Chapter 47
Chapter Forty-Seven
ONE YEAR LATER
Weston
“Can someone explain to me why we’re bringing an entire apartment to college?” I asked as I loaded the last of the boxes into the back of the SUV. The boxes were piled so high that I couldn’t see out the back window.
“Because I enjoy having possessions,” Zoey said, staring at her phone.
“You have enough throw pillows to fill an entire room,” I said.
“They’re decorative.”
“You’re moving into a dorm room.”
“Exactly. And I need to make it not feel like a dorm room,” she said, and Sam laughed.
“Coming from the man who spent twenty minutes in Target comparing desk lamps,” Sam said.
“They had different brightness settings. She needs good lighting to do her homework.”
Charlotte kicked her feet in her car seat and held up her stuffed bunny.
“Zo school.”
“That’s right, peanut. I’m going to big girl school.” She reached over and touched Charlotte’s arm.
I cleared my throat as I gripped the steering wheel. This was harder than I thought it would be. When I pulled in, cars were lined up, parents were everywhere, and students scrambled inside, carrying boxes.
“Looks like we’re here,” I said, glancing at Sam, who was already getting ready to cry.
“I’m warning both of you. Don’t make this a thing,” Zoey said.
“No one is making this a thing,” Sam said.
I climbed out and opened the back door. “What floor are you on?” I asked.
“Third.”
“Of course,” I sighed. “Go look and see if they have a cart somewhere.”
Zoey walked into the building and then back out. “They don’t. They’re all being used.”
I glanced over at a kid who was by himself, loading his boxes onto a cart. I casually walked over.
“Excuse me, young man. I will give you $200 if you let me use your cart. When I’m finished, I will return it to you.”
“Make it $300, and you have yourself a deal.” He grinned.
“A negotiator. I like it. What are you studying here at Yale?” I asked.
“Law. I’m going to be a lawyer.”
“Ah, so is my daughter. Zoey, come over here.” I shouted.
I pulled three one-hundred-dollar bills from my wallet and handed them to the kid.
“What, Dad?” Zoey walked over.
“This fine gentleman here is also going to be a lawyer.”
“Okay, and?”
“I thought you should meet.”
“You’re being weird. Hi, I’m Zoey Castile.” She smiled.
“I’m Sebastian Wolcott.” He grinned. “It’s nice to meet you, Zoey.”
“Same. Maybe I’ll see you around. Come on, Dad. We have to get the boxes up to my room.”
“I’ll return the cart to you.”
“No problem. Take your time.” He smiled, holding up the money I had just paid him.
“I can’t believe you paid that boy for the cart.” Sam smacked my arm.
“Why? There was no way I was carrying all these boxes up three flights of stairs.”
We loaded the cart and took the elevator up to the third floor.
“Ah,” Zoey screamed when she saw Maya. “Sorry, we’re late. My dad was paying off some guy, so he’d let us use his cart.”
“Cool, Mr. Castile.”
“Thank you, Maya.” I smiled.
Three hours later, the dorm room was complete, and the excessive amount of throw pillows was neatly placed on Zoey’s bed.
“Hey, Zoey.” Sebastian stood in the doorway.
“Hey, Sebastian. This is my best friend, Maya.”
“Nice to meet you. Would you two like me to show you around? This is my second year here.”
“That would be great. Bye, Mom.” She hugged Sam. “Bye, Dad.” She turned and hugged me. “And by to you, little sister.” She hugged her. “I’ll see you soon. Don’t miss me too much,” she told her. “Love you, guys. But it’s time for you to go home.” And just like that, she was gone.
Sam reached over and smacked me.
“What?” I asked.
“This is your fault. You introduced her to that boy, and now he has become more important than us.”
I chuckled. “Come here.” I wrapped my arms around her. “She’s happy, Sam.”
“I suppose,” she sighed.
“She’ll be home visiting before we know it.”
“You sure about that?” Her brow raised.
“No.” I shook my head. “No, I’m not.”
By the time we arrived back home, it was late. Sam took Charlotte upstairs, changed her into her pajamas, and laid her down for the night. Once she was done, she joined me on the couch.
“Listen,” I said.
“Listen to what?”
“The silence. There’s no music blaring, teenagers laughing, no arguing. Isn’t it grand?” I smiled.
“Honestly, it is. But I already miss her.”
“So, do I, baby. So do I.”
Sam’s phone rang. “It’s Zoey!” Her eyes lit up. “Hello.” She put it on speaker.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hey, baby. Miss us already?”
“Uh, no. I just wanted to tell you that the mini fridge isn’t working. I talked to the dorm leader, and she said that the school doesn’t provide them and that one was left by the other student who lived here. So, I need a new one ASAP.”
“How can the school not provide them with the outrageous tuition they charge?” I said.
“I don’t know, Dad.”
“I’ll order one now, and you’ll have it tomorrow. Get that Sebastian kid to help you with it.”
“He already said he would. He’s so nice. Thanks, Dad, for introducing us.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” I said, and Sam smacked my arm.
“I have to go. Talk to you later.”
“Why did you smack me again?” I cocked my head at Sam.
“Because he’s probably going to become her boyfriend.”
“And? He seemed like a good kid.”
“We can’t keep an eye on her while she’s there and we’re here, can we?”
“It’s called trust, babe. You raised her right and taught her to make the right decisions. She knows every literary man ever written about and their bad decisions. Trust me. She’ll be just fine.”
“I love you, Wes.” She kissed my cheek.
“I love you too, baby. More than you’ll ever know.”
We heard Charlotte’s cries through the monitor.
“I’ll get her,” I said.
I stepped into the nursery and found her standing in her crib, holding her arms out to me. I walked over, picked her up, and sat in the rocker, as I held her against my chest and softly rubbed her back.
“It’s been a long day, princess, and you need to sleep.”
I wasn’t okay as I claimed to be. For years, silence had been my favorite sound.
Now, it felt empty. I glanced at the photo of the four of us sitting on the dresser.
Sam in her wedding dress. I was in my tuxedo, holding Charlotte, and Zoey was standing beside us.
All three of my girls were smiling. My entire world was captured in that frame.
My mind drifted to Sunday mornings at the Starlight Café. Zoey’s constant sarcasm. Sam’s laugh, and Charlotte’s sticky hands all over my expensive suits. This was what life was all about. I’d become rich in all the ways that mattered. And being financially wealthy wasn’t one of them.
Charlotte had fallen back asleep, so I carefully laid her in her crib and covered her with a blanket. Looking over, I saw Sam standing in the doorway. I hooked my arm around her as we went up to our bedroom.
“I love our life, Sam.” I kissed the side of her head.
“So do I, Wes. And I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Except—”
“Except what?”
“Adding another child into the mix.”
I stopped dead in my tracks before we reached the bedroom.
“You want to have another baby?” I smiled.
“I do.”
“Then let’s get to work.” I picked her up.
“That’s the thing. We don’t have to. I’m pregnant, Wes.”
“You are? When did you find out?”
“The other day. I wanted to wait to tell you because of the whole college move and everything. Are you happy?”
“I couldn’t be happier.” I kissed her lips. “Maybe this one will be a boy.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” She laughed.
Thank you for reading Blind Date.
I hope you enjoyed it!