“Have a good night, Liz.”
“You too.”
This time I didn’t watch him walk away, I was too absorbed in the little miracle he’d left in my arms. A gallon of milk might not seem like much to anyone else, but to me it was the difference between getting through the morning tomorrow and crashing and burning in a blaze of failure.
He had saved me tonight.
And I couldn’t figure out why.
Chapter Thirteen
I walked in the house, arms laden with groceries. Emma sat at the kitchen island with Lucy andJacemaking some kind of structure out ofDuplos.
The kitchen had always been our most loved room. It was open and spacious, with plenty of room for my dream kitchen, an island for the kids to sit at, a table for informal dinners and a window nook for the kid’s fun table. Grady had designed this with all of my hopes and dreams in mind. The mud room walked straight out to the garage and had plenty of storage for coats and shoes, backpacks and whatever else we could pile in there. The kitchen opened up into our dining room on one side and the entry way, leading to the front door and living room, on the other side.
I loved walking into our house, even after the stress of the grocery store. It just calmed me. It was only one of the reasons that I would never sell this place, even though it reminded me so very much of Grady.
He had built this for me. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
The sight of Emma at the counter with my twolittlestswarmed my heart. Whenever she was with them, she engaged them completely. They just ate up every bit of attention she focused on them.
“Ook, Mama!”Jaceheld up a tower of Legos. “Medid this!”
“Wow, J! I love it!”
“Auntie Emma and me are building a castle,”Lucetold me excitedly. “It’s for princesses only.”
“It looks like a princess only palace.”
Lucy beamed at me and went back to her project. Emma continued to watch the kids while I brought in all of the groceries and put them away. I was amazed at the peace we maintained during the entire process.
I was also amazed at how relaxed I felt after only an hour to myself.
The grocery store had been blissfully quiet. I walked up and down every aisle slowly, savoring the freedom I had to browse and compare prices. It was a mother’s dream come true.
Comparable only with the illusive and annual pedicure.
“Are you starving yet?” I asked Emma after the last of the groceries found their home and the plastic bags had been tied up nicely and stored for whatever uses I found for them later.
“I don’t know. Are we starving?”
“Yes!” the two littles cheered.
I pulled out ingredients for sandwiches while they cleaned up the Legos.
Finally, the kids were happy with their lunch and Emma and I had a minute to talk to each other.
“Thanks again,Em. I needed to get out.”
She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the white-tiled countertop. “You could have called me. You know I want to help out as much as I can.”
“I know.” I let out a weary sigh. “But I already ask so much of you. I know you’re gearing up for the end of the semester. I didn’t want to add any stress.” I cleared my throat and amended, “Any more stress to your busy life.”
She reached out and put her hand over mine. “Stop thinking you’re a burden. I love you. I will always do what I can to help you. And I love your kids like they are my own. You guys are not extra stress. You’re my family.”
I turned my hand over and squeezed her fingers. “Then I’m sorry Ben had to call you. I didn’t ask him to.”
She pulled her hand back and waved it dismissively in the air. “I know. He told me.”
