Unexpected Arrivals(90)
He kissed the top of my head and wrapped his arm around my waist. “You know what’s great?”
I shook my head.
“He’s not going to ask anytime soon, and we have time to figure that part out. However, we’re coming down to the wire on making a decision about staying here or going back to New York.”
“I thought we’d made the decision.” I didn’t bother looking up, I just drew circles on his knee with my fingers absentmindedly.
“I wasn’t sure if this stuff with Gwendolyn changed anything for you.”
“If anything, it solidified my resolve to stay.” I pulled back to meet my husband’s gaze. “I’ve wasted a lot of years believing she was something she wasn’t. I get that she still made mistakes, but she’s the only Chase I have left in my life. I think I owe it to her to give her a chance, and maybe the two of us could be friends.”
His brows came together and three little creases formed between them. I loved how he looked when he was thinking about something. “I’m surprised you’re not more upset than this.”
“I was.” My shoulders rose in a half-hearted shrug. “But all the tears I cried didn’t change my past or Chelsea’s or Legend’s…or even Gwendolyn’s. And no matter how far I walked, the only solution I came up with was giving her the chance to prove my dad wrong.”
“Never in a million years did I envision our life this way.” He fell to the mattress on his back with his arms spread out.
I followed suit and then curled onto my side with his forearm under my neck. “You and me both. If it’s the hand we have to play, might as well go for broke.”
“That’s entirely possibly moving to Geneva Key, but I’m all in.” He winked at me and chuckled.
It was a scary truth. We had a house to sell and a business to deal with. Not to mention, our two best friends lived in New York and had followed us there. I dreaded telling Hannah we weren’t coming back to live.
“Have you thought about what you’re going to tell Neil?”
He turned to me, straight-faced, and said, “I assumed you’d tell Hannah, and she could break it to Neil.” The humor danced in his eyes, and I playfully swatted at his chest.
“So I get to be the bad guy?”
“Girls are way more forgiving.”
“Hardly, they hold a grudge forever. Guys slap each other on the ass and forget what was said in the previous sentence. This one’s on you.”
He sat straight up and leaned over to the nightstand to grab his phone. “No time like the present.”
“You can’t call him now. James, it’s ten thirty at night.”
“Yeah, and he probably just got home from the office.”
“Oh, that makes it so much better. I’m not having any part of this.”
“Where are you going? I thought this was for better or worse? In sickness and in health?” He was incorrigible.
“I’m going to take a shower. You can tell me how things go with Neil when I get out. I’ll call Hannah tomorrow at a respectable time of day.” And I sauntered off to the bathroom, closing the door just as Neil answered.
I couldn’t stand the thought of losing our friends, even if it was just distance—they’d been our family when we thought we had no one else. And now it seemed we were abandoning them. Regardless, no matter how I worked the scenario in my head, doing what was best for Legend remained our greatest responsibility…I just hoped they understood.
I’d have to wait until tomorrow to find out. When I emerged from the shower turned bubble bath, my husband was fast asleep on top of the comforter. It was the only time I usually saw the boy I’d fallen in love with. When his features weren’t marred with stress or the pressure of a day, the years fell away, and the James of our youth was there. And while I wanted to run my thumb over his eyebrow and caress his jaw, I simply kissed his forehead and covered him with a blanket. And silently thanked God for delivering me my own piece of perfection when I’d so desperately needed him.
***
Having joint custody of a young child was exhausting. We weren’t obligated by court order to give Gwendolyn any time, but Legend loved her, and it gave me an excuse to spend time with her out of perceived obligation. I didn’t have to admit I was anxious to get to know her or that I had questions. I didn’t have to tell her I’d done nothing besides think about all the ways I’d missed out over the years. I got to use Legend as an excuse to have lunch with her during an exchange or walk on the beach while he played in the waves, or sit on a park bench when he climbed on a jungle gym like a monkey. And each opportunity opened the door to a relationship I’d never imagined I’d have, much less crave. Day by day, I realized what I would have missed out on had I not given her the chance. And I tried not to dwell on all I’d lost in favor of all I had to gain.
“I’m going to miss you tonight, buddy.” Legend was tall and lanky, much like the pictures I’d seen of James at his age, and he gave the best hugs in the world. “You be good for Dottie tonight, okay?”
He gave me a look to indicate I had nothing to worry about, and it dawned on me, I was acting like a mother. Not just any mother, but Legend’s. I ruffled his sunny, red hair, and then popped him playfully on the bottom as I stood. I handed Gwendolyn his bag as though he was her guest instead of ours, yet she took it graciously and didn’t point out that he had everything he needed at her house.