Chapter 31 Arden
ARDEN
“Ithink I broke up with my mom today.”
The spoon Jude is using to stir the vegetables in the pan comes to a halt as he turns to look at me.
Nights like this have become my favorite—Jude cooking and music playing while Dez and I sit in the kitchen and watch.
Sometimes we talk about our day, but other times we’re quiet and I like that too.
Unfortunately, the latter is not on the menu tonight.
“What happened?” he asks, setting the spoon down as he turns to face me.
“She came over and wanted to talk. I think she had good intentions, but she can’t see beyond her past and I just can’t have that.
She broke up with my dad and she’s so very convinced that I'm doing it wrong and…” I swallow hard and meet his gaze, his handsome face a storm of emotions, and still there’s so much strength in the way he carries himself, like he’s always ready to hold me up too.
“You’re not doing it wrong. We’re not doing it wrong.”
“I know and that’s the point. I’ve had such a hard time getting to this point.” I motion between us and my belly, Dez following my hand like it’s a game. “I can’t afford to let anything come between us.” Even if it’s my mom. “I don’t want to be like her, Jude, not like she is right now.”
My eyelids fall closed, and Jude comes around the island and wraps me in his arms, my head falling to his chest as I let him just hold me.
“I’m so sorry, Arden. I hope she comes around because you’re right—you’ve overcome so much in these last few months.
You’re incredible and our baby is so lucky to have you.
I’m so lucky to have you.” Dez woofs from the floor and my shoulders shake with silent laughter. “Dez is also lucky to have you.”
“He was such a good boy today,” I manage. “He never left my side the entire time she was here.”
“Good boy, Dez,” Jude murmurs, reaching down to give the dog a pat.
“I think the part that hurts the most is that of everyone in my life, I thought she’d be the one to understand. I mean, she raised me to be strong and independent. Why doesn’t she think I can do this?”
“Even though it’s misplaced, I think it’s how she’s able to show you she cares.”
“But her worries aren’t my worries.”
“I know. When I joined the military, my mother had been gone a pretty long time. It wasn’t something that we talked about because we knew Dad had never gotten over losing her.
When I was injured, Deacon was my primary caregiver.
Dad just couldn’t do it—even though I was stable.
He couldn’t stand the thought of losing me too.
He retreated into himself like not seeing me at all was better than being there if something happened. ”
“Jude.”
“I’m just saying it doesn’t always make sense, and I’m sure there will come a time when we’re at odds with our daughter too.”
“But why are you defending her?”
“Because she’s your mom and I’m trying like hell to get us through this pregnancy before you decide that you don’t want her in your life.
I’m not saying I’m going to allow her to make you upset or interfere in our relationship, but I also don’t want you to wake up a year from now and regret that you no longer speak to her. ”
“You’re a good man, Jude Rhodes. I don’t think I say that enough.”
He chuckles and presses a kiss to my forehead. “I’m trying something new.”
“Is that right?”
“It’s just me and Deacon and if we get into a disagreement—like a bad one—one of us gets punched in the face. I’m smart enough to realize that kind of conflict resolution doesn’t work for everyone.”
“How very insightful,” I tease and his lips twitch.
“Do you want me to finish dinner or do you want to get takeout?”
“You can finish dinner but can we get that peanut butter pie from the Iron Cask?” I ask, perking up as he kisses the top of my head and walks back to the stove.
“Anything else?”
“Just you.”
“You’ve already got me, Tennessee.”