20. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Young Jae
O wen washes his hands before joining me at the table. He’s been working steadily on the closet and it should be done by the end of the day.
“I don’t know how you managed to hold it together. I may have tackled that woman.” He shakes his head, eyes blazing.
I just filled him in on what happened at the meeting with the lawyer. Elise has been quiet the past week since going, taking her time to process. It’s hard seeing her so withdrawn when she’s normally such a happy person.
“Trust me, if I wasn’t holding Elise’s hand, I probably would’ve done something to get kicked out. Watching her face as the lawyer read out everything being left to Elise was hilarious. I suspect the initial will she had him draw up when they were together didn’t list any of that.” At least she no longer has any reason to reach out to Elise.
Serving myself some pasta, I pass the bowl to Owen. We’re silent for a bit, both in our own heads as we eat.
“Adeline is a little worried about her. She said she’s been pretty quiet in their group chat.” Owen looks up at me, searching my expression.
Sighing, I set my fork down and lean back. “Here too. I’ve been trying to give her space to sort through her feelings, but I do plan on talking to her. I’ve got her.”
“I know you do. That’s what I told Adeline. She just worries, she knows what it’s like having horrible people try to manipulate and dictate.” Owen taps on the table. “Do you think that wife of his will show up in town? Try to intimidate Elise into giving up what her father left her?”
Shaking my head, I scoff. “No. She doesn’t seem like the type to get her hands dirty. Besides, she wasn’t left destitute. She’s probably living the high life trying to find her next wealthy husband.”
He grunts in disgust. A sentiment I second.
It boggles my mind that someone would keep a child from their parent’s funeral, adult or not. The days since then have been quiet. Elise comes home from work, we eat dinner and she cleans up, then she cuddles me on the couch until it’s time for bed. We’ve talked a little, but not the way we normally do. It’s been hard, but she needs me to be a quiet presence and that’s what I will do.
We finish eating in silence, both of our minds occupied before he heads back upstairs with a promise to be done by the end of the day and an offer to help rally around Elise if we need.
Owen finishes the closet just as Elise is walking in the door. Kimchi greets her like normal, bouncing around and wriggling, waiting for the cue to come forward. Elise bends down, her smile looking a little more genuine today. She picks Kimchi up, holding her close.
“Just in time, Owen was going to show me our new closet.” I gesture for her to go first.
She sets Kimchi down, surprise crossing her face. “It’s done already?”
“That’s what happens when you hire the best.” He smirks, leading the way into the primary bedroom. “I will stay and help Young Jae move the furniture back to its space, but I vacuumed, mopped, and dusted everything too.”
Elise stares, stunned. “Wow. You really didn’t have to do that.”
She goes into the walk-in closet, which has doubled in size, before coming back out, her eyes wide. “This is bigger than I thought. It’s the closet of dreams. We literally don’t need a dresser anymore.”
Owen points past her to the hamper storage. “I built the closet around the hampers so they’re not cumbersome. This way they have a home and blend in with the rest of the storage.”
Elise opens the drawers, exploring while Owen and I move the furniture back into the room, except the dresser. We decide to pop that into the empty bedroom at the end of the hall for now.
As we finish, Elise starts moving our clothes out of the guest closet into our refinished one.
“Do you care how your things are organized?” Her voice is excited and her eyes shine with excitement, so I shake my head.
“Have at it. I’m going to order us a pizza, I hope you don’t mind.” Owen follows me out and I can’t stop the grin that forms. “Who knew it would take a closet to get her to cheer up?”
Owen stares at me, brows lifted. “Why do you think I worked so hard to finish it today? Nothing helps more than something else to occupy your energy. She will be able to think through what she’s working, but it won’t be the only thing she’s focused on. It usually helps me, so I thought it might work for Elise too.”
“Thanks, man. Want to stay for pizza?” I pull up the number for Cliff’s.
“Nah, Adeline is making some new recipe and she invited my mom over to celebrate. Mom found a place and is moving in a few weeks.” He rests his hand on my shoulder, squeezing. “I’m glad that you have Elise the way you’ve always been meant to. And I’m glad she finally has a man who cherishes her the way she should.”
He heads out, muttering something about becoming too damn soft. Grinning, I quickly order the pizza before heading back upstairs.
I find Elise sitting on the floor, surrounded by clothes. Her lips move silently as she points at the different areas of the closet.
“How’s it going in here?” I sit next to her, picking up a shirt I forgot I had.
She smiles. “Good. Honestly, this is what I needed. I haven’t been able to shake all the conflicting emotions from finding out my dad passed, missing his funeral, and then the influx of information at the meeting. Thank you for just being with me and tolerating my moodiness.”
Shifting closer to her, I wrap my arm around her waist. “No need to thank me. It’s the least I could do.”
“I think I was mostly processing the fact that Dad really updated his will behind Melanie’s back to include me. I don’t know what his life was like, but maybe there was more I didn’t see, and he was trying to protect me in some weird way. At least, that’s how I’m choosing to see it.” She rests her head on my shoulder.
“That could be. Especially seeing the person Melanie actually is.” Rubbing my hand up and down her arm, I smile when she wraps her arms around me.
“I feel like I have closure. I’m not ready to read the letter he wrote to me, but maybe one day.” She sighs, pulling away from me. “Now, let’s get this all put away before the pizza arrives. I’m starving.”