He grins. “I will. Good luck, Raelynn.”
I pick Jackson up from school before heading home. Jackson and Bree talk to one another from the backseat. Jackson mentions how he’ll have to change into his jersey once he gets home since there’s a game tonight. The last thing I need to do is talk to Elias prior to a game. But I do need to talk to him. If I were to catalog my feelings and sort them all out, things become a little easier.
I can’t imagine being without Elias.
He’s fantastic with my son, and my son loves him.
I love taking care of Bree.
But...
There’s always a but, isn’t there? He doesn’t trust me, and now, I don’t trust him. Not as much as I once did, at least. When we get home, the first thing I notice is a big bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table. There’s a card propped up against them.
“Are these yours, Momma?” Jackson asks.
I pick up the card and open it.
I’m prepared to grovel for the rest of my life.
I’m sorry, Raelynn. Please forgive me.
Love, EJ
“Yeah, they’re for me,” I confirm as he leans forward to press his face against the flowers.
“They smell good.”
I pick them up and smell for myself. Bree tries to yank one out for herself, making me laugh. “Let’s find EJ, but remember to be quiet. He might be napping.”
Sure enough, he’s asleep on the couch. I take the kids upstairs; it’s the easiest way to make sure we won’t wake him. But he’s upstairs within thirty minutes. He smiles as Jackson holds Bree’s hand and walks with her around the room.
“I’m about to leave,” he says as he picks Bree up. “Did you see the flowers?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Will you stay up for me tonight?”
I nod and I swear, he exhales in relief. He kisses Bree and tells his princess he loves her before setting her on her feet again. What throws me off guard, though, is that Jackson is there, waiting to give him a hug, wish him luck, and he sneaks in a “Bye, EJ. Love you.”
Elias immediately looks at me since Jackson’s head is turned away. My throat tightens and tears threaten to spill. Elias crouches and hugs Jackson back. “Love you too, J-man.” Jackson slips away from him to play with Bree and Elias walks over to where I sit in the recliner. He leans down and simply presses his forehead to mine. “Thank you for still being here,” he whispers.
My mouth parts, but the words are nowhere to be found, so I simply nod. A moment later, he leaves.
I’m still feeling a little uneasy about this entire thing, but another talk can’t hurt things, right? Or maybe it can. Our last one didn’t go too well. I worry abou
t our impending talk of doom all afternoon, even once Henry arrives with dinner.
“Are things better?” he asks while we eat.
I shrug.
“I know I haven’t been the best since I’ve been back, my opinion might not mean much, and I don’t know what’s going on, but for what it’s worth, I’ve decided I like him and I hope everything works out.”
So, now my ex is telling me to stay with my boyfriend? What is the world coming to? I’m not so sure it’s comforting to have Henry’s support either. Maybe I’m not giving him enough credit. He’s been better and hasn’t made any flops recently.
“I want to ask you something, even though I’m fully expecting you to say no,” Henry says later while we’re watching the Rebels game.
“What is it?”