Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
Harrison
I’m a selfish jackass, and I don’t deserve her. That’s never been clearer than it is this morning. I’m sitting in the passenger seat of Teresa as Delaney drives us to her mother’s house.
This morning, after inviting me to meet her mother, I got my head out of my ass and asked Delaney about her family.
She has no siblings, no living grandparents, and her dad has never been around.
As far as she’s concerned, even if she had twenty blood relatives on his side, they’re not her family.
It’s just her and her mother, and I didn’t know that until today because I didn’t ask.
“Harrison?” Delaney’s voice quivers.
I glance over at her and force a smile. “Yeah?”
“If you don’t want to go see my mom, we don’t have to.”
Delaney keeps her eyes on the road, so I can’t read her expression. However, I know her well enough by now to know that she’s trying to sound like it wouldn’t matter if I canceled, but she’s vulnerable right now.
“Hey, no. Of course, I want to meet your mom. I’m just…”
“Just what? Say it. Whatever you’re thinking, say it.”
I put my hand on her shoulder, and she’s tense.
“I feel like shit because I never asked you about your family before. How self-centered can I be?” I brace for her wholehearted agreement, but a hearty laugh escapes her. “What’s funny about that?”
“Um, maybe that I throw off nothing but ‘don’t ask me personal questions’ vibes.”
“Yeah, that’s kind of true,” I tease. She lightly slaps me on the thigh in response.
“Hey! You’re not supposed to agree with me so quickly.”
Over the next several minutes, things are lighter, and I pepper her with questions about her mom and what her life was like growing up. I barely take my eyes off her.
When she puts the car in park and turns off the engine, she’s suddenly tense again. And I’m confused because we’re not at her mother’s house—we’re at Meadow Creek Commons.
Delaney practically races to the door and is inside and signing us in before I’ve even cleared the first set of doors. As soon as I’m fully inside, I notice her biting her lip and her eyes darting around the area.
“Follow me,” she says. I’m still six feet away from her, and she’s not making eye contact. She turns on her heel and takes off.
“Delaney, wait.” She ignores me and turns a corner. “Delaney!” I don’t yell, but it’s definitely louder than my normal inside voice.
She stops in her tracks but doesn’t turn around to look at me. When I catch up with her, she won’t meet my eyes. I stand in front of her and put my hands on her shoulders.
“Hey, let’s slow down for a second. I’m confused.”
“We should go. This was a bad idea.” She tries to turn to leave, but I hold on to her shoulders so she can’t put her back to me again.
“No, it’s not a bad idea, sweetheart. I just don’t understand what is happening. I thought we were going to your mother’s house, but we’re at—”
“I never said we were going to my mother’s house. I said we were going to see her.”
Her eyes are glassy, and I know I’m fucking this up, but I’m still not understanding exactly how.
“Okay. Would you look at me for a second?” She hesitates but then turns her gaze to meet mine. “Talk to me like I’m dense, Bets. Help me understand what I’m not getting.”
A single tear rolls from one eye and travels down her face, and it nearly breaks me to see it.
“My mom doesn’t have a house anymore, but this is her home. She lives here, Harrison. My mom has advanced dementia and lives here in the Memory Care Unit.”
Fuck.
Without another word, I pull her into my arms and hold her against me. At first, she pushes against my chest half-heartedly.
“I don’t need your pity,” she says through her tears.
“Good because that’s not what this is. There’s no way any of this is easy, so I’m gonna hold you for a few minutes.”
“I’m fine.” She’s not. Her tears are coming fast and furious now, and she lays her head against my chest. “I’m okay.” Her words come out as a whisper, and I suspect they’re as much for her benefit as mine. Finally, she wraps her arms around me and allows herself to melt into my arms.
“You are. You’re okay, baby.” We stand there for a while, and I hold her as she cries.