Page 30 of Claiming What Is Mine

I nod (just not the eggs).

“Like I said. I’ve been trying to avoid you.” Gabe squeezes my waist. “I’ve got more important things to worry about today.”

Chet looks to me when he responds. “If I promise not to keep him long, would it be okay if we leave you ladies to talk for a few minutes while we look at something in the barn?”

“Umm.” I turn to Gabe, giving him my best, don’t-leave-me, I’m-sure-she’s-lovely-but-I-don’t-know-her look.

Gabe scoffs at his brother. “Twenty minutes and not a second longer,” he says to Chet.

I squeeze his hand, trying again to let him know I’m uncomfortable being left alone, but he doesn’t notice.

Chet kisses his wife on the cheek and tips his hat in my direction. “Nice to see you again,” he says. “Come on then, Gabe. Let’s get to it.”

I hold his hand as he pulls away. Gabe gives me a wink, oblivious to my need for him to stay.

Alrighty then, calm down. This wasn’t intentional. Note to self—subtlety with Gabe doesn’t work.

Christy and I watch the men as they walk away. She turns back and smiles up at me, and I feel compelled to make conversation. “Uh…I really am happy for the both of you. Chet’s a good man.”

“Thank you. He is—I know. So, you’re a friend of the family?”

My cheeks burn. “Well, yes. Technically. I think that was Chet’s way of trying not to embarrass me. Gabe and I were…high school sweethearts.”

Christy’s notices the too-big-for-me sweatpants and t-shirt and I can almost see the pieces coming together as her eyes go wide. “Oh. I see.”

“Yeah... ” I smile sheepishly. “It's...he's...I mean. I guess some lessons are just hard to learn. Gabe's kind of my Kryptonite. It’s all still a little confusing. ” I nervously tap my fingers along the railing. “I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to babble on about my situation. It’s just—I’ve been bottling my feelings up for weeks because I don’t have anyone to talk to. And…anyway. I’ll shut up now.” I turn a pretend key with my fingers to lock my lips together.

Christy carefully climbs the steps up the porch. “I can relate to having no one to talk to. When I moved out here from Pennsylvania, well, in the beginning I’d never felt more alone in my life.” She sits in the chair adjacent to the one with my coffee cup on the armrest. “You can talk to me. If you’d like.”

I shake my head. “That’s very sweet of you, but I’m sure the last thing anyone wants to hear about is some total stranger’s drama.”

“Hon, if you’re going to be the woman to finally tame Gabe Wilde, you’re gonna need someone to talk to. Come and sit.”

I pause, trying to decide if this is simply a polite offer, or someone whose traveled down a similar road and is genuinely offering an ear. “Really? Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?”

Christy pats the seat of my chair.

I sit and place my hand on her knee. “You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Because things might be getting a little crazy in my head.”

Don’t go overboard. Keep it high level, this woman is not your therapist.

“See, the thing is, everything is great. We’re having an absolute blast,” I begin as I sit next to her and pick up my coffee mug.

“That’s wonderful. Isn’t it?”

“It is. Or, I mean, it should be, right? ” I sigh. “But...see... ” I shrug and look Christy in the eye. “I don't know how much of this you already know. Small towns and close families being what they are.”

“Not much at all,” she says, sympathetically.

“My God... ” I draw my feet up into the chair and hug my knees. “I loved Gabe so much when we were kids. Like, so much. I couldn't imagine life without him, you know? ” I turn to Christy who nods. “And we were amazing together—until we weren't. But the way it ended...I was devastated. I didn't know how to exist without him. I had to totally rebuild myself, but it always felt like I was missing something. Years after I'd moved on, I'd find myself thinking about him. Wondering where his life had taken him, or what our life would be like if we’d stuck through the rough time. Even when it was completely inappropriate to do so. And now? It's been what, eighteen years? He says he's grown and changed. And that's true. ” I nod vigorously. “He's definitely different than when we were kids. But then again, he's not that different. He's still Gabe, you know? And here I am. My life is in shambles. A failed marriage under my belt. I'm living with my parents for God’s sake. Which is a whole drama in and of itself. And then? In walks Gabe—back in my life as if nothing ever happened. Being with him again feels amazing, but we already messed this up once. Is it really possible for two people to get it right on the second try?”

Christy nods thoughtfully as she soaks up everything I just overshared. When she’s ready to speak, she attempts to lean in but her belly gets in the way. She struggles briefly and then flops back in the chair with a sigh. “I swear, I am so ready to evict this little guy,” she says, rubbing the basketball in her lap as she closes her eyes. After a breath, she looks to me. “So, things with Gabe are great, at least right now?”

I nod. “Yep. At least right now.”

“And, you believe he is sincerely trying to show you he’s matured?”

I nod again. “I do. I mean, he’s definitely trying to show me he’s different. But part of me isn’t convinced he’s actually different. Or that I am. You know?”

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