“I can’t believe Oliver is going to be my best friend and my brother.”
“Is that what you want?” I asked with tears in my own eyes.
“More than any birthday or Christmas gift I’ve ever asked for,” he said.
Mav and I have been here for almost a month now. It has all been so natural. That isn’t to say there haven’t been minor growing pains along the way, but I truly believe we were all destined to be a family.
There’s a string winding through all of us. It was always there, but as my relationship with the guys strengthened, the connection binding us together as a family pulled tighter.
Now, the string is fastened with a knot that won’t be broken.
The boys’ laughter from down the hall hits my ears, making me smile. The guys are at the bar, getting a little work done before our surprise for the boys this afternoon.
They hired a few more employees to help carry some of the load, so they don’t have to do all of it on their own. It also allows for more family time with all of us.
Things are different on the weeks when Mav is with Cole. I can tell Oliver misses him as much as I do, but we’re settling into our routine during those times, too.
It has allowed me to build a stronger relationship with Oliver and really get to know him. He’s coming out of his shell little by little, and every word he speaks to me feels like a treasure I must protect at all costs.
“Abby?”
I blink a couple of times, realizing Oliver is standing in front of me. I must have really zoned out, lost in my thoughts. I didn’t even hear him walk in.
“Hey. What’s up?”
“Snack?” he asks.
“Of course. Is there something specific you want?”
He thinks about it for a minute, then walks over to the fridge. He pulls out two of the apples I just bought from the store and a block of cheddar cheese.
“I like the way your mind works,” I say, grabbing a cutting board and a knife.
We get the apples and cheese cut up and arranged on a plate. He stands there, running his finger around the white and black edge of the plate.
“Is everything okay?” I ask. “Do you want to add something else?”
He shakes his head. I stay quiet, not wanting to pressure him into talking. He’ll process through it in his own time and communicate what he wants to.
“My mom made this,” he says quietly.
My heart feels like it’s being constricted by a tightening vise. “It’s a good snack,” I say with a smile. He nods. “It’s prettyspecial that you can remember her whenever you eat apples and cheese.”
He nods again, and I make a permanent note in my mind to keep these two ingredients on hand for whenever he needs to feel close to his mom.
“I miss her,” he says, keeping his eyes on the plate.
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to keep my tears from escaping. He’s breaking my heart right now. “I’m sure she misses you just as much… if not more.”
He looks up at me with a small smile. His eyes are glossy. I reach over, placing my hand over his on the counter.
He immediately turns his hand over, grabbing mine.
“I want you to know that I would never try to replace your mom. She will always hold that place in your heart.”
He nods. A single tear trails down his cheeks.
“But I’m always here. If you need a hug, someone to talk to, someone to not talk to but just be with… anything. I’ll always be here.”
