Chapter 12 Laken
LAKEN
Iwalked out of that hospital feeling like the weight of the world was baring down on my shoulders.
You would’ve thought I’d been happy. Relieved even.
Baylor was okay. The surgery was done, everything went as planned, and she was tucked safely against Thatcher’s chest. But that didn’t ease the anxious knot in the pit of my stomach.
Thatcher adjusted Bay in his arms, making sure her cast didn’t bump anything as he put her in the car seat. Once he buckled her in, he glanced over at me and asked, “You okay?”
I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure.
The truth was, I wasn’t sure about anything.
I’d agreed to stay with him for a few days. I had no idea why. Maybe it was a moment of weakness, or maybe it was the way he was there for me when I needed someone the most. Or maybe, just maybe, it was because, deep down, the thought of something going wrong and him not being there terrified me.
He made it easy to accept his offer.
But now that we were getting closer to his place, my doubts started creeping in. I’d been to his house, but I’d never actually been inside. With Baylor, it was always easier to hang out at mine. I didn’t know what to expect, and it had me wondering if I’d made a terrible mistake.
Then, we turned into his driveway, and my breath caught.
There were Christmas lights glowing in the windows, and there was even a wreath on the front door.
It wasn’t anything fancy. It was just a mid-sized home, but it was in a great neighborhood—the kind where people looked out for one another.
The lights lit up the front porch, making it look warm and inviting.
Thatcher parked, and once he killed the engine, he glanced over at me like he was trying to read my thoughts. “You good?”
I nodded. “Um-hmm.”
“Alright. Let’s get you girls inside.”
I climbed out and held the door open for Thatch as he got Baylor from the backseat. I followed them up to the front door, and Baylor was all smiles as we stepped inside. Her eyes lit up as she gasped, “Momma, look!”
I glanced over in the corner and to my surprise, it wasn’t just any Christmas tree in the corner. It was ours. The one Thatcher had brought to the house, and we’d all decorated. Next to it were all of Baylor’s toys, and Bunny N sat on the sofa, looking like he owned the place.
Thatch carried her over to the sofa and gently lowered her onto the cushions next to her dearest friend. She grabbed it with her good hand and pulled it close. “Bunny.”
I felt my throat close up, and that warm rush of relief washed through me all over again.
I’d been lucky. Even though the accident wasn’t my fault, I should’ve been more careful.
I should’ve talked to her and told her that the tree wasn’t something to play with. It wasn’t a mistake I would make again.
I glanced around the room at all that Thatch had done, and it made my heart swell. The man never ceased to amaze me. I stepped over to him and slipped my arm through his. “You really didn’t have to do all this.”
“Yeah, I did.” His eyes locked on mine. “I want to take care of you, Laken. I want to take care of you both. I just need you to let me do it.”
And God help me, but the way he said it, like taking care of us wasn’t a burden or obligation, but something he wanted, hit me in the center of my tired, hopeful heart. For the first time since Baylor’s fall, the knot in my chest disappeared.
I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his, kissing him. When I heard Baylor giggle, I eased back and gave her a smile. I gave Thatch’s arm a quick squeeze, then I claimed a spot on the sofa next to Baylor and Bunny B. From there, things seemed to slow down.
Thatch made dinner, and of course, it was all of Baylor’s favorites.
We had chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and corn on the cob, and we all ate in front of the TV.
Baylor and I settled into Thatcher’s house like we’d been there a hundred times before.
It was easy. The place felt like him. Safe and comfortable.
After dinner, we all curled up on the sofa and watched one of Bay’s favorite movies. Normally, she would’ve talked through the entire show, but tonight, she just leaned against me, fighting her heavy eyelids. By the time the credits rolled, she was asleep against my shoulder.
Thatch carried her down the hall to the guest room, nudging the door open with his foot.
I followed behind him, quickly pulling the covers back before he lowered her onto the bed.
The room was simple but comfortable. The bedding was white, and there was a small dresser in the corner with a TV on the wall above it.
It was nothing fancy, just a simple guest room, but it was the first time Baylor would be sleeping in a room that was all her own. I tucked her in, making sure her cast was propped up on the pillow and that her bunny was snug against her cheek.
She was out.
She didn’t even flinch when I lay down next to her. Thatch stood in the doorway for a moment, then turned out the light and closed the door. I knew she was asleep, but I wasn’t quite ready to leave her. I lay there with her for half an hour before finally getting up and slipping out of the room.
I went back to the living room, and Thatch was there waiting for me.
He didn’t say anything. He just got up and walked over to me.
He took me by the hand and led me to the bedroom.
He grabbed a T-shirt from his drawer and offered it to me as he said, “We’ll run over to your place tomorrow and grab whatever you need. ”
I nodded, then started to undress. Seconds later, we were both in bed, and I was lying next to Thatch with my head on his chest. He leaned down and kissed me, slow and gently, but it ended there. He didn’t push for more or act like he expected anything from me. Tonight wasn’t about that.
Tonight was about him being there for us in every way possible, and he’d done that at every turn.
And kept doing it. He continued to help with Baylor, and he did it without any hesitation.
The following day, he went out and bought enough groceries to feed an army.
Once we put everything away, he took us over to the apartment to get some of our things.
He even took Baylor by the clubhouse so the guys could sign her cast. She adored all the attention, and she adored him even more.
And so did I.
I expected to be off work for at least a week. I thought Baylor would need the extra attention after her surgery, but with all of Thatcher’s doting, she was doing better than I’d expected. So, I went back to work, and he sent hourly updates, letting me know exactly how she was doing.
When I got back to Thatch’s, Baylor took me to her room and showed me all the decorating she’d done.
She had her toys in a basket in the corner, and she’d taken her coloring pages, and with Thatch’s help, she’d hung them throughout the room.
She had them on the wall, in the bathroom, and even on her closet door.
She even had her favorite book on the nightstand. It was perfect.
Every time I walked past her doorway, I’d find myself peeking into the little world she’d created, and I’d find her happy as a lark, playing or watching her television. She was at ease.
Comfortable.
Safe.
And it wasn’t because of that room. It was because of him.
He’d been quiet, patient, and gentle in ways I would’ve never dreamed he could be. He hadn’t just taken us in. He’d made his place feel like home, and in some small, hopeful part of me, I started to wonder if we were always meant to be here. It was one of the reasons why we hadn’t left.
It had been almost a week, and we were still staying with him. I knew I would have to head home soon, but for now, I was just going to take it one day at a time. And today, I had a morning shift at the casino, so after getting Baylor set for the day, I headed into work.
I liked it there. It was fast-paced and easy to get into a steady rhythm.
I’d just cashed out one of my regulars when a shadow stretched across my felt table.
I glanced up and found Sergei standing in front of me in his perfectly altered black suit.
His hands were in his pockets, and his expression was sharp as always.
He carried himself like he owned every room he stepped into, and as a matter of fact, he did. It was a rare occurrence for him to show up at a table, so I was concerned that something might be wrong. His voice was low and steady as he said, “It’s good to have you back. How’s your daughter?”
“Oh, um, she’s doing much better,” I stammered. “Thank you for checking. I’m sorry for having to take off so suddenly. I hate that I left you guys shorthanded.”
“It was completely understandable. Family comes first, so if you need any more time off, just say the word.”
“Thank you.” I stared at him for a second longer than I probably should have, but the man surprised me. I’d always thought of him as this fierce, untouchable man who was intimidating in a way that only a man like him could be, but in that moment, he was nothing but kind. “I really appreciate it.”
He gave me a short nod, then turned and started upstairs to his office, leaving a faint ripple of whispers in his wake. The girl across from me leaned over and asked, “Hey, is everything okay?”
“Yes. He was just checking on Baylor.”
“That’s nice.” She gave me a funny look. “Surprising, but nice.”
“I thought the same.”
“How’s she doing?”
“Really good, actually.”
Instead of feeling weighed down by everything that had happened, I felt whole in a way I hadn’t felt in a very long time.
I had a man in my life who showed up, and he did it without question.
I had a job I loved, and I was working with people who seemed to be truly good people.
And most of all, my daughter was happy and safe.
It didn’t get better than that.