Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(80)

Her mother’s poem about the lasts.

If only Ashley could survive it.

? ? ?

THEY WERE FINISHING the best parts of Elise’s burned lasagna, and she was doing everything she could to keep things light.

“So, I guess art majors get a whole locker full of supplies. Right from the first day.” She picked through the charred noodles on her plate. “I’ll be painting every minute of the day. It’ll be hard to stop to eat.”

Cole raised a blackened bite in her direction. He grinned. “Especially if you make this.”

Elise laughed and the feeling washed over her like the summer sun. She was so tired of being sad. But she still had this day to get through. No doubt the hardest part was just ahead.

“How exactly did you get it this color?” Cole wore his Clear Creek baseball shirt and faded blue jeans. His face was tan from taking batting practice with his dad this past week. He dragged his fork through the casserole and a laugh slipped from his lips. “I mean, this is about as bad as I’ve seen.”

“I told you.” She shrugged, still laughing. Still loving how it felt. “I cooked it at four-fifty for three hours. Instead of three-fifty for one hour.”

“An easy mistake.” He chuckled harder. “I’m just glad you’re an art student.”

“Me, too.”

The conversation went on that way through dessert and cleanup. It was ten o’clock when they sat down in the living room and faced each other. She wanted to laugh with Cole tonight. It was the reason she had decided to make him dinner. Her cooking skills weren’t the best, so she knew they’d share a little humor over that. And they had.

Her aunt and uncle were out for the evening and Elise wanted to do something that would make tonight feel normal. Light and happy, the way she’d felt when she first met Cole. But now all the teasing about her dinner was as far in the past as every other beautiful moment she and Cole had ever shared.

The laughter had long since died.

“So.” Cole took her hand. He worked his fingers through hers. “How are you feeling?”

How was she supposed to answer him? She looked down at the place where their hands were joined. They should’ve said their goodbyes yesterday. Today was the end of the two weeks, of course. Such a sad day, already. And on top of that, now she would have to let go of Cole Blake.

She reached out and touched the dark key that hung around Cole’s neck. “I never asked you about this. It says ‘Blake.’?” Her eyes found his again. “Why do you wear it?”

Cole sat up straighter. He took hold of the key and ran his thumb over his name. “It’s for my future wife.” His eyes had never looked sadder. “A gift for her.”

The truth hit Elise like a truck. She blinked a few times and nodded. With every breath, she fought to avoid crying. The key would never belong to her. It was one more thing she had lost in all this.

He was still looking at her, still waiting for an answer. How did she feel? She glanced up, stared into his beautiful pure blue eyes. “I could never put it into words, Cole. I feel . . . so much.”

He nodded. They took their time. As if the hour hand on the clock next to the TV wasn’t racing toward eleven. “I mean . . . about the baby.” He checked the time then turned back to her. “Are you having doubts?”

“Every minute.” It was the truth. As often as Elise drew a breath she was mindful that the decision was still hers. That she could change her mind. A heartbeat didn’t happen without her feeling her tiny daughter in her arms again.

“So . . . you might call Mr. Green?” Cole looked surprised. But his expression couldn’t have been more supportive. If she wanted to keep her baby, he would be first in line to congratulate her, to tell her she could do it.

Her mama would be second. Elise was sure of that.

“I don’t know, Cole.” Her doubts had nothing to do with keeping her baby or going through with the adoption. They weren’t because she didn’t feel supported by the people she loved. It was hard to explain.

“Take your time.” Cole’s words came as a whisper. His tan face and blond hair. The way his shoulders flexed with her hand in his. He had never looked more handsome.

She nodded. He was so kind to her. Even now. “I guess I’ll always wonder if I made the right choice. I mean . . . to see her.” She shifted her gaze to the ceiling, gathering her thoughts. Then she found his face again. “I held her. I looked into her eyes and kissed her cheek.” She paused. “After you went to get your car that day.” She kept her tears at bay again. “I’ll never forget that.”

Patience exuded from Cole. But she could see from his expression that he still didn’t get it. “So you’re not going to change your mind?”

“No.” She smiled. “I want Gracie Anne to have what I never had. Two parents from the beginning. A mama and daddy ready for a baby.” Nothing about this was easy. “No amount of support from my mom or you would change the one fact. I’m just not ready.”

Cole looked like he was processing that. After all, his mother had raised him without a father for his first few years. And Elise’s mother had done the same. All her life as a single parent. “Elise . . .” Cole’s voice was almost a whisper. “Are you sure?”

“I am.” Elise pressed her teeth together. “It’s still so hard.”