Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

Elijah

“I took this picture earlier. She was so mad when I showed it to her before we dropped her off at her grandparent’s house.” I chuckled as I handed my phone over and showed Ma the picture of Lucy with her mouth wide open, catching flies as she slept in her car seat. I was a little tired myself. I didn’t sleep much after leaving Hadley’s apartment, but it was a good tired. Probably wouldn’t be feeling that way as the day went on and I was at work but that was okay too.

Ma smiled down at my phone. “I was wondering what you were doing up so early. Did the mom—”

“Hadley.”

“Did Hadley have to work this morning?”

I took my phone back. “Yeah. I’ll get her at seven, and we’ll go pick up Lucy and Eli.”

“That’s the baby, right? Got any pictures of him?”

I shook my head. “No, but I’ll take one of him with Hadley. That’s the first one I took of Lucy.” I grinned thinking about the way she pouted. It only made it worse that I laughed at her. Everything was all good in her eyes after I told her I only wanted a picture of her.

When I glanced over at Ma, she was watching me with curious eyes. “Might as well bring them over.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “How do I suggest that?”

Ma arched a brow my way, slightly amused. “What do you mean?”

“Answer me honestly, Ma. You’re the only female who can still say they love me after knowing me. Should I leave Hadley alone? She’s been through a lot. They all have. I don’t want to fuck them up—”

“Language, Elijah,” Ma scolded me.

Hank opened the screen door and ruffled my hair like he did when I was a kid. Back then it would always piss me off. That hadn’t changed. I leaned my head away and caught him smirking down at me as he went to refill his coffee cup.

“Are you going to leave them alone?” Ma asked me.

I didn’t even have to think about it. “No.”

Ma laughed. “Then why are you asking such a silly question? I know you, you know you. Do you plan to hurt them?”

“Of course not, but…” I placed my elbows on my knees, dropped my head between my hands, and sighed. “I want to be in their lives more than I am now. This being her friend shit is for the birds.”

“Language,” Ma muttered while Hank grinned. “Why haven’t you asked her out?”

“A lot of reasons.” I sighed. It should have been easy to do so since Hadley was letting me into their lives. I could have that morning. I should have, then was equally glad I didn’t when she mentioned I was a great friend. She had me bent out of shape.

“If it’s about her kids, they’ll make your life fuller,” Hank told me after another sip of coffee. “My life would have been empty and dull without your mom. You were such a little shit—a serious handful—but I wouldn’t trade a moment we had together.”

Ma muttered under her breath about our word choice while we laughed.

“Lucy is amazing. You’ll fall in love with her. Beautiful and sweet like her mom. And Eli is a little butterball.”

“Listen to you,” Hank chuckled.

“What?” I smiled.

“You sound proud. Like they’re already yours.”

I frowned. But they weren’t. The fact that they weren’t mine sucked me into a giant black hole. It left me devastated.

“All I know is that I want more than two grandkids. You got to impregnate her at least one more time.” Ma’s words were amusing but far from terrifying. I’d thought about being a father a lot since meeting Lucy. Being a parent was so much more than I originally thought and maybe it was something I wanted.

Maybe I already did. I pictured Hadley with a rounded belly like when we first met. Only that child would be a part of me and Hadley. Suddenly, I realized I wanted that life.

I couldn’t deny it anymore. I wanted that. I wanted them. With me. As my family.

I wanted Hadley—all pieces of her.

______

The moment Hadley hopped in my car that evening, I had a hard time deciding if I should hand her the cake right away or wait until after we picked up Lucy and Eli. It wasn’t like she couldn’t see it in the back seat if she glanced over her shoulder.

When I saw the half-eaten one in her hands, I decided to wait. Had she been working there long enough for her co-workers to know about her birthday?

Hadley saw me eyeing the cake and smiled. “You can have a piece. A good friend I worked with, the one that taught me most of what I know, brought it to me today at work and told me to share it with everyone.” She snorted. “I think she wants me to go back to work with her.”

Pulling out of the parking lot, I asked, “Where did you work before the hospital?”

“A nursing home.”

“Any plans to go back?”

Another snort. “No. I love it here. The hours and time off work are perfect for me. As much as I miss Georgie, I don’t miss the mental and physical exhaustion that came with working there. When you’re a nursing assistant, you learn the importance of team work. Most of the nurses at the home wouldn’t help us out. I promised myself that when I became an RN, I’d help without asking. I never wanted anyone else to feel bogged down or alone.”

I understood the basics of nursing, but there was a lot I didn’t know. The determined smile on Hadley’s face, though, told me how important her career was. “Sounds complicated, but I’m sure you’re great at this job, and that’s not because I think you look fucking cute in scrubs.”

Her eyes slid over my way, and her cheeks reddened. She tucked strands of blonde hair behind her ear and rolled those ocean-blue eyes at me. Beautiful.

“Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Complimenting me the odd way that you do. I don’t know how to react.”

I chuckled. “React however the fuck you want, baby. I’m going to enjoy it, regardless.”

She shook her head, still smiling as she peered out of the window.

Her dad was outside with Lucy waiting for us when I pulled up. This was a habit of his. Hadley’s customary behavior was rushing to leave with the kids as if she was terrified of what her parents might say to me. Maybe it was necessary with her ex—needing to defend him or feeling frightened that he’d get upset with her—but I was a grown-ass man who didn’t want her stressing on my behalf. I understood why Hadley’s dad worried about who she hung out with. She was his daughter. If Hadley and her kids were mine, I’d be a lot worse.

Her mom stepped out a second later, smiling with Eli on her hip. I parked the truck and grabbed the cake I’d purchased. “Do you want to share this with them?”

Her gorgeous blue eyes bugged out as she took in the cake. “Elijah…” She stared into mine. “You didn’t really have to get me a cake.”

“Nonsense. Besides, Lucy would have held it against me ’til the end of time.”

“Elijah!” Lucy said excitedly, a second later her knuckles were hitting the side of my truck as she tried to climb on the sidestep to look through the window at me. “Come in and eat. Mamaw made barbecue ribs for Mommy.”

I laughed as I carefully opened the door and stepped out. She gasped when she saw the cake in my hand. “See, Papaw?” She glanced over at her grandfather on the porch. “I told you he’d bring one.” Hadley finally relaxed a little—the tension in her shoulders eased tremendously.

“Have you wished your mom a happy birthday yet?” I asked Lucy.

She became quiet and looked over to Hadley. “No. Happy birthday, Mommy.” Those bright, curious eyes were back on me. “Do I get a present, too?”

I tugged one of her pigtails and laughed. “We had birthdays last month. I think it’s your mother’s turn.”

She crossed her arms. “Drats.”

Her reaction made me remember the unicorn portrait I still hadn’t given her. “But, when you go home later, there’s something I made for you.”

Her eyes lit up.

“Lucy, why don’t you introduce Mamaw to Elijah since your mom never does?” said Hadley’s mom from beside me. I hadn’t realized she’d stepped off the porch. Hadley glared at her mom.

“This is Elijah, Mamaw,” Lucy said.

“Nice to meet you, Elijah.” The older woman offered her hand. I switched the cake to my left hand and shook hers.

“You, too.”

“Come eat. I made dinner.”

“I bought a cake.”

She laughed. “I see that.”

We had a pleasant dinner despite Hadley’s mom embarrassing her and her father scrutinizing me. Two hours later, I walked them up to their apartment with two cakes and a peach cobbler stacked in my arms.

Hadley opened the door and gestured for me to step in. “Thanks for carrying those.”

“No problem.”

“Don’t change clothes until I give you a bath, Lucy,” Hadley said as she tossed her shoes off and ran into the living room.

I placed the cakes and the cobbler on the counter and headed for the door. “I’ll be right back. There’s something I’ve got to get.”

Hadley’s eyebrows knitted together. “Okay?”

I hurried to my house, grabbed the drawing, and rushed back. I was eager to see Lucy’s reaction. Hadley let me in the moment I knocked. “For Lucy.” I handed it to Hadley, and she gasped.

“Oh, Elijah, it’s beautiful.” Hadley shouted, “Lucy! Come see.” She held up the picture frame, admiring the painting with a smile.

“Is that a unicorn?” Lucy walked over and took my gift from Hadley.

“Do you like it?” Lucy was only four, so I was suddenly unsure if she’d like something like this. But when she smiled, I stopped worrying.

“This one is prettier than the horsey books at Mamaw’s house. Can we put it in my room?”

Hadley smiled. “It’s yours. You can put it wherever you want.”

“Can we do my room in unicorns?” she asked.

“Of course.”

Lucy tackled my legs with a hug. “Thank you, Elijah.”

I patted her head. “You’re welcome.” She ran out, taking the drawing with her.

Eli screamed in Hadley’s arms, and I glanced at him. “Don’t be upset. I’ll make you something once we know what you like.”

Grabbing my wallet from my rear pocket, I took out the gift card and handed it to Hadley.

“What is this?” She stared at it, frowning.

“A gift card for my parlor. You said you wanted a tattoo, right? Whatever you want, big or small, just let me know. It doesn’t have to be right now. Whenever you think you’re ready.”

She bit her lip nervously. “Are you sure? Aren’t tattoos really expensive?”

“Yes, but if anyone is going to tattoo you, it’ll be me. I’m not chancing anyone fucking up your perfect skin. I’m serious, Hadley, don’t let anyone else do it, okay? I’m the best, and I’ll do you right.”

She tilted her head, watching me with a small, pleased smile. “Thank you, Elijah. Um, I can’t make an appointment though since I never know when I have free time.”

“If you want, the next time you’re available I’ll make sure you can get your tattoo. No matter if we have to do it early or late.”

She nodded slowly. “Okay.” She repositioned Eli on her hip and waited. “Would you like to stay and watch a movie or something?”

Was Hadley asking me to watch a movie?

“You have no idea how much I’d love that, but I got to get caught up on some graphic designs.”

Her smile waned. “Okay.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her if maybe she’d like to bring them over to my house and watch TV while I got caught up. Just having them close would be enough for me. But we weren’t there yet.

Before that could happen, I had to tell Hadley how I felt about her. I didn’t want to be just her friend—never did if I were being honest. Her age and kids didn’t matter to me.

“How about tomorrow?” I offered.

Her eyes brightened, putting everything in perspective for me. “My sister’s coming in tomorrow. She’s a teacher and wanted to visit us for a few days before school starts back next week. If not for that, I’d love to.”

“Next week, then?”

“Next week.”