raise and he cocks his head.
“Dad,” Wade grumbles.
Abe throws up his palms. “Sorry. Too soon?”
That makes me laugh. “It’s fine. Yes, thank you.” I hold up my hand to showcase the new diamond adorning it.
“I had an inside scoop.” He winks at me. “Esther’s ring looks good on you. I know she’d be happy that you have it. It belonged to her grandmother before her.”
My breath hitches. Wade gave me his mother’s ring?
I turn my wrist to see it in the new light.
“That makes it even more special.” I find myself moving to Wade and threading my arm around his waist. “It’s an honor.”
There aren’t any traditions left in my own family. Abuse from my father and then Mom’s decline pretty much erased any sense of history.
It feels like I’ve been accepted into some sort of secret elite club to be trusted with such a cherished keepsake.