Chapter 27
Cooper
Heart in my throat and the absolute worst possible outcomes run through my head.
Did Naomi fall? Is she hurt?
Did Rebekah hurt herself and scare Naomi?
Is Rebekah okay?
Did Rebekah get fed up and leave Naomi on her own?
Any of it is possible, and I mentally slap myself across the face for leaving the ranch at all.
Gunning it up the gravel driveway to my house, I find my whole family standing outside.
I skid to a stop and throw the truck into park, launching myself out the door.
Fletcher is holding Naomi while Tatum talks to her. Tears stream down my daughter’s face, and Ledger is holding June back with both of his hands on her shoulders. And my aunt and uncle are speaking with Rebekah, who is also crying.
“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?” I say roughly and force myself to rein it in. I don’t need to scare Naomi anymore than she already is.
“Talk to her,” June spits, pointing at Rebekah.
I take a deep breath and climb up the stairs to the porch, and Uncle Mason looks like he’s barely holding it in while Aunt Dixie just looks at me sadly.
“We’ll give you two a minute,” Uncle Mason says, guiding his wife with him.
“Rebekah?” I ask, and don’t miss the fact that her bag is at her feet.
“Naomi started freaking out. I don’t know why, then she was screaming, and then June came in and she went off and…” Rebekah trails off and shakes her head.
“I can’t do this. I can’t do this,” she says, grabbing her bag and hustling down the stairs to her car.
A calm, deep rage settles over my shoulders. Sure, I could yell at her. Sure, I could call her a terrible mother, but I don’t. Instead, I watch her leave because right here and now, the other shoe has dropped, and that’s the end of it. We’re not doing this again.
Rebekah drives away without hesitation, and we all watch in silence as she disappears down the drive.
Despite the white hot fury rolling through me, I go to Fletcher and take Naomi from him. She glues herself to me, and we go inside. I can debrief with the family tomorrow. Right now, my only focus is my girl.
She sniffles, resting her cheek on my shoulder, and slips her hand into the edges of my hair. She’s always done that to calm herself ever since she was dropped into my arms.
When I get through the door, I almost trip over the toys strewn everywhere. A fort was built, but that looks like the only fun thing they did. I glance at the kitchen and it’s a mess with flour, bowls of popcorn strewn everywhere.
When I get to Naomi’s bedroom, I lay her on her bed and she sniffs, avoiding eye contact. I pull the covers over her and take my boots and hat off before climbing in next to her.
She snuggles in next to me, and I let us sit there for a second. I need to gather my thoughts, and she needs to calm down.
When I feel like we’re both ready, I look down at her and push her hair out of her face.
“Are you okay?” I ask her. I know she is. My family had her, but that’s not the point.
She nods against my chest.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” I ask.
She shakes her head, but then taps on my heart.
“Your heart hurts?” I ask her.
She sniffles, and I rub her back soothingly.
“Why is that?” I know it’s not a physical hurt, but it means her feelings were hurt or she’s upset.
“I wanted to bake banana bread. But she didn’t do it the way Grandma taught me, and I told her, and she got mad, then threw the bowl.
I started crying, and then she told me to stop, and that made me cry more.
Then she started crying, and she seemed angry, and I didn’t understand why.
I ran to my room to get my walkie talkie and then she was mad I ran from her, and it … scared me.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you, Naomi. I’m sorry for all of it.” I wish I could say she didn’t mean to scare Naomi, but I don’t know, and I doubt Rebekah will give me the full truth.
But I have to ask one last question, and I’m bracing myself for the answer.
“Did she hit you, Naomi? If she did, I need you to understand that you are not in trouble, you are safe, and it will not happen again,” I say as clearly as I can.
“No, she didn’t hit me.”
“Are you sure, princess?”
“Yes, we don’t lie,” she says, repeating my rule back to me. We don’t lie, and though I may not tell her everything, she is seven, I don’t lie to my kid. Even if it’s hard.
“Good girl. I love you, Naomi, and I’m so sorry this happened.”
“Is she going to come back?” she asks.
“No,” I answer quickly. Not if I have anything to do about it. “She won’t be back for a very long time.”
“Okay.”
Naomi bursts into tears, and my heart along with it.
“I love you, Naomi. I love you so much, and everything is going to be okay.”
She rubs her cheek against my chest as my shirt dampens with her tears. I hold her for so long she falls asleep in my arms. She’s out cold and I can’t find it in myself to move. Thank God she’s okay. I don’t know what I would have done with myself if she wasn’t there.
I catch myself dozing and tuck Naomi in, and drag my sorry butt to my own.
When my head hits the pillow, I remember I need to call Mae. I glance at the clock, and it’s midnight. She’s probably asleep, but I said I would call. I’ll just leave a message.
Rolling onto my back, I hold the phone to my ear and listen to the dial tone.
“Hello?” a sleepy voice answers.
“Hey, stubborn.”