11. Warrick #2
Feeling Bailey-Rose’s hold on me loosen, I took the opportunity and stood.
Not letting her go far, I tucked her against my side.
Over my dead body was I going to let her walk away from us.
I didn’t care if I needed to beat some sense into my packmates, nothing was going to push our Omega to the point where she needed to walk away.
Ulysses’ words seemed to make an impression on my sweet Care Bear. I could feel her relax against me as if the fight-or-flight mode she’d been in was now calming down. Bailey-Rose nodded her head, accepting all of us might have overreacted slightly.
Gareth stepped up and held out a hand to her with a pleading look.
“I’m sorry, baby girl. I’ve been waiting for this day for what seems like forever, and the thought of you getting hurt on my watch is terrifying.
Remember when I told you this wouldn’t always be easy between us?
As long as we’re willing to fight for each other and forgive mistakes all of us are bound to make, I know we’ll be happy together. ”
The man was right. There is no such thing as a perfect relationship, and to assume there is was downright stupid.
People are flawed with scars of their past that dictate how they act in the future.
Some things can be relearned, while others might require some grace and acceptance.
I knew why Gareth was so scared of Bailey-Rose getting hurt, but that was his story to tell.
“You’re not the only one who needs to apologize,” Bailey-Rose said, taking Gareth’s hand.
“I could have handled things better. Instead of assuming the worst, I should have explained my fears and not just lash out at all of you. None of you have given me any reason to believe you’ll treat me the way so many others have, and for that, I am truly sorry. ”
Unable to control the relief I was feeling, I scooped my Care Bear up and hugged her tight as I spun in a circle. “God, just when I didn’t think you could get any cuter,” I mumbled against her neck. “Thank you, Care Bear, for trusting us enough to give this relationship a fair shot.”
The giggle that bubbled out of her had my heart melting. “Care Bear… I like it. That’s my favorite so far.”
Lifting my head to meet her gaze, I couldn’t hold back the smile that took over my face. “Yeah?” She nodded with a hum of agreement. “All right then, Care Bear it is.”
The moment was broken as her stomach rumbled, reminding us why we were even in this parking garage.
Not bothering to put my girl down, I marched off toward the elevators feeling like nothing could bring me down.
Today has certainly had its ups and downs, but that’s life.
It’s not about how many arguments or disagreements that happen in a relationship but how you resolve them.
Leaving things to fester and anger to grow helps no one, but speaking your mind, as well as being honest with the group, prevents negativity from growing.
“Where are we going? I don’t think I’ve ever been on this side of the city before,” Bailey-Rose asked.
Hitting the button for the ground floor once everyone stepped into the elevator, I answered, “We’re in the northern part of the city that used to be the suburbs when Windermere was still a small city.
Once it grew, this area became surrounded by factories and skyscrapers, but this small pocket of the downtown area managed to keep its roots.
You know the farmers’ market they have all summer long?
Well, most of the people who sell produce, honey, or spices grow them all here in this neighborhood. ”
Stepping out of the elevator, I released my hold on Bailey-Rose, leaving her to stand next to me.
Her eyes went wide as she took in the massive garden you couldn’t see from the side we pulled in on.
It was about the size of a football field and had various plots that different families or groups tended to.
While each section was technically looked after individually, no one would let a plot go to waste.
“Oh my goodness, this is amazing.” She gasped. “Are we allowed to explore and see what people have done?”
“Of course, it’s open to the public,” I assured her. “Let’s eat first, then we can wander all you like.”
Bouncing with excitement, she clapped her hands together, grinning up at me. “It’s magical, like it’s a secret fairy garden tucked away in the cold concrete city. I wish I’d brought my sketchbook with me. It would be so fun to draw in a place like this.”
Reaching out, I tucked a lock of hair that had fallen into her face behind her ear. “Sounds like we’ll just have to come back another time. It’s not like we’re that far away. I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities for you to sketch all you want.”
When people talk about someone being the embodiment of joy, I now understood what they meant. Bailey-Rose was beaming as bright as a ray of sunshine at the prospect of coming back here. It showed me how I’d lost the appreciation of simple things that so many take for granted.
“Come on, Rosie, if we don’t get you moving, you’ll say screw it to breakfast, and we’ll lose you to the garden,” Ulysses said, grasping her hand and tugging her along.