Mabel
Walking out of the marquee tent filled to the brim with picnic benches and rows of every food truck known to man.
Belly ridiculously full thanks to Maverick’s inability to decide what food stand he wanted to buy from, me and Ellie are certainly full; and I’ve sobered up.
“Reckon we got time for another drink before we head out to the stage?” I ask my group of friends who are graciously following us through the crowds, Ellie in hand withMaverick as they walk just in front of us.
“I reckon so, girly,” Iris steps in line with me, giving me a nudge with her hip before moving her eyeline towards my daughter and Maverick.
“How’s that going?” she asks, almost too giddy for my liking. I follow suit, looking over towards them. “Too good to be fucking true,” I sigh out.
The feeling of unease still hasn’t left me, even though I’ve tried so damn hard all day to ignore it.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” my best friend asks, sliding her arm into mine.
I shrug. “I don’t know, Iris, just seems to quick, to sudden, too perfect?” I say as I look up to her.
She gives me a reassuring smile. “Listen honey, you haven’t had the easiest ride-” she starts, and I scoff at her notion.
“But look how it worked out. Maverick’s back and looking at him with you and Ellie just proves how much he still loves you, even after all this time.” She squeezes her arm closer in mine.
“I don’t know, girl-” I pause, and Iris looks at me, concern sweeping across her face. “I’ve just had this really shitty feeling all day and I can’t shake it?”
“Beer anyone?!” I hear my brother shout as we reach the bar set up in the field, just off to the rightof the main stage where Jake will be closing the night out, just before the fireworks display.
“I’ll have a spicy Marg, Cowboy,” Iris winks at him which causes him to roll his eyes but smirk under his collar.
“Anything for you, Sugar.” He rolls his eyes back with her. “Sis?” his eyes are now on me.
“Whiskey-” I start.
“Neat, I know, sis’,” he winks at me, and it causes my smile to break out as I mouth a thank you back at him.
“Hopefully it’s just your anxiety playing up, Honey,” she looks back to me from my brother.
“Hopefully,” I sigh. “So, should I ask?” tilting my head in my brothers direction.
“Nope,” she says bluntly.
And that’s my queue to ask no more, as usual.
Changing the direction of my eyeline, I look for my daughter and Maverick across the green field now filled with camping chairs and picnic blankets.
Taking my drink alongside two more beers from my brother, I move my feet in the direction where my mom and dad are already setting up.
“Need help, Mama?” I ask, asI hand my daddy one of the beers in my hands.
“No thanks, Angel, all done.” Mama says as she takes her perch in one of the many camping chairs spread around in a circle around our large picnic blanket. I follow her lead and take a seat alongside her. Once sat, I turn my attention back to Maverick.
Watching him be the man I always knew he would have turned into is mesmerising. The softness he offers when it comes to Ellie and I’s unimaginable. Here he was, taking us on without effort, loving both of us. I never had to ask him to do it, he just accepted Ellie and done it with no second thought.
He turned up at my door and didn’t give up.
Because even though he left, and I’m still none the wiser as to why, I see that he loves me.
I can see that he wants this.
I know in my heart, that he wants me.
