Page 23 of Choose You

I smile. “Thanks. It’s not been easy for her with it being just me. But we make do.”

Jessica drinks the last of her coffee before she stands. Her expression is distant, almost sad again. “Well, thanks for breakfast. This was nice.” She picks up her dirty dishes and takes them to the sink. Without looking at me again she walks toward the back door. “I’m going to go for a morning walk. Clear my head and think before I have to go to the funeral home.”

I don’t look up at her as she walks past me. I hear the back door open and close, signaling that she’s gone. Staring at my plate of breakfast, I haven’t eaten more than a couple bites and I’m no longer hungry. I run my hands down my face and let out a low, deep groan.

Having Jessica in the house is going to be so much harder than I thought it’d be. I thought I could handle her being here without constantly thinking about touching her, holding her. But if this morning is any indication of how the rest of her stay will go, I’m in trouble.

I placethe last of the dishes in the dishwasher when there’s a knock on the door. I check the time. It should be my momma, but she doesn’t knock. If it were her, she’d come right in.

A sinking feeling settles in my gut at the memory of the last unexpected visitor who knocked on my door. If it’s someone else with bad news, I’d rather they just go away.

But I smile when I open the door. “Ryan!”

“Hey, man.” He opens his arms for a hug, and I welcome his tight embrace. Despite everything that happened between Jessica and me, I’m glad I’ve stayed close with her younger brother.

“It’s good to see you again. How was your trip?” I step back and wave Ryan inside.

“Crazy. It took three flights and over fourteen hours. I had to stay the night in Salt Lake City.”

“Where was your starting point?”

“Tampa. We were getting ready for a double-header when Richard called.” Ryan follows me into the kitchen just as Emmie runs down the stairs.

“Daddy, I’m ready.” She stops as soon as she sees Ryan. It’s been so long since she met Ryan.

“Emmie, this is Jessica’s brother, Ryan,” I say.

Ryan kneels next to her and smiles. “Hey there, Emmie. We met once a long time ago, but I doubt you remember me.”

She shakes her head. “Do you like horses as much as Jessica?”

Ryan looks up with raised brows. Probably because he’s surprised to learn Emmie knows his sister. “Jessica’s here already. She’s out for a walk. And Emmie here is a tad horse obsessed.”

Ryan nods, his eyes shifting from excitement to worry before he turns his smile toward Emmie. “Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. I like horses, but definitely not like my sister. I’m more of a baseball fan.”

Emmie rolls her eyes. “Baseball’s okay, but horses arewaybetter.”

“Hello.” My momma’s voice rings through the house. She appears in the doorway of the kitchen before anyone has a chance to respond. “Ryan! It’s so good to see you. Get up here and give me a hug.”

“Hey, Rosie.” Ryan’s smile grows. He hugs Momma and she pats him on the back.

“How was your trip home?”

“Long. Very, very long.”

Momma smiles before she turns to me. “Where’s Jessica?”

I point toward the back door. “She went for a walk.”

“I think I better go find her,” Ryan says. His smile fades and a darkness casts over his eyes. “I’m guessing she and I need to talk anyway.”

I nod. “Yes, I’d say you’re probably right about that. Just leave your bag here. I’ll take it up to your old room for you. Momma cleaned it up yesterday.”

Ryan tosses my momma a smile and pulls her in for another hug. “Thanks, Rosie. I could’ve done that.”

“It was nothing.” Momma waves goodbye as he walks out the back door. She reaches down and picks up Emmie. “Geez, you’regetting too big for me to pick up. Are you ready to go to my house?”

“Yep.”

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