Chapter 43 - Spencer
Chapter Forty-Three - Spencer
The vibrations from the force of Andie slamming the back door are felt throughout the house. My protective side rears up again, knowing Abby probably crossed another line and I’m done letting it slide.
“Abby, what did you say?” My voice is calm but firm.
“Nothing, really,” she claims, but there’s guilt written all over her face. She swears whatever she said shouldn’t have upset Andie to that point.
Years of experience has taught me that if you stay quiet, people will just talk.
They hate silence, so they’ll eventually tell you exactly what you need to know without you having to ask twice.
So, I stand there staring at her, waiting her out until she tells me why my girl just ran out of here in a rush.
Abby fidgets under my gaze, glancing at Maddie who joined us when Andie slammed the door. She’s looking for support but finds none.
“I swear, I just told her to think about how different you guys are,” she finally admits, voice rising defensively. I cock my eyebrow as I wait for her to continue. “Like where you guys live and what that will mean for the baby and your relationship.”
Shit. No wonder she bolted like there was a bomb in the house.
Andie is already stressed. She’s in complete overload and rightfully so.
I’ve heard her friends, her family, and all the criticism she’s been taking for being with me.
I could intervene, but I know she doesn’t want me to.
So instead, against my better judgement I let her take on more by herself than I should have.
But she’s stronger than she believes. She just needs to see it. Regardless of what happens.
“Abby, do me a favor,” I say, keeping my voice even, despite the anger bubbling beneath the surface.
“Stay out of our relationship.” Stepping a little closer, staring directly into her soul as I continue my speech.
“She loves hard and wants everyone to be happy. But if you keep pushing her like you are, you might just lose her. And I’ll be damned if I lose the best thing in my life because you can’t keep your negativity to yourself. ”
I’m about to leave Abby there without a second thought to go to Andie when she throws a curveball I wasn’t expecting.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. Seeing her break down like that .
. . I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I really do want her to be happy.
” There might be hope for Abby yet. I see Evan pop his head around the corner before I head toward the door.
“Where you goin’? Everythin’ okay?” His voice is laced with genuine concern.
“Just outside. And I don’t know yet.” My hand reaches the door handle.
“Want me to come with you for moral support?” He’s already walking up to me, so regardless of what I say I know he’ll be outside waiting with me.
“I could be your emotional support brother.”
“Absolutely not.” Yanking the door open, I step onto the back porch and catch a glimpse of her pacing back and forth down the hill. Her phone is pressed to her ear, so I stand there watching her, waiting for her call to be done.
“Oh, come on, I’m great at this stuff. I’ll hide behind a tree and give you thumbs-up when you’re doing good, thumbs-down if you’re screwing it up.
” Rubbing my face, I shake my head as I notice Andie’s hung up the phone and is now standing there quietly looking out at the field behind her place.
I freeze, unsure if I should move until her eyes lock on me.
“Just stay here.” I take the first step off the porch, my eyes never leaving sight of her. I start walking, focused solely on her as she begins walking towards me, closing the distance as we meet in the middle.
“Want me to blast some romantic music? I’ve got a whole playlist ready and loaded!” Evan offers hollering from the porch. I see her trying to refrain from chuckling.
“Spencer, we really need to talk, but I’m afraid.” Her voice is barely above a whisper.
“What are you afraid of?” I think I know the answer, but I need to hear it from her. I need her to open up about her fears.
“I’m afraid you’ll leave.”
We’re no longer afraid we’re moving too fast. We’re past the fear of what others think. Now she fears losing me, and I just have to reassure her that’s not happening.
“Can I ask you something?” She looks down at her hands, picking at her fingernails to avoid my eyes.
“You can ask me anything you want,” I say.
“Do you want to be with me even if I take Henry in?”
This is the moment . . . the moment we’ve both been fearful of addressing. Our entire relationship can change with my answer. It’s not something to take lightly, there’s a child involved. But the answer comes easily to me.
“Of course, Sweetheart. I love you, and I will be there every step of the way if you choose to take in Henry.” She inhales like she’s breathing in all the hopes for the future.
“You’re it for me, Andie. Baby or no baby, I want all of you.
” Her face begins to let the hard mask slip as a slight smile creeps through.
“I want the good times and the bad. I want the tears of joy and the tears of sadness,” I tell her while swiping her tears away. “I want to be with you for as long as you’ll allow me.”
“Are you sure? Because I’m taking Henry either way. But I need to know . . . do you want to be a part of this with me? I can’t take this on and then have you leave.” Her eyes are begging me, pleading for the answer she desperately seeks.
Taking her hands in mine, I stare directly into the eyes of the most beautiful soul I know.
“Andie, I can’t sit here and tell you that adding a child to the mix doesn’t scare the shit out of me, because it does.
I never thought I would have children. Mainly because I never thought I’d find the right person to build that life with—until I met you. ”
I squeeze her hands gently. “However, I can tell you that I have no intention of leaving you. I know I walked out earlier, and I’m sorry for that.”
She looks away, the sting from that still fresh.
“I just needed that time to think about everything. And I’m not just saying this to make you feel better, I’m a hundred percent certain I want this.” I bring her face back to mine so she sees my sincerity.
“I’ll be as involved in your life and Henry’s as you’ll let me. This is just a fork in the road, but whatever path you take, I’ll be right there with you, hand in hand, walking it at your side.”
Her smile illuminates as she accepts my answer, the weight visibly lifting from her shoulders.
“Okay, I can’t stand it anymore!” Evan’s voice cuts through our moment as he approaches, having clearly watched the entire thing unfold from the porch. “Are we bringing this little guy into the family or not? Come on, tell me. Do I get to be an uncle?”
And there’s Evan crashing yet another emotional moment with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball.
The only hint I get from Andie is a smile. She’s giving me the choice right now—either we take Henry in together, or I let her go.
“Yes, Evan, we’re doing this.”
“Fuck yeah! About damn time!” He whoops, punching the air. “I’m gonna be the best damn uncle you’ve ever seen. I’ll teach him all the important things. How to charm the ladies, how to shotgun a beer, how to—”
“Evan.” I cut him off. “He’s a baby.”
“Never too early to start training,” he insists with a grin.
“Evan, you are aware you won’t actually be related to Henry, right?” Andie asks, a hint of amusement in her voice.
“Like I care,” he replies with a shrug. “Little man is gonna be part of the family regardless of blood. Blood is overrated. Loyalty is what matters.” For all his joking, there’s sincerity in his eyes that makes me proud to call him my brother.
“I love how excited he is,” Andie says, leaning against me. “I think it’s sweet.”
She’s back. The Andie that I know and love is back, and nothing is going to take her away from me again.
“Evan, we aren’t telling everyone yet. We need to talk over a few things, so keep it zipped for a while.
Got it?” Andie says stern and to the point.
Fully prepared to scold him if he disobeys.
He needs to realize we’re serious about this.
He makes a zipped motion across his mouth, locking it with an imaginary key.
We make our way toward the house and tell everyone we’re camping out in Andie’s room for the night.
I can see her making the decision every time she has me stay there with her—she’s choosing to reclaim her space.
She wants me there with her as she moves forward.
I follow her down the hall for a much-needed discussion on how things will work when Henry joins us.
Our first step is the simplest. Tell the lawyer that she would love to take Henry in. We know that part, so we focus on what comes next.
“There will be quite a few legal steps according to the lawyer,” she says as we sit with our wine.
“When I asked him about it, he mentioned that the court will need to approve the guardianship petition even though I’m named in the will,” Andie explains as she takes a long sip.
“He said it could take weeks, maybe even a couple of months. There will be background checks, home assessments, interviews. Essentially, we get the works.”
“And in the meantime?” I ask, watching her carefully.
“In the meantime, he stays with his current foster family.” She takes a deep breath. “We can visit him during the process, to start building a relationship while the legal side gets sorted out.”
I squeeze her hand. “We’ll make it work. I’ll help with everything—the paperwork, preparing for him, whatever you need.”