Chapter 27 #2
Gabriel visibly flinches, and I wonder if I’ve pushed a little too hard. It wasn’t my intent to guilt trip him or my other two, but I suppose some of the hurt I experienced when they all had to cancel hasn’t completely dissolved.
Ellyn holds Amelia in one hand while lowering her free hand to my thigh. My heart squeezes with love for this woman.
“Which,” I continue, “I completely understood. You all have families of your own and busy work schedules to pay attention to. Originally, I had every intention of canceling this year’s trip, but then I thought better of it.”
I pause to look at Ellyn who’s smiling at me.
“I chose to ask Ellyn if she would like to come with me for a weekend and she agreed.” I sit back and throw an arm around the back of her chair. “So here we are.”
Amelia squeals a little and claps when Ellyn makes a funny face at her.
A smile splits my lips as I watch my woman playing with my granddaughter. She’s a natural with the funny faces she makes. It’s as if she doesn’t even realize the rest of us are here anymore. It’s just her and Amelia.
The sound of someone clearing their throat catches my attention.
I turn to face Micah.
Which makes sense. The oldest is usually the ringleader of the three of them.
“We appreciate your understanding,” he starts, and then looks at his brothers. “But then we all talked and realized that we’d be breaking an almost ten-year tradition by not coming up this year.”
Jodi, Micah’s wife, leans forward. “None of us wanted to do that.”
“I was able to rearrange my schedule,” Lena says with a reverent smile. “This year has been an extremely busy one with both the rock country and the Christmas albums,” she tells me. “But we all deserve to slow down and keep things into perspective. Family is the most important.”
Gabriel puts his arm around his wife and brings her closer, kissing her cheek.
“What we’re all saying,” Ace starts, “is that we love you, Joel, and we didn’t mean to make you feel as if we’d forgotten about you.”
My lips twitch but I suppress the smile that threatens to break free. I can’t let my kids think I’m a sucker or that I’ve gone soft.
“I appreciate that,” I say, trying to sound unaffected, but I’m forced to clear my throat of the raw emotion clogging it.
“What Joel’s trying to say,” Ellyn suddenly speaks up, side-eyeing me, “is that he’s missed you all and he’s extremely grateful you’re all here.”
I narrow my eyes over at Ellyn. “Why would you tell them that? Now, we’ll never be able to get rid of them,” I gripe.
She just rolls her eyes and turns toward everyone else.
“I’m Ellyn, by the way. Some of us have met before, but that was earlier this year when I first moved in.”
“Moved in?” Lena asks, a wrinkle between her brows. She’s been on the road a lot this year and she and Gabe haven’t had a chance to meet Ellyn before now.
Then she snaps her fingers. “Oh, right. Your dad’s new neighbor.” She grins. “Savannah, you were right. She’s beautiful.”
Ellyn actually blushes.
“I told you, right?” Savannah answers. “Do you really have a YouTube channel?”
“Best channel on the entire site,” I answer without thinking. “It’s named Mz. Ellyn and I particularly enjoy the videos where she does her makeup and gives advice to younger women. Oh …” I snap.
“There was also that one video where she toured her office after she’d first moved in and then did the reveal after. I love the color scheme she chose for her office. Then there was …”
I trail off, realizing that seven pairs of adult eyes are staring at me with their mouths ajar.
“What?”
“You watch my channel?”
I turn to Ellyn who’s looking at me with watery eyes.
Clearing my throat, I sit up in my chair. “I mean, I had to check you out to make sure you were legitimate and everything.”
“You didn’t know about my channel until after my fall.”
“Did I?” I ask, looking around at anything besides the faces staring at me. “I must’ve been surfing YouTube one day.”
I glance down at Amelia.
“It’s her fault.” I jut my head toward the almost two-year-old. “It was that darn Ms. Rachel channel we were watching, and then all of a sudden your channel pops up.”
I take Amelia from Ellyn and sit her on my lap. “This is your fault.”
Amelia claps and then looks over at Ellyn. “Pre-ttee,” she says, making her parents gasp.
“Did she just call you pretty?” Savannah asks, amazed.
“Pre-ttee,” Amelia says again.
“That’s right,” I tell Amelia while looking over at Ellyn. “She is pretty.” I look at the baby again. “But I told you that was a secret between the two of us.”
“I knew it!” Savannah squeals.
Then she goes on to explain to Ace how she caught me watching Ellyn’s videos while I was babysitting Amelia.
“He tried to close the browser, but I knew I saw it.” Savannah looks back at me. “Aww, that’s so sweet. You watch her YouTube videos.”
Of course, this turns into all of my children bullying me like I’m a damn teenager with his first crush.
“That’s enough out of all of that now,” I thunder.
“Yes, alright.” I look around at everyone at the table, my eyes landing on Ellyn last. “Yes, I watch your videos. How can I not? You’re beautiful and light up the damn screen.
I want to watch the woman I love on screen all of the time when I’m not with you. ”
Ellyn’s lips spread into a shaky smile.
“Love?” Jodi asks.
I turn to her and then look all of my children in the eyes. My heart hammers in my chest as I look at my boys.
I’ve dated off and on over the years, but none of the women were serious enough for me to introduce to my sons. My heart was closed to even the thought of falling in love again.
The only person they’ve known me with has been their mother.
“Yes, I’m in love with this woman beside me. I love her. Very much. Enough to have her wear my favorite hat.”
Savannah gasps, covering her mouth.
And my last name. I barely keep the words from coming out, as I realize the truth myself.
“Oh my God,” Lena says. “This is beautiful enough to write a song about.”
While all of my daughters-in-law shriek in happiness, not one of my boys has said anything.
They’re adults with teenagers of their own. There’s no need for me to mention that Ellyn is not a replacement for their mother. Nor do I need their approval.
But I would like to know I have their support.
Finally, it’s Micah that cracks first.
“It’s about damn time,” he states, a wide smile forming on his face.
“I wondered when it would happen,” Ace says, grinning as well.
“Are you sure you can put up with this grouchy motherfu—”
“Gabe!” Lena elbows her husband.
“I mean, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Gabriel says to Ellyn.
Ellyn dabs at her eyes with the tissue Lena hands her.
“It’s nice to meet you as well,” she says after pulling herself together. “All of you.”
Tugging her into me, I kiss her cheek and whisper in her ear that I love her.
“Pre-ttee!” Amelia blurts out, making everyone laugh.