I stood in my bedroom, my gaze glued to the paper in my hands, words not coming as I reveled in the fact that the woman on the other end of the line did in fact have my blood running through her veins just as I had suspected.
“Lake?” River’s tone as she called my name was full of uncertainty and that made my gut roil. “I understand if it’s too much and you want to take some time with this. It is a lot and I have to talk to the kids.”
The kids. I needed to talk to Stormi too, but I already knew she would be thrilled to have an aunt. She was already gaining honorary aunts with every one of the women that I was becoming friends with because that was how that group of friends rolled. Some were related but those who were not, you’d never know because they were as close as any family could be. Their found family was more remarkable than any family I’d ever seen.
As for River, I didn’t know a thing about her life or even how old the kids she adopted were. She hadn’t told me anything else since that day in the bakery and I didn’t pry. If she wanted to share she would, I wasn’t going to push.
River was right.
The new revelation was a lot, but you know what it wasn’t? A hardship. Much less a bad thing or something I didn’t want.
I quickly found myself, as shocked as I was, truly excited. And River needed to hear that.
“Sis…” I started and heard her gasp. “I wanted to test that out,” I said, followed by a little laugh, trying to lighten the surreal moment.
It seemed to work, she let out a small laugh as well.
“We can take as much or as little time as you need, I need, and the kids need.” Because this did involve others beyond us.“But I want you to know that I am happy to find out I have not only family, but that the family I have been graced with is you.”
Another gasp came through the line.
“You mean that, don’t you?” River asked.
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it,” I told her. “I know Stormi will be ecstatic when I talk to her. You made quite the impression on her already. And I would love to hear more about your kids when you are ready. Just know that I’m here.”
She was quiet for a minute before replying and I wondered if she was going to shut this whole thing down. But then she spoke. “I’ve never had a lot of people in my life.”
That was something I could relate to but I wasn’t sure where she was going with that information yet.
“I think I’m going to like having you in it. But I’ll be honest, which is something I ask my clients for all the time, so I need to be too. It will probably take me a bit to get used to it and open up.” A humorous laugh escaped her. “It probably sounds crazy coming from a therapist who encourages people to talk about their feelings and trust their instincts, but I have my own hold ups.”
Just her admitting that was huge.
“I understand completely. We have a lot in common, but something tells me there are also huge differences too. Let’s just keep communication open and take it a day at a time. Do it the way it works for us, okay?”
“Did anyone tell you if you didn’t want to be in the medical field that you could be a therapist?”
At that we both let out a laugh, letting the tension go.
We talked a little longer and agreed to keep getting to know each other but no official plans of getting together were made yet. When I found out about the BBQ I extended an invitation to her and her kids—after asking Jurnee’s permission of course—tosee if they’d like to go but she declined. I wasn’t put off by it at all. Everyone had to do what felt comfortable to them.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Bronson’s deep voice broke through everything spinning through my head.
I turned from the window and looked at the gorgeous man next to me, shaking my head a bit at how crazy it was that he still wanted to be more than friends. Withme.
Bronson had been nothing but positive and supportive after my conversation with River. But since he’d come back into my life, that’s truly what he’d always been about everything no matter how little or big.
He’d become my rock again.
The man was not only there for me but he took care of Stormi every chance he got. He stayed at my house—still on the couch—day or night, depending on work; to protect us, but also because he said spending time with us was what he liked most.
I gave him a soft smile. “I was just thinking about how much my life has changed. You, River, and my new friends.”
“Yeah?” he said with a question in his tone.
“I’m happy,” I told him.
For a brief second he turned to me and the grin that stretched across his face warmed everything inside me before he looked back to the road.
