Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
CHELSEA
“Hey girl, you ready?”
“Yea, just grabbing my purse. Let’s go!”
Francesca is standing in my doorway while I grab my stuff and get out the door on time. We’re heading to the bridal shop for alterations on my dress and hers. Closing the door behind me we make our way down the walk and get into her car.
“Fill me in on all things wedding. I know we’re meeting with the florist tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, I need you guys there so we can pick bouquet arrangements.”
“Sounds fun, count me in.”
“How’s my nephew?”
“He’s great. Spending the day with Daddy today.” I smile a big cheesy smile. “And getting spoiled by your brother.”
She snickers. “Which one?”
“Well, Billy is his favorite, I think. You should have seen them the other day. Billy was babysitting so I could run to the store, and when I came back, I caught Adam watching them chase each other around the back yard, through the back window. Dom was laughing his little head off every time Billy let him catch him. He wore him out pretty good, so I was happy.”
“I bet you were. Early to bed for baby means late night for mommy and daddy.”
She nudges me and I just roll my eyes. I’ve never talked about our sex life, and not just because it’s Chess’s brother, but I think our intimate details are our intimate details. There’s nothing wrong with sharing, Britt sure loves to, but I’ve always kept it close to my heart.
“How’s it going with you guys anyway? You two looked happy at the coach’s dinner.”
“We are. I think we’re falling into a good routine. I see a change in Adam. He still works a ton, but any free time is spent with us. Or him alone with Dominic. I think it’s important they make that bond now, since I sabotaged it at the start. Dominic needs his father.”
“Why is Dad packing his suitcase? Is he going on a trip?”’
I don’t know how to answer my sister. He’s going on a trip, but it’s one way. He won’t be back, and I can’t believe he’s actively packing and collecting items to leave. It’s not a spur of the moment decision where he storms out. My father is making an active choice to leave us.
I watch him push past my mother and go into the bathroom, collecting his razor kit and a couple towels. This whole scene is strange. He’s calm, resigned to the fact he’s leaving. My mom is crying silently so as to not upset us, but I see it. I know. He’s choosing something, someone else.
“He doesn’t want us anymore, does he?”
I tuck my sister into my arm and let her bury her face in my neck. “I want you, Addy. It’s going to be me and you, for always. If everyone else leaves us, we’ll still have each other. In fact, we’ll leave them before they leave us. Ok? We’ll never let anyone hurt us by leaving, again.”
“Chelsea Jo, you need to stop beating yourself up, okay? It’s not for us to judge why you did what you did. If you and Adam worked it out, it’s good enough for us. All of us. Please believe me that we are just happy you are here, and beyond thankful for the little boy you brought home to us.”
When am I going to get over this? I need to move on. I need to realize I am home now, where I am meant to be, with people who want me.
Francesca squeals as we pull into the parking lot of the dress shop, pulling me from my thoughts. I send Adam a quick text, checking in, seeing if Dominic has him going down the slide with him yet. Pocketing my phone, I climb out of the car, and we head inside.
“Come on, girl, show me the goods!”
We spend the next hour hanging around the shop. Her dress is stunning and fits her like a glove. Jackson is going to lose his mind when he sees her. I check my phone again and see I have no return text.
“What’s wrong?”
“I text Adam to check in when we first got here but haven’t heard back.”
“Maybe they’re down at the park. The service here is weird, too. Maybe when we get back on the highway, the text will come through.”
I nod and follow her to the car. We head for home, grabbing some coffee from the drive-through we pass on the way. She drops me at my house, and I head inside, taking note Adam’s truck is gone from the driveway. I check my phone again. Nothing.
I call this time and it rings out. Breathing deep, I try to shake off the bad feeling I have coming over me. I glance out the front window, seeing Britt’s car the only one in the driveway. Bobby is working and I know Chess ran back out to her mom’s after dropping me home.
I dial Britt and she picks up on the first ring. “Hey girl, how was the fitting?”
“Good. Everything is on time so far, so one less thing for her to stress over.”
“Great. You don’t think she knows about the bachelorette party, do you?”
“She didn’t mention anything. She was acting her normal self, so I think we’re safe. Hey, uh, have you seen Adam?”
“Not today. I heard his truck pull out earlier. You can’t miss that beast coming down the street.”
“I know. It's ridiculous. He was spending the day with Dom while I went to the shop and now, I can’t get ahold of him.”
“He probably took him over to his parents’ house. You know his mom is always looking to get her hands on that beautiful boy of yours.”
My heart slows a little. “You're right, I never thought to call there. Okay thanks, girl, I’ll talk to you later.”
I hang up and call The Casanova's house.
“Hey, Chelsea, how are you?”
“Hi, Mrs. Casanova. I’m good, hey, uh, is Adam there with Dom?”
“No sweetheart, I haven’t seen them at all today. But I miss my grandbaby, please tell me I can have him tomorrow!”
She laughs lightly and I try to as well, but my heart is racing again. “Of course! I’ll call you and we’ll work it out.”
We make promises to speak tomorrow, but I’ve already hung up, grabbed my keys, and am in my car.
Dialing my sister this time, it also rings out.
Throwing my phone into the passenger seat, I curse her and everyone in this freaking town.
I begin driving into town, slowly going through the park to see if I can spot them.
There’s a handful of people here, but no Adam.
I follow the road to Main Street, going slow past the Roasted Chestnut. I still don’t see Adam’s truck.
I pull into a spot and reach for my phone, again searching the sidewalks. And then I see Farrah, walking hand in hand with my son. Francesca appears from the coffee shop, and they meet on the sidewalk. I jump from my car screaming for Dominic.
“Chelsea, what's wrong?”
I run and grab Dom, wrapping my arms around him, tears rolling down my cheeks. “Where have you been, baby? I’ve been looking for you!”
He just hugs me back and says “Pway!” Farrah comes around, placing her hand on my back. “He was with me, CJ, he was fine.”
“Why was he with you?” I screech. “He was supposed to be with Adam!”
I notice the look exchanged between the two of them. “Adam stopped by earlier, said he got called into work and asked if Dom could hang out at the daycare today. Chelsea he was fine, he had a great time.”
I’m already walking away from them, needing to get Dom strapped into his car seat in my car.
“Did you ever hear back from Adam after we left today?”
I turn on Francesca quickly. “No, Chess. I didn’t. It was the same old bullshit he pulled time and time again. Only this time, it affected my son.”
“His son too, Chelsea.” She’s holding my eyes, not backing down. But I won’t either.
“He should have called me. He should have waited the hour for me to get home. Don’t take his side on this, you know he’s wrong.”
I push past her, getting into the driver's seat. I take a deep breath trying to calm down before I drive like a lunatic with my son in the car. I don’t glance back at Chess, but I feel her watching me.
Goddamnit Adam, just when we were getting somewhere. I should have known, nothing good lasts forever.