Chapter 21
Chapter twenty-one
Greyson
“Let’s go home, grab a bag, and head out.” I couldn’t believe I was saying this, but here we were.
Tonight had been an insane night for Paisley, re-meeting so many of my family members, demanding the story of her ex-husband, and now getting ready to visit his grave.
It was easy to underestimate Paisley with her willowy build and quiet nature, but I knew my wife.
She was velvet-laced steel. Stronger than most people gave her credit for.
Yet I could see the threads unraveling as she tried to hold herself together.
And the little joke about The Prancing Pony? It shouldn’t have made my heart beat so fast. Hope ignited in my chest because calling my family home The Prancing Pony had been our inside joke for years. Maybe she remembered or her subconscious was kicking in?
Paisley stared at me, mouth slightly agape. “What about Rosie?” she stammered, like that was the biggest issue with us trekking seven hours across the state in the middle of the night.
Not the fact that we were driving to a cemetery to visit her ex’s grave.
“Cal has a key. I’ll text him to grab her stuff and take her for a sleepover with Khia. He won’t mind.”
Back at the house, we both quickly packed a bag, and Paisley changed out of her damp clothes. So I took a minute to update the family group chat, since they’d been bombing my phone for the last half hour.
ME:
We’re ducking out for the night. Paisley’s worn out.
Messages flooded in almost immediately.
MAMA:
I’ll bring leftovers over tomorrow! Give her a hug for me.
POPS:
Take care of our girl.
JULES:
Is she okay? Are you okay? That was a bombshell Khia dropped, and I love the girl to bits, but she doesn’t have a filter.
Like you. But I didn’t bother opening that can of worms.
ME:
Leftovers are great, Ma, thanks. She’s okay, just processing a lot.
My phone chimed again, but it was a private text from Cal. Smart man.
CAL:
grey, i’m so sorry about what khia said. i had no idea she’d go there. i didn’t even know she remembered pais was married before
is she doing okay? really okay? how are you holding up?
khia and i have had a few chats about paisley and appropriate comments so it shouldn’t happen again. kids should come with a manual
but seriously brother i’m here if you need me. say the word i’m there
ME:
Don’t worry about it. Kids will be kids. We’re taking a quick trip to Oregon tonight. Can you take Rosie to your place for a sleepover?
CAL:
oregon? wow
i’ve got you. let me know if there’s anything else
happy birthday big bro
I clicked my phone off as Paisley came down the stairs.
While tonight was far from any family barbecue I’d imagined, I wasn’t totally mad about it.
Khia, bless her spunky spirit and button nose, had every Satterfield man wrapped around her finger.
I couldn’t be upset with the munchkin. Despite the lack of finesse, she’d backed us into a conversation we should have had sooner.
What came next? Well, I couldn’t think that far ahead.
For now, we were Oregon bound.