She waved a hand in his direction, an incredulous puff of air coming from her. “You weren’t even born when this house was built.”
But one look at Beckham told me exactly what he was thinking. That he and I were fate. Written in the stars. In the making of the universe. We’d find each other in this lifetime, over and over again, and in every other.
Ellis, still grasping me, turned my hand over andinspected my fingers. “And is there a reason you haven’t put a ring on her finger?”
Beck rubbed at his neck, a sly smile tilting the corner of his mouth. “I’m working on it.”
Oh, the things I would do to him in this moment if Ellis wasn’t around.
“We brought shepherd’s pie,” I told her, figuring a change of subject would be appreciated by Beckham. She seemed like another mother to him, one who wouldn’t hesitate to grill him on his dating life. It was sweet, really.
She released my hand. A sort of heaviness settled in the air, yet she still kept that playful lilt in her tone. “That boy brings me a casserole every other Sunday. First Sunday of every month, I get Garrett’s favorite dish.” She cupped her hand on the side of her mouth, leaning closer like she was about to whisper a secret, though she barely quieted her voice. “He just won’t leave me alone, you know?”
Beckham’s brows rose, a palm plastered to his chest. “Me?”
I inched closer to Ellis. “Oh, trust me. I know the feeling.”
Ellis snickered while Beckham’s mouth popped open like he was hurt. “Maybe having the two of you meet wasn’t the grandest idea.”
Ellis looped her elbow with mine, leading me out of the library and to the kitchen where a small four-seater table sat beside a tiny counter. The space wasn’t large by any means, but it seemed perfect for her.
She let me go so she could grab plates and utensils, so I scooped up the casserole and Tupperware and brought them over to the table. They nearly filled the space, but she worked around it, putting out three settings. Beckham grabbed glasses of ice water, and then the three of us sat.
Across from me sat an empty chair that spoke louder than any person could. It screamed of memories and love and so many smiles.
It symbolized walking through the pain and never forgetting.
Beckham served all of us, and we began eating.
“You can’t bring a pregnant girlfriend into my house and not tell me,” Ellis chastised before taking a sip of water. “Are you the father? Or do I need to get my shotgun?”
Beckham’s eyes turned to saucers. “Ellis, no.”
She shrugged. “I’ve got to protectsomeone.”
She might as well have held the gun and shot it right through my chest, because a crater of hurt dug itself a home right there with her words.
Before, I might not have taken her statement as hard, but with a baby growing inside of me that I’d do anything to keep safe, it hit differently. How could you lose a child and ever go on? He was a part of her, and?—
A frail hand covered mine where it was gripping my fork. I looked up, a trail of moisture making its way down my cheek.
But she didn’t speak. She didn’t tell me it was okay, or that I shouldn’t be sorry. She only gave me her eyes.Proof that she was still living. Still here. Still finding ways to cope and smile when all she felt like doing was suffocating.
I sniffled quickly, swallowing the trace of emotion in my throat. Swiping at my cheek, I said, “He’s Beckham’s.”
This time, Ellis’s eyes took on a sheen, but no tears fell. “It’s a boy.”
I nodded, and her hand slid away from mine to grab her fork again.
“Well, if he’s anything like Beckham was after he met Garrett, you’ve got your hands full,” Ellis commented before taking a bite of food.
“Hey. I wasn’tthatbad,” Beckham defended.
“Shooting squirrels with BB guns, bursting my water pipes trying to dig a swimming pool in the backyard, snapping my couch in two when Garrett threw you at it during one of yourwrestling matches.” Ellis’s shoulders moved from side to side, weighing the severity of each memory. “Nope. Not bad at all.” But she cupped her hand around her mouth again, leaning closer to me, and whispered, “Prepare yourself.”
Beckham’s eyes narrowed playfully. “I heard that.”
Ellis feigned innocence, her gaze searching the room. “What? That must be the breeze. Those windows need to be resealed.”
