Chapter 22 #2
Maybe it’s why I want to be selfish with Mae. But it feels unfair to put my stuff on her, yet I want someone to lean on. I want someone to talk to.
I pull out my phone and text her. Even if she’s here for a year, I think it can be a really good one.
Cooper: I’m thinking about you.
Mae: Good morning to you too
Cooper: It’s basically afternoon
Mae: It’s 9 am
Cooper: Been up for about four hours
Mae: That sucks
The little bubbles pop up and disappear like she’s typing and then deleting what she said.
Mae: Why are you thinking about me?
Cooper: You take up quite a bit of space in my mind in general, and I was thinking about the next date I take you on.
Cooper: And I miss your lips.
Mae: That’s a lot of thoughts for 9 am.
I chuckle and start typing again.
Cooper: So that means you want to go on another date with me?
Mae: We’ve had two already
Cooper: That’s not an answer, stubborn
Mae: You are so annoying. Yes, I will go out on another date with you.
Mae: Is that clear enough?
Cooper: Damn, I love that attitude
Mae: *eye roll emoji*
Cooper: I’ll text you later with the details, but it might be a week or so, I hope that’s okay.
Mae: Is everything okay?
Cooper: I don’t know.
Mae: Is Naomi okay?
I smile at that. Her first thought was to make sure my daughter was safe.
Cooper: Yes, she’s fine. It’s the other stuff.
Mae: The other stuff you’re not ready to tell me, that has to do with Naomi?
Cooper: yep
Mae: Will you tell me one day?
I stare at her question as all the what if’s run through my head?
Cooper: yes
The bubbles pop up and disappear, then a link to a song comes through. Every Rose Needs a Jack by Gabby Barrett.
Mae: I don’t just listen to the 80s, but I heard green eyes and thought of you …
Cooper: songs got you thinkin’ about me, stubborn?
Mae: Whatever…
I smile and start playing the song, listening to the whole thing before I have to let my other reality set in.
I pull up the phone number for Rebekah and hit call. It’s time to rip off the band-aid.
My stomach churns with a deep sense of dread. Which isn’t fair to Rebekah, but it’s the only thing I can associate with her as of late.
“Hello?” Rebekah says.
“It’s Cooper.”
She’s silent for a moment.
“Thank you for calling,” she says softly.
“I was told you came to the ranch.”
“Please don’t be mad at me,” she whispers.
I huff. “You know, Rebekah, by about month three of raising my niece on my own, I stopped being angry and started to understand you were never coming back. So I’m not mad. I think I’m just confused at this point.”
She’s quiet, and I want to throw my phone, tell her never to come back again, but I can’t do any of that.
“I wondered how this conversation would go. I wanted to talk to you face to face, but you were obviously working. I saw her through the window.”
I take a deep breath. I know Naomi didn’t see her, but my hackles go up, anyway.
“She’s beautiful,” she says.
“She is. She’s a good kid. Kind, creative, brave, loving.”
“I’m sure you’ve done a great job with her,” she says.
I sigh and look up at the sky. “Rebekah, why now? What are you hoping to achieve?” I ask her.
Rebekah takes a deep breath. “I want a relationship with my daughter. I’ve worked really hard and I’m ready, Cooper. I’m ready to be a mom.”
Blood pounds in my ears, and I clamp down my rage. I want to scream, maybe even put my fist through something.
“How can I trust that you won’t turn around and leave her again? I won’t let you hurt my kid.”
“Your kid?” she says.
“Yes, Rebekah, my kid. I have raised her. By the grace of God, she is a good kid. But under no circumstances will I let you hurt her.”
“I know I hurt her before.”
“She cried for weeks. It was all I could do to calm her. She wanted her mother, and you weren’t there. All she kept saying was mama until one day she stopped. I won’t let you do that to her again,” I state.
“Please, Cooper, please let me try. I’m not asking to take her back. We can start small. Please,” she cries.
My jaw ticks, and I know it’s not a good idea. But if Rebekah is serious. This could be life-changing for Naomi, and I don’t want to be the one who keeps Naomi from her mother. If she’s better and got her act together, this could be a good thing for everyone.
I take a deep breath and remind myself. This is not for me. This is for Naomi.
“Here’s what we’re going to do. You will come to the ranch to spend some time with Naomi. You will have a couple hours. I’ll be there the entire time, and then you’ll leave. Once I see how it goes, we’ll go from there.”
“I can work with that,” she says.
“You don’t have a choice.”
“She’s still my daughter, Cooper,” she nearly spits.
“Yes, well, it’s time you own up to that. I’ll text you with the details later. I have to get back to work.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I grumble and hang up.
I would scream out into the sky, but I’m sure Naomi would hear it.
I’m scared, and I’m man enough to admit it because our lives are going to change.
How that will happen remains to be seen, but ever since Rebekah and I were teens, she always made things harder than they needed to be.
It wasn’t for lack of love in our house.
Rebekah has always had a wild streak that was more bad than good.
I think the lines started to blur with her the more she pushed.
My parents were at their wit’s end. They got her help even when they couldn’t afford it.
She’s been arrested plenty of times. She’d disappear for weeks, then appear at the front door.
So Rebekah showing up without notice isn’t out of character, but Naomi is involved now.