“There they are!” Aunt Dixie says, coming through the screen door.
“Grandma Dixie!” Naomi yells.
I pour everyone a cup of coffee. Naomi pulls my uncle Mason into her fishing story.
Aunt Dixie comes in and pats my cheek before pulling my mom into a hug. They chat and she sits at our little dining table.
I check on Naomi, and she’s not paying a bit of attention to me. So I figure now is as good a time as any.
“Cooper, what were going to say?” Mom asks.
I look up from my coffee and lean against the counter so they can hear me. I don’t want Naomi to hear.
“So, I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I wanted to give…” I trail off and take a deep breath, willing the tightness in my throat to release. “I wanted to give Rebekah the benefit of the doubt, or rather, the chance to come back, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. So I’m going to see if I can get full custody of Naomi.”
Aunt Dixie and my mom stare with wide, glassy eyes. I can’t imagine how my parents feel about all of this. Rebekah is their daughter, yes she’s my sister, but Naomi is basically my daughter, and it would rip my heart out to know there is nothing I can do to help her.
We don’t talk about Rebekah, not because we don’t want to, but it’s become an unspoken rule. She’s been gone this long, and no one expects that to change.
“You have been a wonderful father to Naomi, Cooper. I see it every day. She’s turning into an amazing little girl, and though you don’t need my permission, you have my full support,” Aunt Dixie says.
My mom swallows thickly and looks out the window to gather herself. “I wondered if this day would come,” she says and takes another breath before looking me in the eye.
“I’ve been saving for a while, and I have the money to hire a lawyer.”
Mom takes a drink of coffee. “Are you sure, Cooper?”
“I’ve raised her, Mama. She’s my kid as far as I’m concerned.”
“You have, and I’m sure your father will agree with me. We’ll help you with the money. You have our blessing and our support,” she says, swiping a tear.
It feels as though a weight has lifted. Naomi needs solid ground, and I’m going to continue to provide that for her.
But what I don’t tell them is I want Naomi to have siblings. I want her to have a mother. Naomi is surrounded by amazing women like Dixie, my mother, June, and even a bit of Gracie. But I want Naomi to have a mother who will understand her like no one else. Rebekah couldn’t be that for her, and I feel like it’s my job to make sure Naomicanbecause the reality is, as much as I want to be both for her, I know I can’t.
***
We got a bonfire going tonight, and I’m not making Naomi stick to her bedtime, though I’m hoping she passes out at some point.
I take a sip of beer and stare at the fire while Naomi and my mom roast a marshmallow.“Hey cuz,” June says.
“Hey June Bug, did you just get back?” I ask her.
She sighs back into the chair before taking a swig of beer. “It was a long one today. I was called out to a ranch about two hours away. I had a whole string of vaccinations for horses. Some of their cattle had to be quarantined. They were in rough shape, but I think I got them back on track.”
“Glad you’re back in one piece.”
She chuckles. “It was a close one today, had a bull with an infection, and he waspissed.”
“Let me guess, you saidchallenge accepted.”
She laughs. “Maybe.”
I snort and shake my head.
“I saw those flowers in the house. Are they from the Paxton Flower Shop?” she asks.
I nod. “Got them for Mama and Aunt Dixie. Naomi picked them out.”
