Chapter 30
Addison
Two Months Later
“Where do you see us in five years?” I ask softly, the question slipping out in the quiet of the truck cab. My back is against Wesley’s chest, his arms around me.
His fingers tighten around mine. “Let’s see…” His thumb softly brushes my knuckles. “I see us together,” he says, voice low and sure. “Married. Happy.”
I smile, my heart fluttering. “Are there any little people with us?”
“Hmm,” he hums. “Maybe. If not, Lord willing, they’re on the way.”
I can’t help but smile and sit up to see his face. The very familiar warmth in his eyes. He sits up too.
“Is it a baby boy or a girl?”
He laughs to himself and leans in, his lips hovering just above mine. “A boy,” he murmurs, smiling bigger. Then he kisses me with certainty.
“You really think all that is gonna happen in five years?” I ask, quieter now. The truth of it is almost impossible for me to see. I want it—it’s my dream—but I just don’t know.
“I don’t know anything for sure, but we can hope and pray,”
“I just can’t see it,” I admit. “It’s blurry.”
“That’s okay.” He reaches for my hand. “We’ll take it day by day.”
“What if I’m never ready to get married?”
“Don’t think like that, babe.”
“I’m serious, Wes.” I hold my breath.
He shrugs. “Then I’ll date you for the rest of my life and still die a happy man.”
I smile and attack him with a kiss. That’s exactly what I needed to hear.
I think about it though…the thought, the idea of it. I really think about it. It doesn’t make me anxious like it had in the past with Brantley. It doesn’t make me want to throw up or anything. It makes me excited, and I feel secure.
“I think I’ll be ready. Whenever you ask, I’ll be ready.”
“I know you will be.” He says with a knowing look.
* * *
“So where is everyone?” I ask looking around at the empty place settings.
Jesse, Ella, and Cody all missed church this morning, which is very weird.
Mom puts the last dish on the table before sitting down. “Well, I know Jesse and Ella had a rough night with Cora. And Cody…I have no idea.”
Dad looks at her. “What’s the date?” he asks, and it hits us all at the same time. April 25th. This day seven years ago was when Bree walked out on him on their wedding day.
Mom sighs, like she’s so disappointed in herself for not remembering. “I should call him.”
“No,” Dad says. “Don’t. Just let him be. He wants the space.”
“I don’t know if space is good in this instance,” Mason mutters.
Wesley turns to me. “What happened?”
“His wedding day.”
“Oh. Right.” Wesley nods and reaches for a drink.
Cody never shows much emotion, but every year on the anniversary of what should’ve been the best day of his life, he sorta just disappears. I’m not entirely sure where he goes…the bar maybe? We don’t ask.
After Dad prays, the front door opens and Jesse comes around the corner . He’s wearing a sweatshirt, jeans, boots, and a baseball cap. The car seat is slung over his forearm with Cora inside, a pink blanket over top, and she’s wide awake.
Mason opens his mouth first. “Well, you look like hell.”
Wesley snickers beside me and I try not to laugh as well.
“Mason,” Mom scolds as she stands. “Ella resting?”
Jesse nods his head. “Yeah, she was up more than me. Someone didn’t think they needed to sleep more than twenty minutes at a time.” He looks down at said someone.
“Cora, that’s not how it works, sweetheart,” Dad leans to the side to talk to her. She smirks.
“Well, sit down and eat. I’ll take her and then you go lay down,” Mom suggests, and Jesse doesn’t argue. He sits down and serves himself.
While we eat, Jesse rambles on about how the last few nights have gone for them.
I guess I didn’t realize how often babies woke in the night as they got older.
I thought it was just a newborn thing. The only baby I really have to compare her to is Caden, but he’s way older, and I’ve never watched him overnight or anything.
“When will she sleep through the night?” Wesley asks him.
Jesse huffs. “If you find out, let me know.”
Laughs bubble out of everyone around the table. I look over at Cora, sound asleep in the bouncy seat behind Mom. Of course she’s sleeping now.
“Depends on the baby,” Mom tells Wesley but then looks to Jesse. “You and Cody were good sleepers. Mason, not so much. And Addison…” She looks at me. “Don’t even get me started.”
“Well, when will we be able to put her in the crib, shut the door, and not be bothered until the morning?” Jesse wonders.
“Six,” Dad interjects.
Jesse’s eyes widen. “Six years?!”
“No, Leonard.” She shakes her head. “I remember it was toddlerhood, for sure. However, everyone’s different.”
“Good Lord, help us.” Jesse groans.
Mason leans forward and looks past Wes to me. “Remember how we used to fight over who got to sleep in Mom and Dad’s bed?”
I laugh. “Yeah, but you cheated…you set alarms,” I say, pointing my finger at him.
Mom and Dad had a rule—only one kid allowed in their bed.
If you got there and someone was already in there, you had to either go back to your room or sleep on the floor.
Mason and I played that game for a while, because we were scared of the dark.
Which, looking back, if we both would’ve just stayed in the room together, we wouldn’t have been scared.
Jesse and Cody were older, so they didn’t participate in that game and shared the other room anyway.
“You set alarms?” Dad questions.
“Yeah…for, like, midnight. I had to beat her there,” he says.
“What were you scared of?” Jesse asks.
Mason shrugs. “I don’t know. The dark?”
“So turn the light on?” Wesley suggests.
Mason sits up in his chair. “Who sleeps with a light on?!” he hollers, like that’s the craziest thing you could’ve ever suggested. The table erupts with laughter, and before anyone can answer him, Cora starts crying.
“Good job,” I joke.
“Sorry.” Mason frowns.
Mom takes care of the situation and leaves the room, bouncing the baby in her arms.
“That cry is like nails on a chalkboard to me right now.” Jesse rubs his forehead but keeps eating.
The sound of a diesel truck rumbles from outside as Mom and I are in the kitchen cleaning up later.
I glance out the window “Oh, it’s Cody,” I say, glad he’s decided not to wallow in self-pity all alone today.
Just as I turn back around, something at the corner of my eye stops me. I look back to Cody’s truck. The passenger seat…there’s a girl in it.
My jaw drops slightly. Tell me he’s been dating someone secretly and this is how he announces it!
He rounds the truck and opens her door, offering his hand to help her down. I catch a quick glimpse of her hair, mostly brown, but threaded with soft blonde highlights that catch the light as she gets out.
Cody shuts her door and my heart stops.
She’s pregnant…very pregnant.
Is Cody having a baby?! He wouldn’t, would he?
“Um…Mom…” I say cautiously.
“What?” She comes over to see for herself.
“Oh, heaven help me…” she mutters and we watch them start towards the door.