Chapter 14 #2
“I’m not surprised. Macie and I had a huge fight when she was pregnant with Colter.
It was stupid, about the nursery. Tensions were high.
I was scared out of my damn mind about her giving birth, about being a dad, about leaving them too soon, the way our dad left us.
” He raises his hand in the air. “I know he didn’t leave us.
I know it was an accident that took him from us, but I was being irrational.
We argued over stupid shit, and Mom interfered.
She asked us both to meet her at the park for a walk and some fresh air.
Mom wasn’t there when I showed up, but Macie was.
We spent hours on that park bench, talking about our future, our fears, and, while I know we would have made it through, Mom was still there to help us. That’s how she shows that she cares.”
“Yeah, I called her out on it earlier, and she confessed.”
“So, are you moving here?” He nods to the house behind us.
“Nope. She put me as close to Ellison as I can be, and I’m taking every advantage I can get. Besides, I’m hopeful that when I leave the Manor as a guest, it’s to move in with my girl, and that we’re starting a life together.”
“I mean, you’re thirty-five. It’s about damn time,” he teases.
“Fuck off,” I grumble, bumping my shoulder into his.
“Go see your girl. I’m going to go sit with Mom for a while.”
“She’s resting.”
He shrugs. “I’ll be here when she wakes up. Macie is bringing the kids by in about half an hour.”
“Yeah, what are you doing, leaving the job so early?” I tease.
“I started early today to get it done. I wanted to give you a break.”
“We’ll make a schedule. I have a list of all of Mom’s appointments. You know your schedule, Macie’s, and the kids’. Just tell me when to work, when to be there for Mom, and the rest will fall into place.”
“You sure?”
I nod. “I’m positive. I need to learn how my life fits back into this family, into the civilian world altogether. A schedule is the best way to do that.”
“Sounds good. I’ll start on that while I wait for Mace to get here with the kids.”
“You want me to bring back some dinner?”
“Text me, and we’ll see how Mom’s feeling. I don’t want to eat a big meal in front of her if she’s still not keeping anything down.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “She had some toast earlier, and that seemed to sit well with her. I offered more, but she refused.”
“Go.” Chandler waves me off. “Take a break. Text me before you come back about dinner.”
“Thanks, Chan.” I stand, and he does the same. I pull him into a hug, relishing the fact that he’s here. That we’re both here, and Mom, too. We’re going to get through this.
Rushing down the steps, I hop into my truck and drive next door to Magnolia Estates. As soon as I pull into the lot, I see Ellison walking out the side door. I quickly park my truck and rush to catch up with her.
“Fancy meeting you here,” I say, stopping to offer her my arm.
She smiles at me; it’s a smile of happiness, not just politeness. “What are you doing here?” she asks, looking from me to my arm I’m holding out for her.
“I’m walking you home.”
“Copeland, that’s silly. I live here.”
“Nope, you live through those trees.” I nod toward my arm. Those big blue eyes of hers twinkle as she slips her arm into the crook of mine, and we start to walk.
“Taking an early day?” I ask her.
“I don’t have conventional hours. I work all the time, it seems, so I kind of do my own thing, as long as the work gets done.”
“Perks of working for yourself. Chandler did the same thing; he’s sitting with Mom now.”
“How is she?”
“She’s been sick as hell this week from the treatments, but she’s strong. Staying positive through all of it, but we’re just beginning.”
“How are you?” she asks.
“I’m—so many things, Ells. But right here in this moment, I’m happy. I’m happy that I have the chance to spend time with Mom. I’m glad that I get to be here to support her through this—Chandler, too. I’m ecstatic that you’re here with me,” I say, my voice growing softer.
“Copeland,” she breathes just as we reach her front porch.
“What are your plans tonight?” I ask, not wanting to let her go just yet.
“Nothing. Some laundry, more than likely. I don’t know what my sisters are up to.”
“What about tomorrow night?”
“Same old,” she says, and I bite down on my cheek to keep from grinning.
“Can I take you to dinner?”
She opens her mouth—I’m sure to shut me down—but she quickly closes it.
“I can bring dinner here if you’re not ready for us to go out.
Or I can bring dessert. We can watch a movie or go for a drive.
I don’t care what we do, Ellison. I just want to be next to you when we do it.
” I wait, watching her as she holds my gaze.
I don’t know what she’s looking for, but she must find it because slowly, she nods.
“Yeah, we could get dinner,” she says. “What time?”
“You tell me, Ells. I’ll make it happen.”
“Let’s just say yes to dinner, and let the rest fall into place. Your mom might need you, or your family, and they come first,” she says, removing her arm from mine and moving to stand in front of me.
“I feel like a dick saying this because my mom is sick, but you’re first, too, Ellison.
Please don’t take that as me being insensitive.
I just—fuck, Ells, you’ve always been my most important.
My mom and my brother, his family, they are, too, but you, you’ve always been something unique to me, something all on your own. ”
“You don’t have to explain it to me. I understand where you’re coming from. They need you, Copeland. That’s why you came home. Text me or call me tomorrow when you know how your day ends up, and we’ll go from there.”
Unable to help myself, I reach out, snake an arm around her waist, and pull her into my chest, hugging her tightly.
“I’m here for you, too,” I whisper, but I know she can hear me.
I went too damn long without saying the things that needed to be said, without reaching out and taking the hugs, or without making the phone calls.
I’ll never leave anything with my girl and me to chance ever again.
When she pulls away, I let her, shoving my hands into my pockets to keep from stealing another hug.
“Thank you for walking me home.” She smiles up at me.
“Anytime, Ells.”
She waves, and I watch her as she walks up onto the porch.
“Hey, Ells,” I call out. She stops and turns to look at me over her shoulder. “Can I call you later?”
She tilts her head to the side, and that long, dark hair of hers spills over her shoulder. “Do you want to call me later?”
“More than anything.”
She nods. “I’ll answer,” she says, before turning and walking into the house.
I wait until she’s inside and the door is locked before turning back the way I came. I head to my room and settle on the bed. It’s too early to ask Chandler about dinner, so instead, for the first time in years, I take a quick nap.