Page 69 of Everything We Left Unsaid

Abby

My phone rings and my heart leaps into my throat. Snatching it off the counter, I press the call button, cradling it between my ear and shoulder as I continue to chop vegetables.

“Hey, beautiful.” Jacob’s deep voice slides over me, caressing my skin like a warm hand. I close my eyes at the heady sound, my nipples standing at attention. I wonder if he’ll always have this effect on me.

“Hey, yourself.” I smile, positive he can hear it in my voice.

“How are my girls?” My heart flutters and my lips curve into an elated grin. I love how he calls us “my girls.” We’ve only been on the phone for ten seconds and already I feel like I could melt into a puddle of want and need and eternal devotion.

“We’re good. Chloe’s playing with Ethan while I cook dinner.”

“Oh, do you want me to let you go so you can finish cooking?”

“No!” I practically shout. His low chuckle resonates over the line and I cringe. God, I sound desperate. “Er, I mean, it’s okay,” I stutter. “I can multitask,” I add flippantly. “So, what’s up?”

“I just got home from my parents’ house.” He pauses for a beat before continuing. “I told them.”

“You told them? You mean, everything?” I ask, a little stunned but also relieved.

“Yes, it needed to be done.”

“How did it go?”

“Not well, but it could’ve been worse.”

“At least everything is out in the open now,” I offer hopefully.

“Yeah,” he replies absently, sounding far away.

“I miss you,” I blurt out, needing a distraction. I don’t want to think about what happened back then or how his parents reacted to the news.

“I miss you, too. I can’t wait to see you again.”

“Same here. When do you think you can come back?”

“Things will slow down again in a couple weeks. I’ll take off on Friday, so I’ll head up Thursday evening after work.” I do a little happy dance and try to keep from squealing with excitement. “But I think we’re going to have a little bit of a problem.”

Uh oh. That doesn’t sound good.

“Wh-what kind of problem?” I ask shakily.

“I want us to spend the night together,” he declares in that low, sexy voice. Desire floods my lower belly as my thighs clench together. That’s not what I expected, but boy, am I glad. “But I haven’t been able to figure out the logistics yet. There’s no room for me to stay at your place, and even if there was, Chloe sleeps in your room, so...” His voice trails off, but I get the hint. “The only other option is for us to stay somewhere else, somewhere she can be close, but not in our bedroom.” Our bedroom. I like the sound of that. “I’m checking out rentals as we speak.”

The clicking of a keyboard sounds over the line as he taps away. I hate the thought of him paying to stay somewhere when he could just stay here, but the thought of spending the night with him in private and having Chloe close to us sounds too good to pass up. “Do you think Ama will be able to stay alone by then?” My excitement deflates. I hadn’t considered that my grandmother would still be recovering.

“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly. “She’s doing really well, but I don’t know how she’ll be two weeks from now.”

“That’s okay. We’ll figure something out closer to time,” he assures me. “However,” he begins, pausing for a second. My stomach does a little flip at the way he draws out the word. “I was hoping that she’d be well enough for you to leave for a long weekend next month.” I swallow hard, my pulse picking up speed and my stomach knotting. I know what he’s going to suggest, and I’m just not ready for it. “I want you to meet my family, and I want them to meet you and Chloe,” he continues, his voice hopeful and a little pleading. “You don’t have to give me an answer right now. I know a lot depends on your grandma, but I hope you’ll say yes. You and Chloe mean everything to me. I want you two to be a part of my family, and for Chloe to meet her grandparents.”

How can I say no to that? I can’t. He loves me. He loves our little girl and wants us to meet the rest of his family. If my grandmother is well enough for me to go, I’ll go. I’ll set aside my insecurities about not being good enough and wondering what his family will think of me and our illegitimate child. This is important to Jacob. He’s faced every member of my family, knowing what they thought about him. The least I can do is meet his. I’m willing to do what it takes to make him happy and make this work. I love him, and Chloe and I need him more than I ever realized.

The days following that first phone call drag by as anticipation for his next visit makes me antsy and impatient. My grandmother makes great progress in her rehab program and soon, is nearly back to normal. I’m amazed and thankful at how quickly her strength returns.

Her spunk never falters, though, and by the second week, she demands that I let her drive. “The doctor has to clear you before you can drive again,” I repeat, exasperated by her persistence.

“Then move my appointment up!” she retorts.

“I tried. They can’t get you in any sooner.”

---