“Did you finish the paperwork?” Aunt Dixie asks.
“Yeah, I started the adoption paperwork too,” I whisper.
“Good. I think it’s time, and it will give Rebekah a chance to speak up. I had hoped she would get it together, but I think it’s time for all of us to let it go.” Aunt Dixie sighs and slides her hands into her pockets. “People can change. I’ve seen it myself. I believe Rebekah can, and maybe she already has. But her lack of communication with you or her daughter tells us everything we need to know. Believe people when they tell you who they are, even if they’re your family.”
I’ve had the same thoughts, and the fact of the matter is, Naomi can’t wait around for her mother to be there for her because I think she will wait most of her life.
“I’ll take the paperwork to Jean and Walsh tomorrow. They said the process could be really long, or it could happen in a few days.”
“Let’s hope it’s a few days,” Aunt Dixie says.
My gut twinges and I don’t know why, but I have a feeling it won’t be that easy.
Mae looks up from her coloring page and meets my eyes. She frowns and tilts her head as if to ask me what’s wrong. I shake mine, and she goes back to her coloring page. Naomi hands Mae another color and points to the pattern on the page.
I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s good that Naomi is connecting with Mae. But we have a long road ahead of us, and I need to make sure the judge doesn’t see any faults in the life I’ve built for Naomi. Dating isn’t against any rule, but if child services or something sees it as a problem, I don’t want to be put in that position, but I’ll have no choice.
June and Gracie announce they’re leaving, which means Mae probably is too. Naomi is doing something with Aunt Dixie and not paying a lick of attention to me or Mae.
“Can I walk you out?” I ask Mae.
“Sure.”
I take her hand and pull her down the hall to the front door.
She giggles. “Cooper, I need my shoes.”
“Oh, right, sorry.”
She slides her sandals on, and I grab her hand again, leading her out the door and down the stairs.
“We’ll give you a few!” Gracie yells out the door.
I wince, hoping Naomi doesn’t perk up at that, but I rush her out the door anyway.
We walk around the side of the house where all the cars are parked and instead of taking Mae to her’s and being a gentleman helping her into the car. I push her against the side of the house and kiss her with an edge of building desperation.
She moans into my mouth, and I clutch her face, tilting her head back for more access. Tongues clash, teeth scrape, and I lean into the messy. I crave it. Breathing hard, I nip her lip and kiss her cheeks before trailing down her neck.
“Cooper,” she gasps.
I pull back. “You okay?” I ask.
She nods.
“Good. But tell me why I scare you,” I say, probably a little too quickly and too demanding, but I know our time is short because Gracie and June won’t give us long.
Mae pins her lips together, and I can see her visibly retreat from me. I smile and kiss her again before leaning in, brushing my lips against her ear. “I should start calling you stubborn,” I whisper.
She shivers in my arms, and I stoop down, searching for her eyes.
“I’m not ready to tell you that,” she says.
“Why?” I ask her.
She bites her lower lip, and I grab a curl, winding it around my finger, needing something to do with my hands instead of playing grab ass.
I meet her dark eyes again, holding them. “I’m not them, Mae.”
