“Fear is a powerful emotion,” I tell him simply. “It often inhibits our actions, and I can’t fault you for that. It took me some time to come to terms with it all, and I’m sure some people might think I’m foolish for forgiving the both of you, but none of it was done out of purposeful malice towards me. You both acted out of fear, and he acted out of love for you. How can I be mad about that? You’re both remorseful, and to me? That’s what matters most. Forgiveness is a powerful thing, and one day you’ll be able to forgive yourself.”
To my surprise, Cole wordlessly closes the gap between us and throws his arms around me. I chuckle softly as I wrap my arms around his waist, resting my head on his chest with a smile. I feel a wetness on the top of my head, and I pull back. I cup his cheek in my hand and brush away the tears that have fallen.
“Thank you,” he mumbles, giving me a smile of his own. “I don’t deserve your friendship.”
“Yet you’ll always have it.”
Blue grabs our attention, waving us over to the picnic benches. Claire and her friends run over to her, grabbing paper plates and dish up themselves; sandwiches, chips, a cold pasta, and some fruit. Once the kids run off to go sit and eat in the grass, us adults walk over and grab our own food.
The softball moms take one table and Levi, my friends and I take the other one. We laugh as we eat, no one talking about how JJ and Cole don’t sit next to one another, or how RJ isn’t present because he went overseas and Blue stayed here. Instead, we talk about Claire and Winston, our friends ask about Levi and I, and he tells them some stories from our time in Montana.
As I look around at my friends, I can’t stop the smile from staying planted on my face, thankful for the family I’ve created.
“Hey,” Blue mumbles, bumping her shoulder into mine to get my attention. “Why don’t I take Claire for the night?”
“Why?”
She glances over at Levi and I raise a brow. “I just think you need some time with an adult who understands what you’re going through, and Claire could use a fun night with her favorite auntie.”
“Then she should be staying with me,” JJ interrupts, and I groan.
“Please, not this argument again.”
Levi and Cole chuckle as I place my head in my hands in a joking manner. Blue slaps my shoulder but keeps her eyes trained on JJ, which only makes her beam in response.
“I’m taking Claire,” Blue states, leaving no room for argument as she turns her focus back on me. “And you’re going to enjoy some alone time with your man. No ifs, and, or buts.”
“Thanks, Blue.” Levi wraps an arm around me and kisses my temple.
We sit around for another hour before Levi informs me that we should get going. I call Claire over and give her a hug, letting her know I will be by to pick her up in the morning. Levi leads me over to the car and opens the door for me before he walks around and climbs in behind the driver’s seat.
“I need you to put something on,” he tells me, reaching over me to open the glove compartment. He pulls out a strip of cloth and drops it in my lap.
“Are we getting kinky in the car?” I tease, a smile tugging at my lips as I raise a questioning brow.
Levi rolls his eyes, grabbing the cloth from me. “I have a surprise for you, so you can’t know where we’re going.”
“I really don’t likesurprises, Levi,” I remind him as he holds my hand, leading me down a hallway. “I especially don’t like not being able to see.”
“Do you trust me?” He asks, resting his other hand on my elbow and gently turning me, supposedly turning a corner.
I scoff, shaking my head. “Of course I do, but asking that also doesn’t give me a lot of confidence.”
“Do you really have that little faith in me?” Levi pulls me to a stop.
“Can you stop asking me questions and just tell me what this surprise is?”
Levi laughs and I hear a door opening. He grabs my hand and leads me inside, closing the door behind us. He leads me a few feet forward and to the right before spinning me. His hands come up to the back of my head and I feel his body pressing in behind me as his fingers deftly pick at the knot of the cloth around my eyes.
Once the cloth drops away, I blink a few times as my eyes adjust to the light. My gaze wanders, taking in my living room, and my brows furrow. Just as I’m about to turn to Levi and ask him why I was blindfolded and taken back to my own apartment,my eyes snag on something on the wall and I can’t stop the sob that slips past my lips.
Hanging on the wall behind the couch is a painted portrait of my family; my mother, father, sister, daughter and me. Tears cascade down my cheeks when Levi wraps his arms around my waist from behind and rests his chin on my shoulder.
“Do you like it?”
“Like it?” I respond with a watery laugh. “I love it. How did you do this?”
“Do you remember that covered painting I wouldn’t let you see when you were over for dinner months back?” I nod. “I had just finished the outline and wanted to keep it a surprise. Blue helped me find some photos to use for reference, and Claire picked the background colors.”
