Chapter 16 #2
That makes a lot of sense and the minuscule peace of mind definitely doesn’t go unappreciated. We both fall silent as down below, Easton decides to finally look up his test scores. I know before Brady says a word, but it’s still a relief to hear it spoken aloud. Blakely swipes at her eyes.
“Maybe we all needed that win,” she jokes.
No kidding. It’s taking a lot for me not to join her in the waterworks.
Coming up short again and again is wearing on everyone, and dear God, does Easton deserve this.
He doesn’t have a clue how smart he is, because this one thing has defined him during the darkest days of his life.
Now that he’s dragging himself out, he needs to see he can accomplish anything.
He’s amazing; anything he sets his mind to is as good as done, but he hasn’t quite figured that out yet.
I should tell him I knew on day one. Not a single second of our time together have I not been completely enthralled by his perseverence. He inspires me every single day.
Blakely and I linger on the stairs like weirdos until Brady and Easton start verbally wondering where we are. We trudge down the steps in unison to find breakfast in progress. Brady’s got a dish towel tossed over his shoulder, manning the stove, and Easton is sneaking fruit behind his back.
“Hey, quit that,” he chastises as my Chaos gets caught red-handed. “You can’t eat all the raspberries.”
Easton giggles. “Damn. Did all this come from my kitchen?” Blake asks, getting an eyeful of the small appliances in various stages of use.
Brady spins and grins when he sees us. Easton runs at me so fast, his socks slide on the hardwood when he tries to stop. A soft uumph escapes on impact, but the bone-crushing hug is well worth it. “Guess what?”
“What?”
All his pretty white teeth are on display as he beams at me. It warms me down to my core. “I passed the GED test.”
Despite hearing him find out, the news coming from his mouth has my heart ready to burst. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. So unbelievably proud. You worked so hard for this.”
He ducks, hiding the blush that stains his cheeks in my neck. “We’re celebrating,” Brady announces, pointing a wooden spoon at us. “Today is a good day. I do not give a single damn about the other things going on. Easton is the smartest person alive, and that means we go all out.”
“Hear, hear,” Blake adds. “Congratulations, lovebug.” He mumbles something resembling a thank you, growing beet red from all the attention. I’m loving it. “Okay, but actually. There is no way all of this is mine.”
The glint in Brady’s eye screams soapbox rant incoming. Easton must see the same because he pulls me to the island where he can continue his berry thievery in peace while Brady is preoccupied. He doesn’t let go of my hand once. I’m so in love with him.
“How would you know? I took most of this out of boxes. Why have all this stuff and not use it? You’re insane.”
She rolls her eyes. “Wedding presents, obviously. I’m sorry that my lack of domesticity is so offensive to you, Brady Callaghan.”
He points at her. “What is offensive is that you have a high-end ice cream maker and you don’t give it a proper home. A proper home with me!”
I laugh as Easton leans over to whisper, “Are you enjoying the first row seat to the bickering I put up with on a daily basis?”
“Very much,” I assure him as Blakely yelps. “You’re making ice cream? What the hell kind of crazy shit do you have going on? It’s barely nine in the morning, you fucking weirdo.”
My hand receives a firm smack when the dictator catches me mid-heist. He snatches the bowl and moves it to the other side of the counter.
“You two are not slick. Stop eating the berries. And yes, I sure the fuck am making ice cream. It’s supposed to go on top of the berry cobbler if these hooligans would quit depleting my supply.
And we’re having steak and potatoes. Maybe some carrots. ”
My jaw drops. “Maybe he’s got a point, Blake. Believe me, agreeing with his insanity is a low point for me, but I’m not sure you could give any appliance that kind of attention.”
She glares daggers, but it’s still not all that convincing.
It’s hard to not be aware of the shift back towards normal.
We’re an argumentative group, and it has been far too easygoing around here with everyone stressed to the max.
“I provide all things in my home with quality love and care. I resent your accusation otherwise.”
Brady scoffs. “The neglect I’m seeing here is absolutely criminal. I could sue. I should sue, come to think of it. For custody, obviously.”
They go on and on, riling each other back up when someone finally breaks character by laughing.
Easton is my accomplice, tossing in the occasional comment to keep it up purely for our entertainment purposes.
It’s the most fun I’ve had in ages. There is no shortage of love for my Chaos.
Even in the midst of the old lady bickering, he’ll get a shout out for being the smartest in the room.
They lay it on thick and mean every word of it.
Blake assured me in the hospital that she’d hold all of us together while we stitched ourselves back up and she certainly has. It's still a long road ahead, but walking it with the love of my life and two best friends makes it seem possible for the first time in a long time.