Chapter 23 Kelcie #2
I end the call, and it feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest as I get up and hurry to the kitchen. My vision blurs, and horrible, strangled sounds come from me every time I try to inhale.
Yanking open the cupboard, my fingers fumble with the box, and I drop it. Sinking down to my knees, my panic increases until I begin to see spots dancing in front of my eyes. Somehow, I manage to get a pill out, and with a trembling hand, I shove it into my mouth, swallowing it dry.
I move onto my butt and lean against the cupboards, shutting my eyes tightly while I desperately try to breathe.
Feeling woozy, I struggle to remain conscious until the medication finally starts taking effect. When I manage to take deeper breaths, I’m so worked up that I burst out in tears and sob my heart out.
I just want to talk to Levi.
Levi
After I’ve washed my hands, I stand back and glance over the bathroom. I tiled the walls, put in a shower, and installed a new toilet today.
I used timber panels on the wall by the tub and for the floor, and the other two walls are covered in light granite.
Loving the finished look, I smile as I walk to the front of the house.
Since I’ve started working on the place, I’ve gotten a lot done. I spend every day on the farm and only go back to the motel to sleep.
The sellers were very happy with my offer, and Tish is doing her best to push everything through as quickly as possible. She’s hopeful the land will be transferred over to me in the next month or so. It would’ve been sooner, but with the holidays, everything is delayed.
She’s sold my house in Verona, and she’s dealing with another agent to sell the property in Grand Rapids.
A court case has been opened against Colby, but God only knows what will happen there. Honestly, I have zero interest in the matter.
The only thing missing from my life is Kelcie, and I haven’t heard anything from her since she called two weeks ago. Every passing day, it gets harder not to reach out to her, but she asked for space, and I have no choice but to give it to her.
I pat my thigh for Lick to follow as I leave the house and lock up behind me.
We head to the truck I bought two weeks ago, because the sedan couldn’t handle the dirt road anymore. The snow is coming down hard, and I hurry to get Lick into the cab before I climb behind the steering wheel.
Lick shakes her body to get rid of the snowflakes and curls up on the seat while I start the engine and carefully steer the truck toward the road.
Midway to Paoli, where the motel is, my phone starts beeping like crazy. I dig the device out of my pocket, thinking the messages are from Tish.
Seeing Kelcie’s name, I’m so surprised, I almost steer the truck off the road. I quickly pull over and put on my hazards before opening the message and devouring the words, then my fingers move as fast as possible as I type out a reply.
Levi: It’s so good to hear from you. Let me know when works for you. I can come over, or we can meet somewhere.
Guiding the truck back onto the road, a smile spreads over my face while I check my voice messages.
‘Hi. It’s Kelcie. Um . . . can you give me a call when you get this message? Ahh . . . thanks.’
Jesus, hearing her voice is everything, and it has my smile widening as the next message begins to play.
‘Levi, it’s me again. I don’t know if you’ll get this message, but if you do, please . . . please call me back.’ The panic in Kelcie’s voice has me frowning, then her breathing speeds up, a clear indication that she’s having a panic attack. ‘Don’t . . . just . . .’
“Fuck!”
When she begins to sob, I floor the gas and head for Verona. I exit my voice messages and quickly press dial on her number, then impatiently listen as the call connects.
“Levi!” Kelcie’s gasp comes over the line.
“Are you okay?” I ask, worry for her making my voice deeper than usual.
“Thank God you got my messages.”
“Are you okay?” I repeat my question.
“Yes. Sorry for rambling on your voicemail.”
While relief pours through me, I say, “It sounded like you were having a panic attack.”
It’s so good to talk to her.
“I did, but I took my medication, so I’m okay.” She pauses for a few seconds, then her tone sounds apprehensive as she asks, “How are you?”
“I’ll be fine when I see you. I’m on my way to your place. Is that okay?”
“Yes.”
The smile returns to my face, and I suck in deep breaths of air.
“So I’ll see you soon?” she asks.
I check where I am, then reply, “I’m five minutes away.”
“Okay. I’m going to hang up.”
She ends the call, and I drop the phone on my lap while grinning at Lick. “We’re going to see your mom soon.”
Her ears flick, and her head perks up as if she understands what I’m saying.
When I pull up Kelcie’s driveway, I can’t switch off the engine fast enough, and I hurry to climb out of the truck. Lick jumps out, and I slam the door shut.
The front door opens, and the sound has my eyes darting to where Kelcie is standing in the light spilling from the living room behind her.
It feels like my soul manages to finally take a deep breath after drowning for the past three weeks.
As I close the distance between us, Lick runs ahead and jumps up against Kelcie. She gives my dog pets before looking at me again, a nervous smile tugging at her mouth.
My eyes roam over every beautiful inch of her, and unable to stop myself, I grab her into a tight hug against my chest.
“Jesus,” I groan, and my body shudders from the indescribable feeling of finally getting to hold her again.
Totally overwhelmed by the emotions filling me, I press kisses to her hair and take deep breaths of her flowery scent.
Kelcie’s arms wrap around me, and I feel her grip hold of my sweater. Her breathing hitches, and then she hides her face in my chest.
“I missed you so much,” I murmur, my tone raspy. “Fuck, I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” she admits before pulling away. “Come inside.”
After I step into the house, she shuts the door behind me. Our eyes meet, and I search for any signs that she’s not doing okay.
I can’t get a read on her emotions, and ask, “You wanted to talk?”
“Yeah.” She gestures at the couch. “Let’s sit.”
Worry creeps back into my chest as I take a seat beside Kelcie, turning my body to face hers while Lick lies down by her feet.
All I want to do is reach out and touch her.
“I’ve thought a lot about everything,” she says, her gaze flicking to Lick.
She rubs my dog’s head before she continues, “I can understand why you didn’t tell me you’re related to Wesley, because I probably would’ve judged you unfairly.
When we met, I wasn’t in a good place, and I wouldn’t have given you the opportunity to explain about your past and that you haven’t had any contact with your family for years.
” She sucks in a breath before looking at me.
“I had to think about whether we could make it work.”
Her voice begins to quiver, and it gives me the impression she’s going to end things between us. I clench my jaw and try to brace for the worst.
“My trust in you has been shaken,” she whispers.
When a tear rolls down her cheek, I can’t hold back, and I gently brush it away with the back of my fingers. It hurts like a bitch to listen to what she has to say, but I keep my eyes locked with hers.
“I don’t know where we go from here. I just know I can’t imagine a life without you.”
It takes a moment for her words to get through to me. My lips part as I inhale a sharp breath, surprise rippling through me.
“So what are you saying exactly?” I ask as I waver somewhere between hope and fear.
“I’d like to give us another chance.” Her eyebrows draw together. “That’s if you want to.”
I nod like crazy as I lift my hand and cup her cheek. “I want to, Kelcie. More than anything.”
Her features ease with relief, then she says, “You can never lie or keep anything from me again.”
“I promise.”
She covers my hand with hers and leans her cheek into my palm. When another tear rolls down her cheek, I shift closer and gently pull her into my arms.
I have her back. She’s mine again.
“I’m so sorry for what I’ve done.” I begin to kiss her hair and forehead, soaking in the feel of having her in my arms. “I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
“Jordan said I have to make you grovel.”
I let out a chuckle. “He’s right.”
Closing my eyes, I hold her tighter and thank all that’s holy that she hasn’t given me the boot.