Chapter 59
Delaney
“Delaney?” I turn my head, and Layla is smiling at me. “Do you wanna go see my goats and my chickens?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m kind of afraid of chickens.”
The cutest chuckle erupts from her little body. “Why are you afraid? My chickens are nice.”
“Haven’t you ever seen the videos of chickens chasing people? I’m always afraid a chicken will chase me.”
Layla throws her head back with another burst of laughter, then holds her hands over her mouth to try to stop. After what I swear is a solid thirty seconds of the kid guffawing at my phobia, she finally calms down.
“Wait, let me show you.” I pull out my phone, and we spend the next ten minutes watching videos of chickens chasing people. Layla’s smile and the light in her eyes highlight her amusement. I couldn’t ask for a better birthday gift than to hear this child’s laughter.
After the last video, when Layla finally stops laughing, her face turns serious.
“Okay, I have an idea. How about I show you the chickens through the cage, so they won’t be able to get you? But I have baby goats. Well, they’re not really babies, but they’re tiny. Do you wanna come see them? They don’t chase anybody.”
“Sure. I would love to. If it’s okay with your mom.”
I look up at Tillie, who is grinning. “Of course. Layla loves to show off June and Johnny.”
“As in—”
“Yes, Cash. Henry’s a fan, and he talked her into the names.”
The three of us walk down to the area where they keep the chickens, and Layla spends several minutes telling me all their names and the types of chickens they are. She even climbs into the fenced area with them.
“See, they aren’t chasing me. You sure you don’t want to come in?” Layla asks.
“Um, I’m sure.”
Layla crawls out of the enclosure and takes my hand. “It’s okay to be scared sometimes. Maybe we’ll try next time.” God, this kid is so charming.
We walk to the barn where the goats are, and this is way more my jam. I’ve never seen a cuter animal in my entire life. I don’t know how long we spend in there, but I’ve gotten plenty of birthday cuddles from the little pair by the time we leave the barn.
Layla is bouncing with excitement as we head back to the farmhouse. A few minutes later, I understand why.
I’m not sure how, but in the thirty minutes we were out back, a party sprang up on the patio area of Henry and Tillie’s house—a birthday party for me. As we approach, the group of people breaks out into a chorus of “Happy Birthday.”
Harrison meets us when we’re still about twenty feet away, and Layla and Tillie continue walking.
“Happy birthday, Bets. I love you.”
I wrap my arms around him and rest my head on his chest for a few seconds. “I love you, too.” I pull back and look up at him. “You did all of this?”
“It was a group effort. All these people love you. They’re your family.” Harrison smiles, takes my hand, and we walk together the rest of the way to the patio.
When we get there, everyone takes turns coming up, wishing me a happy birthday. Even Pat and Mrs. Nicker are here. I’m stunned when I see them, but they tell me it was Lydia who tracked them down while they were visiting Mom.
I spend most of the afternoon smiling, laughing, and catching up with everyone. I’m astounded that these wonderful people are here today to celebrate me.
Later, when I spot Mrs. Nicker and Pat strolling back from the chicken coop area with Layla holding Mrs. Nicker’s hand, I walk out to meet them.
When I’m near, Layla releases Mrs. Nicker’s hand and races to me. She eagerly tells me that Mrs. Nicker went into the chicken coop with her. I’m more than a little surprised.
I look over at Mrs. Nicker. “You did?”
“That I did.” Mrs. Nicker wears a serene smile. “I had chickens growing up. Lived on a little farm like this myself. They were wonderful times.”
“And she had a horse and a cow!” Layla exudes excitement. “I’m gonna ask for one of them next. Which do you think I should get first?” she asks Mrs. Nicker. Layla grabs her hand again, and they walk a little ahead, so I fall back and stick with Pat.
“This is exactly what she wanted for you, Delaney. Your mom would be so happy to see you surrounded by all of this love.” She stops walking, and I do, too.
“I know,” I whisper. I can’t say more, or I’ll get choked up.
“You’ve always been the greatest source of her joy. Once she found out she was pregnant with you, nothing else mattered to your mom.”
I turn my gaze downward. “I know she loved me so much. But she never got to finish nursing school because of me.” I lift my head and meet her eyes.
“What? That didn’t matter. Hattie was wonderful with patients, and working with them, in whatever capacity, was enough for her.
I think she went to school because she felt something was missing from her life.
But once she had you, that disappeared. You made her a mom, and that was her most treasured role in life. Okay?”
I don’t respond.
“Delaney, I need to know you understand. Your mom would want me to make sure.”
“I do.” I nod as I say it. Then a tear falls from my eye and rolls down my cheek. “I miss her so much, Pat. I know I should be grateful she’s still with us, and I am, but I’d give anything for even one more day with her memory back.”
Pat leans forward and wraps her arms around me. “I know, sweetheart. I miss her, too.” We stand like that for a minute, then she pulls back. “We should start visiting together once a month and share good stories from before she was sick. I think it might help us both.”
“I’d like that.” We walk again, and a chuckle comes from Pat. “What?”
“Your man over there is watching me like a hawk. Protective, is he?”
I laugh. “Very. But in a good way.”
Harrison meets us when we get to where everyone gathers, and he steals me from Pat. He finds a seat offset from the hub of activity and sits, pulling me onto his lap.
“You okay, Bets?” The tenderness and concern in his voice touch my heart.
I look him in the eyes and place a hand on each of his cheeks. “I’m perfect. Thank you for all of this.” I lean in and place a kiss on his lips, lingering for a few seconds before I pull back.
“You’re welcome. I’d do anything for you, and I’d give you the world if you let me.” He runs the tips of his fingers down my cheek.
We sit and watch our friends and family, and it’s entertaining.
Lester and Pat play cornhole against Ruthie and Sally with Mrs. Nicker and Layla as the “judges.” Georgie and Lizzie sit at a picnic table, across from Holden and Hayden, picking at food and chatting away.
Lydia and Ray disappeared a few minutes ago, and I suspect it might have something to do with a birthday cake coming soon.
Much like Harrison and me, Tillie and Henry are sitting next to each other, about as close as they can get, and look deep in conversation.
He leans in and places a kiss on her lips at the same time as his hand moves to rest across her belly.
It looks protective, like he’s guarding it. Interesting.
“Do you ever still wish we were them? The couple we were from our first night?”
I give Harrison my full attention and shake my head.
“No, not anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I loved when we were them.
They got to forget their problems for a bit, and the sex was pretty spectacular.
” Harrison’s grin stretches from ear to ear.
“Now, though, we have so much more. We aren’t trying to forget our challenges and difficulties.
Instead, we know they’re there, but we face them together, and that takes away some of their power.
Plus, I wouldn’t want to miss out on all the moments we live together in between. I’m happiest now, when we’re us.”
“I’m glad to hear that because I plan on being an us with you for the rest of our lives.”
I wholeheartedly agree. This connection between us, this feels like forever.
Who would have thought that what felt like the worst night of my life earlier this year actually turned out to be the best?
That night—when we were them— brought us to each other and led to our beautiful now…
When we’re us. And it’s everything I could ever have dreamed of.
Thank you for reading Harrison and Delaney’s story.