Chapter 26
Cooper
It’s Sunday and we’re all eating at my aunt’s. I figured June invited Mae. And when I found out she wasn’t, the disappointment proves to me how far gone I am for her.
We finished dinner, and we’re all sitting and chatting. It’s just me and the family. Sterling is out on a fire, and Gracie had a show in Texas with my cousin Dallas.
“I need to talk to y’all about something,” I say, sitting up a little straighter.
“Is everything okay?” Aunt Dixie asks.
“Yes. But I need your help.” They all wait for me to continue, and I glance at Naomi. She’s in her own little world while The Goofy Movie plays and she’s doing something in her sketchbook.
“As you know, Rebekah is back in town, and I’ve let her see Naomi a couple of times.”
I can tell everyone is hesitant to say anything.
“Is she being nasty?” Ledger asks.
I shake my head. “No, she’s uh, I can tell she’s really trying.
Naomi asked if they could have a sleepover.
And I’ve thought long and hard about it.
The last thing I want to do is keep Naomi away from Rebekah, especially if she’s doing better.
But, and I’m sure we would all agree here, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
So I decided to let them have a sleepover, but at my house. ”
“That sounds like a happy medium, and it keeps Naomi at home, which should help her feel more comfortable,” Aunt Dixie says.
“That’s what I thought.”
“So what do you need from us?” Fletcher asks.
“Well, really, it’s just Aunt Dixie and Uncle Mason, but I was hoping you guys could make sure you’re around while they’re having their sleepover. And I wanted to make sure you all knew what was going on,” I say, gesturing to my cousins.
“Where will you be?” Uncle Mason asks.
I puff out a breath, feeling guilty, but also recognizing I have to give them space. Hovering doesn’t help.
“Well, uh…”
“He’s got a hot date with Mae,” June says, smirking.
I throw her a look, and June wiggles her shoulders with a knowing grin.
“Yeah, so I thought I’d go to Mae’s for a bit, otherwise I think I’ll hover, and that defeats the purpose. I want to give them time to bond. If I go off the ranch, then I think it will show Rebekah that I trust her to take care of Naomi.”
Everyone agrees. “I think that’s a solid first step, Coop,” Tatum says.
“I’ll be back after a few hours and stay here for the night if that’s okay.”
My aunt and uncle nod. “We’ll be here. You go have fun, and we might pop in with cinnamon rolls or something for breakfast in the morning.”
I sigh, the pressure finally releasing a bit. “That would be awesome, thank you.”
“I’ll come home after dinner and hang out here for the night, just in case the princess needs me,” June says.
“Thank you.”
“Nothing to thank us for, boy,” Uncle Mason says.
“I think we’re all hopeful, Coop. We want Naomi to know Rebekah too, and like you, we’re all weary. But we’ll hope for the best.”
I run a hand through my hair. “That’s all we can do.”
Everyone nods in agreement, and I lean back in my chair and return my focus to Naomi. This will be an adjustment for everyone if Rebekah continues to keep trying. And if it keeps getting better with her, what does that mean for me? I don’t really know how to operate without Naomi anymore.
I learned quickly how hard it is to be a parent, to be responsible for a small human who can’t fend for themselves. But I realize it’s even harder when loving her so much might also mean letting her go because it’s what’s best for her, despite how it feels to me.
***
Rebekah arrives, and Naomi has everything set up: blankets for a fort, coloring books, board games, puzzles, and dress-up clothes. She has a full night planned in her head for what they’re going to do.
“Oh wow, Naomi, looks like we’re going to have a lot of fun tonight,” Rebekah says with a smile.
Naomi bounces on her feet excitedly and runs into Rebekah’s legs as she drops her bag to the side. Rebekah leans over and hugs her small body tightly.
“Princess, can you give us a minute while the adults talk?” I ask Naomi.
She sighs and goes into the living room.
“Hi, Bekah,” I say and pull her into a hug.
She freezes for a moment, but seems to relax as she hugs me back.
I release her, and she looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “You good?” I ask her.
She blinks and wipes her eyes quickly. It’s the first time I’ve hugged her since she came back. It’s time to start moving on.
“So you can sleep in my bed. I changed the sheets and everything. There’s food in the fridge for dinner, and popcorn, Naomi’s favorite.
Naomi has all kinds of ideas for what to do tonight, so I’ll leave that to you two.
If you need anything, Aunt Dixie and Uncle Mason are home.
If there’s an emergency. I have something to do for a few hours, but I’ll stay at their house.
But again, you can always call me if you need something or have a question. ”
Rebekah nods and looks around.
I explain Naomi’s bedtime routine and ask her to try to stick to it even though they will probably stay up past her bedtime. Which is fine. June will pop in tomorrow morning to see Rebekah out, and so I don’t have to wake Naomi up to get out to the cattle.
“Naomi told me she gets up before five to go move cattle and all that stuff. Has she always gotten up that early?” Rebekah asks.
I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “When she was little, I didn’t have a choice.
I couldn’t leave a two-year-old by herself in the house.
Aunt Dixie was busy. So I’d strap her to my chest while we were out and she’d usually fall back asleep and then I’d come back to the main house and Aunt Dixie would watch her for the rest of the day. ”
Rebekah’s lips thin, and I can’t figure out what she thinks about it. It doesn’t matter. I’ve done my best, but her lack of response tells me she doesn’t really like it.
Ignoring the irritation building in my stomach, I grab my wallet, keys, and hat.
“Princess, come here and give me a hug.”
Naomi drops what she’s doing and runs over to me.
I pick her up, squeezing her hard, and kissing her cheek.
I already talked to her about if something goes wrong, or there’s a problem, go straight to her Grandma.
Her and my aunt also have walkie talkies and I said she could ask Grandma to come through those too.
“Be good and have fun,” I tell her.
“We will, Daddy!” Naomi says with a bright smile.
I chuckle and set her down, and she runs back to what she was doing.
“Have fun,” I say to Rebekah, and leave before I change my mind.
I take the truck down to the main house and find my entire family having dinner and hanging out.
“What’s all this?” I ask. Tatum, Fletcher, June, and Ledger, along with my aunt and Uncle are all sitting there.
“Having dinner, what does it look like?” Fletcher says.
“Are you all…” I trail off, the words stuck in my throat.
“We wanted you to go have a good time with Mae and not worry about things here,” Aunt Dixie says.
Everyone nods in agreement, and I see the walkie-talkie sitting on the table.
“I know you’re nervous, but you have nothing to worry about, Coop,” Tatum says.
I take a stuttered breath. My family is full of amazing people.
“Thank you all,” I rasp.
“Dude go. You’re going to be late to Mae’s,” June snips at me.
“I’m going, but I wanted to let y’all know I’m headed out.”
“Roger that, we’ll call if we need to,” Ledger says with a rare, relaxed smile.
I put my hat back on and salute him. He gives a deadpan look. Fletcher starts laughing, and Uncle Mason pats Ledger’s back.
Chuckling to myself, I head out the door, excited to see Mae but still nervous for the evening to come.
***
I’ve been gone for ten minutes and no phone call or text. I can only hope and pray it’s going well. All I know is this small experience is going to make me a basket case if Naomi wants to go to college. She should. She’s smart enough.
Climbing the stairs to Mae’s house, the door swings open before I have a chance to knock.
“Hi,” she says with a bright smile.
“Hey there, stubborn.” I grin and pull her into my chest.
Her hand draws up and down my back, and I breathe her in. She smells like flowers and sweet like sugar.
“Everything good?” she asks.
I nod against her. “I know it’s a good thing, and I’m a little less nervous now. Which is another good reason I’m here because I’d constantly be checking on them.”
“Wow, so I’m just a distraction,” Mae says, pushing me playfully.
I grab her wrist and tug her back into my chest. “You’re so much more than that, and you know it,” I mumble against her lips.
She tilts her head back, standing on her toes, and kisses me tenderly.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.”
Mae pulls back on a snort and goes back into the kitchen. I close the door behind me and stare at her shapely legs and tantalizing hips, covered by her cut-off shorts. Her tank top hugs her body, and something about the relaxed outfit helps the rest of my unease drain right out of me.
“What’s cookin’ good lookin’?” I ask her.
Mae snorts and looks at me over her shoulder. “You’ve been holding that one in, haven’t you?”
I shrug and lean against the counter, watching her check a pot and stir something else.
“We’re having bolognese. I thought I’d go all out,” she says.
“For me?”
She turns around and takes a step toward me. “Yes, for you,” she says, her voice drops and her eyes glue themselves to mine.
My heart picks up and suddenly I’m not that hungry.
“Can I help?” I ask her.
“Sure, pour the pasta out when the timer goes off,” she says.
“I can do that,” I tell her.
She leans down to check the stove, and the smell of garlic bread wafts into my nose.
“Do you want a beer?” she asks.
“No thanks. Do you have that lemonade you made before?” I ask her and check my phone.
She smiles and opens the fridge, and I grab two glasses for her.
“It’s okay to be nervous,” she says.