“You worry too much, darlin’. At this point, she’s moreworried about you, sweetheart.”
“Send her my love and thanks for all this.” She says, and Idetect a hint of guilt in her voice.
There’ssomething that needs saying, and now’s the time to sayit.
“Ellie,sit down, darlin’.”
Chapter 11
Ellie
I’m notsure what Maverick is going to say, and he’s making me nervous. Iwish like hell that my phone would ring or something, but itdoesn’t. I want to let him off the hook. I want to let him knowthat he doesn’t need to feel obligated to stay with me, justbecause we had a baby together, and then lost it. But how do youtell someone that? I don’t want to break his heart, but at the samerate, I also don’t want him to think that he owes me anything. I’vealready broken his heart once, and I don’t want to do itagain.
As muchas it’s killing me, I don’t want him to stay long enough to tell meanything that I don’t want to hear, but I sit down all the same,and let him speak.
“Ellie, y’all don’t need to feel like you let anyone down,okay. I want you to know that. This was a natural thing. And it wasnothing that you did. Nobody blames you for anything. I don’t thinkany different of you, nor does anyone else, so I want you to…I wantyou to put that out of your head.”
I saynothing, but just stare at the floor.
“Look at me, Ellie.” He lifts my chin with his fingers, andjust like I wished like hell for it moments ago, my phone starts toring.
“I…I have to answer that, Maverick.” I saytentatively.
“Okay, love. You go ahead.” He says softly, releasing me. Ican see the disappointment in his eyes, and it kills me.
Ofcourse, it’s a work-related call, and I take it, walking towardsthe patio doors, away from him. The call takes about three minutes,and then I explain that I have to go on my computer for a moment,to fulfill the request, and I do, while he stands there, waiting,while our breakfast gets cold. His patience starts to run thin whenmy phone rings again, and I answer it, without hesitation. Then hisphone rings, and he turns his back on me, taking the call. I’mstill on the phone when he walks over to me and mouths that he hasto go. He kisses me on the cheek and walks out.
…and I feel like the worst person that ever lived.
***
Maverick
Sure,Ellie’s a busy girl, and I get it, but something in the pit of mystomach was nagging me, as I stood there, waiting for her to finishthe call. That sparkle in her eyes is gone, and I don’t know how toget it back. I wish like hell that we could turn back time and havemore special moments together before it all turned to shit, but Ican’t, and this is what we’re left with. It’s going to take somedoing to get Ellie back to reality, or back to where we were, andI’m willing to do it. But it’s difficult to accomplish when itappears to be one-sided. I love Ellie, and I want like hell to tellher that, but I feel like she’s not giving me any space to tell herwhat’s on my mind.
“Whisk her away for the weekend.” Ruby suggests at dinner.I’ve left Ellie a message that she hasn’t returned, and hell if I’mgoing to go over there and risk being given the cold shoulderagain.
“I’m not sure if she’ll go for that.” I say honestly. “Shewasn’t terribly impressed that I showed up unannounced thismorning.”
“It’s going to take some time, Maverick.” Blakestates.
“Yeah, it’s still so fresh, man.” Gunner adds. “Hey, youtaking me to the doctor this afternoon?” he asks, changing thesubject.
“If y’all want me to, I can.”
“Cool. I’d ask mama, but she’ll be all over me, fussing overmy dang arm.”
“I heard that.” Mama says, walking into the room, carrying abunch of tea towels in her hand.
“Aw, mama, I didn’t mean nothing.” Gunner says.
“Just like y’all didn’t mean nothing when you didn’t tell methat y’all flunked out of school, huh.” She says,matter-of-factly.
Gunner’sgaze hits the floor. “I’ll try harder, mama.”
“Yeah, he says he’s going to apply in Dallas for fall, mama.”I interject. “Says he took on too much and didn’t have his head onstraight.”
“I can talk for myself, asshole.” Gunner sneers.
