Chapter 18
Damien
“Oh, my goodness, there he is!” Diane screams as I throw the blanket into the car, thankful that Lilah has already left.
I’m starting to feel a little overwhelmed, and her weird looks as I inspected the blanket didn’t help.
I paid her, much more than she quoted me, and then she was on her way—only to now be replaced by the quirky, southern woman I remember from the first time I came here.
She quickly jogs up to me before throwing her arms around my neck, acting as if she’s known me her whole life.
She’s in a pink pajama set with a sweater, and her hair is in those circle plastic things.
It’s clear that she stopped her entire evening to come out here, and while I appreciate it greatly, all of the attention is starting to rattle me.
“I have thought and prayed for you every day! I'm so glad you're alright!”
“Thanks, Diane. Me too.”
“When this sweet young man called and told me he found you, I never thought I’d stop crying. You poor thing.” She squeezes tighter and I look to Zeke to tell him to get her the fuck off of me. His eyes widen and he nods frantically before reaching out to tap her shoulder.
“Mama D? You're smothering.”
“Oh, dear. I'm sorry.” She lets go and steps back, fanning herself with both hands. “Let’s get inside and get you something that will take all the worries away. Now, what’s your favorite ice cream?” She asks me.
“It’s not for me, Diane.”
“Yeah,” Zeke drawls anxiously. “Ash never got the ice cream that day. I just didn’t want to say anything because you were so happy he came in for her.
” Zeke scratches the back of his head, and even though this parking lot is only dimly lit by a couple of overhead lights, I see Diane’s face blotch red.
“Oh, no, sir! I know you did not come into my shop, asking all them questions, and then left without getting that baby some ice cream! Oh, no! That won’t do!
” She marches up to the front door and aggressively unlocks it, jingling her keys so loudly that they pierce my ears.
“That sweet woman didn’t get her craving, and you didn’t think to tell me that? !”
“I'm sorry, Diane.” Zeke shrinks in on himself when she whips back around.
“No, sir! It’s Mama D! Just because you're in trouble doesn’t mean we go back to formalities.
” She trots inside, and we reluctantly follow.
I don’t know how the hell Zeke knows this woman, and I’m not about to ask.
Suddenly, she’s everyone’s mom, and I’m not arguing with her about that either.
She flips the lights on and storms behind the counter, pulling out an entire box of to-go containers.
“Um, Diane?” I interject. “We don’t need that much ice cream.”
“The hell you don’t!” she retorts, and I slowly back away.
When I was here before, I had a thought of her coming out of the backroom with a shotgun.
I guess that I wasn’t that far-fetched. She starts filling up the containers roughly, one with every flavor, and my mind starts reeling on how the hell we’re going to fit all of that in the freezer.
“So, tell me.” She points at me with her scoop.
“How is the baby? How’s your wife? Is she getting big and cute yet?
” She starts firing off questions, and I intervene before she can ask anymore.
“The baby’s great. She’s moving around a lot, and she kicks pretty hard—"
“Oh, my goodness!” she squeals, interrupting me.
“You said ‘she’ twice! It’s a girl?!” I nod my head at her, which prompts her to shriek again.
I have half a mind to cover my ears, but then I would offend her, and ultimately, start another stern talking to—which I’m not really willing to entertain.
“You are going to be such a good dad, and that little girl is going to have you wrapped around her tiny fingers! Oh!” She squeals again, and I can’t help but laugh this time.
She’s exactly right. My queen and my princess already have me wrapped.
A warmth fills me at that thought, and like Diane can sense it, her face fades into a more sincere, charming expression.
“So how is your wife, truly? Zeke was telling me how upset she was. Is she doing better?” she asks a little quieter, like she can tell I was getting overwhelmed.
“Yeah. A little, I think. She was having some issues with her blood pressure, and to be honest, I've been difficult since being back.” I glance at the floor, hating to admit that.
“Well, honey. That’s to be expected. From everything you and Zeke have told me about her, she’s in it for the long haul. Two beautiful people deserve each other, and that’s all that matters in the end.” She continues to fill up containers, but the warmth behind her face doesn’t fade.
“Mama D, you really don’t have to do all of this.” Zeke gestures to the ice cream quarts covering the counter behind the glass.
“She craved one thing then, she might crave something else now, and something else tomorrow. You hush! This makes me happy!” She pokes the scoop at Zeke this time, a little more aggressively, before looking back at me.
“I even kept two containers of that peach cobbler in the back for you. We got rid of that flavor a few weeks ago to prepare for our fall and winter selections, but something told me to keep some in case you came back in. You can take both of them with you.”
“Thank you. You are such a sweet woman.” I pull out my wallet, willing to pay her handsomely for this. With a card this time. I don’t think I’ll ever pay in cash again. I was reminded in the worst way that it doesn’t leave a trail.
“Keep flattering me, sugar, and I'll move in.” We all laugh at that, but then glance at each other worriedly, because I don’t think she’s joking. The last thing we need is someone else occupying our home.
“Remind me to bring Trina here when she gets home,” Alex whispers and grins at Zeke and I.
Zeke’s eyes beam with excitement once again, and it’s really unfortunate that he speaks before I tell him to shut the hell up.
“Yeah, Mama D! You'll have two babies to gush over,” Zeke reveals, pushing more of Diane’s buttons. She snaps her head to Alex, smiles wickedly, and excitedly fills more containers. “But she’s out of town right now.” Zeke holds his hands out, hoping that it will stop her. Dumbass.
“Yeah, please no more ice cream, Diane,” I all but beg. She laughs and finally puts the scoop in the sink, only to turn around and grab a box of smaller cups.
“Oh! Now you need toppings!”
Ashia is going to kill me.
As I step out of the car, a weight is lifted from me.
We finally have a plan to move forward, and now that we’re home, it seems more attainable than ever.
Carter stands by the door, waiting to help carry bags, and the familiarity brightens something inside of me.
I know everything is okay. I went out, I went back to work, and I came home without it ending in tragedy.
It’s a small step, but it’s still something.
A sense of achievement swirls around my chest, filling an emptiness that I knew was there, but refused to admit.
As we walk in from the garage with an insane amount of bags, an enticing, spiced smell hits my nose.
My beautiful, perfect wife is at the stove cooking, still wearing her pajamas as if she did exactly as she promised and stayed downstairs.
Her gaze meets mine in the blink of an eye, appearing angelic under the golden lights.
She looks warm and comforting, like if I cuddled up beside her, we’d melt into an instant sleep.
She looks like home. There’s nothing between us anymore—no doubt, fear, or confusion.
I see her so perfectly. As she smiles at me, I feel faint.
I’m drowning in her all over again, and I’ll happily sink to the bottom.
“Hey, how was…” She stops talking the moment she sees our haul, and her eyes widen. “Is all of that ice cream?”
“Hell yeah, it is!” Zeke nods as her wide eyes cut back to me in a worried squint. She can’t seem to help the smile trying to overtake her face, though.
“Diane insisted.” I shrug and smile back at her. She grimaces slightly, biting back a grin.
“Oh, okay. Well, Alex? You’ll be taking about ninety percent of that back to the Attic, right?
” She laughs and turns back to the stove to stir whatever she’s making.
Zeke starts taking the containers out of the bag, eyeing them like he’s trying to pick one out.
The bags rustling against the counter draws Ashia’s attention again, causing her to look back and frown.
“Um, absolutely not.” His gaze snaps to his sister.
“I’m clearly making food. Put that in the freezer. ”
“Alright, Mom. Damn.” Zeke sulks and starts putting it away.
I lay the other bags, including the one with the blanket, on the counter next to him before walking up to my wife.
She sets her spoon down and turns to face me, cradling her stomach in her hands as she leans back against the counter.
Her lips curl in that perfect grin, like there was never a doubt in her mind that I would get through this—that we would get through this.
God, she’s never looked so pretty…
“How was it? Are you okay?” she asks like I didn’t call her in a panic.
“Yeah, I'm okay. I feel a lot better.” I lean into her, lowering my head to get closer to her face. “I’m sorry to keep you up. You didn’t have to do all of this.”
She shrugs and smirks, batting her eyelashes.
“I know, but I thought after all of that, you’d be hungry. And I wanted to wait for you to get home.” Her face falls into the sweetest look, her eyes softening with endearment. “I’d wait forever for you, you know that?”
My throat tightens.