Chapter Fifty-Two Wade

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Wade

" T his place is state of the art. There are yoga classes for my mom to take, therapy sessions, grief counseling, and an excellent meal plan."

I pass Ivy her ice cream sundae in the center of my bed as she scrolls through the website for the treatment center her mother is heading to. She isn't giving me any information I don't already know, but I listen to her animated chatter intently anyway.

"And then, if she makes it through to the other side of this, I need to spend more time with her. She used to work with my dad, helping with the animals, maybe she could update her knowledge and work again. You know she used to craft too, she was really good at making blankets, hats …"

I smile down at her, and the hope she has in her eyes makes me hope her mother can do it.

I lose my shirt and get into bed beside her. Before Ivy started sleeping here, my room always felt lifeless. The deep walnut cabin walls against the rustic log headboard Cole and I made last summer. The navy blue bedding covering my California king-size bed. Everything was neat and cool. Now that she sits in the center of it, there is life here, it's warmer, and crawling in beside her naked little body every night, wrapping my arms around her, is the only place on this earth I truly care to be.

"Support is the most important thing. I just have to figure out how to do it all with Angel's juvenile year ahead." Her pretty features knot as she thinks about the responsibility on her shoulders. It's a look I know well because it's one I wear most days, wishing there were more hours than twenty-four to get things done.

"We'll figure it out. Where there's a will, there's a way, right?" I ask as I use my thumb to swipe rogue whipped cream from the corner of her mouth and lick it off my own thumb.

Her eyes turn to mine and she smiles.

"You remember my dad's words?" It's the simplest statement but I blink at her. I hadn't even thought. It just seems to me, we're in this and everything else going forward together.

"Ivy, I remember everything you've ever said to me. In case it isn't obvious, I'm fucking crazy about you."

She kisses my lips. "Meh, you're alright." She giggles.

I'm grabbing her ice cream from her and setting it down on the table, ready to show her just how crazy she actually is for me too, when my phone buzzes on the bedside table.

"Fuck, I'm waiting on something," I say, as Ivy sits back up and happily starts munching on her ice cream again, continuing her read through Walnut Grove Rehabilitation Center's website. And it's the text I'm waiting for.

BOSS LADY

I talked to the contractors, they're coming in the morning. You're doing the right thing.

I know, I just don't want to put any pressure on this yet, so it stays between you and me until it's done.

BOSS LADY

One thing I know for certain is you can't ever be too loyal. I know you're not the heart on your sleeve kind, but Wade at some point you have to try to trust the universe has your back.

Thanks for the Ted Talk.

BOSS LADY

Stop being a smart ass. She's going to love it. You'll see.

You know this because you're always right?

BOSS LADY

Because you've got something special here. Because that girl loves you.

BOSS LADY

Also because I'm always right. *Wink face*

I set my phone down and look over at Ivy; she's leaning against my headboard, knees bent, iPad in her lap. Her hair is pulled up high on her head in one of her scrunchies and the strap of her tank top hangs off her shoulder just slightly. Her mouth opens into one of her cute little yawns and something about how she looks is so easy, so natural.

All my worries about taking such a big step for her disappear as I settle in with Ivy in my bed, in our bed. Her arms come up around me and I instantly know I am doing the right thing.

And fuck, my mother is always right.