“That you are my friend, that you are.” She smiles. “So, you going to help me or what?”
“After I go to the bathroom, I’m at your disposal.”
“Good. You can tell me about you and Wren while you’re at it.”
She groans and flips me the bird as she goes to the bathroom.
When she gets out though, the guys are back, and we can’t gossip and compare notes about the James brothers. Wren has a bag of food in his hands whereas Holden is lugging in a stack of boxes and packing tape.
“What?
?s all this?” I ask.
“We’re having a packing party.”
“A packing party?” I repeat confused.
“Yup. Told you when Ezra gets back from his trip, I want him out and Wren needs a room, so we’ll get your stuff separated and Ezra won’t have to worry about packing his shit up because it will be done for him.”
“Okay.” I don’t argue. Why would I? It’s time to let Ezra go and start anew.
The four of us work diligently and within five hours, my stuff is all put away in Holden’s room and Ezra’s things are boxed and stacked along a wall in the dining room. It all feels so final. I run my fingers along the boxes, staring at them almost as if I am looking at a casket. No one has died but saying goodbye to the past two years with Ezra nearly feels as though there has been a death.
Bailey is out with Wren picking out furniture for his room. Apparently, he doesn’t have anything other than a bag of clothes. Living on the road for five years doesn’t leave time for accumulating much material possessions.
Holden is down in his shop getting the chest he made for Waylon and Missy’s daughter ready. I am going with him to deliver it. Holden closed the bar for today. Said he wanted to spend the day with me and that it wouldn’t kill the business to shut down for one day. I overheard him and Wren talking about the renovations they want to make. I guess Wren is going to be Holden’s partner or something. I think it’s a smart move. The place could use a facelift and relaunch.
I’m putting my shoes on when there is a knock at the front door. I don’t think to check to see who it is. It could be Bailey and Wren. When I open the door though I am met with my mother’s daggered glare.
“Ezra told me you were here.” She pinches her eyes as I move away from the door to invite her in even though I desperately want to tell her to leave. “I received word from my lawyer. Your father is being released from prison.”
“You could’ve called to tell me.”
“Well, I felt this conversation should be held in person. I came to tell you that should you decide to continue to see him and have a relationship with him that you should know I will no longer welcome you into my home unless you go forward and marry Ezra. He tells me that you are working through, things and I can only hope he talks some sense into you, and you realize that consorting with your convict father will only bring you down and hurt Ezra’s career.”
“Goodbye, Mother.” There are no tears from me. They wouldn’t penetrate her icy heart. I don’t bother to correct her or tell her I will never marry Ezra, and I sure as hell plan on seeing my father whenever in the hell I feel like it. He may have killed someone but at least he’s honest and doesn’t manipulate the people he claims to love.
“Just think about what I have said,” she tells me, disappearing down the stairs as quickly as she appeared.
Grabbing my purse, I lock the door behind me. Holden is already waiting for me in the cab of his truck.
Chapter 27
Holden
“You’re welcome. I wanted to do something nice for you. It was Conleigh’s idea to fill it up with the goods.” Missy gives me a gentle squeeze.
I feel like an ass for not thinking of it myself. I know they do okay working for me, but babies are expensive. I never realized how much so until I went to the baby version of that popular toy store today. We spent way too much money but looking at Taitlyn there is no price for how precious she is.
We bought her blankets, clothes, toys, diapers. The chest I constructed was overflowing when Waylon helped me get it out of the truck. Missy still has tears in her eyes, and I admit it feels good to do something nice for them. They are good people and hard workers. Waylon and his wife busy themselves putting things away and enjoying a few free moments together while Conleigh coos over their baby.
She seems so content with the little bundle of joy cradled in her arms as she dotes on her. Telling her she’s all that is good and beautiful in the world. I can’t help but imagine us someday having a child of our own. It should sound crazy to me, but it sounds like a dream come true. A piece of me and Conleigh in this world.
She smiles at me. “Want to hold her?”
I shake my head. I’m content just to watch her.
“You’re a natural,” Missy tells her.