Page 20 of All in April

“Not until you see what we’ve done and give us an answer on if you’ll come home.” With a growl, I cross my arms. “And stay.”

She mimics my posture, squaring off with me. “I need to get dressed. Turn your back.”

With a huff, I do and face the wall, imagining what her body looks like underneath that white sheet. After a few minutes of ruffling, she goes into the bathroom to tidy up, reemerges with a stolid look on her face and waves me toward the door. “Let’s go.”

When we get in the car and she buckles her seatbelt, I flash her a warning stare. “Listen, April. I have half a mind to lock you inside our house and never let you escape. I love you so fucking much, I can’t stand this. But, I also want you to live your life the way you want, do whatever you want. I’ll be in the shadows if you tell me to fuck off, but I will be there. Supporting you, protecting you, and adoring you. Even if you don’t love me back.”

A flash of tears crosses her lower lids, but she hurriedly blinks them away and faces front, staring out the windshield into the glowing morning sun. The light illuminates each tiny freckle across her nose and I want to kiss them. To memorize each one so I never forget. If only she’d be back in my arms, curled up on me in bed while I read my book. It’s my favorite time.

“Let’s go.” That’s her only response. My heart feels as if it will buckle under the weight of her rejection. But my foot presses the gas and we depart.

Pulling up to the curb, she bounces in her seat, pressing her fingertips to the glass and her forehead bops the window. “Oh my god! What did you all do?”

She turns back to look at me with her jaw dropped, a broad smile causing those emotions to spill over onto her cheeks. “It’s beautiful!”

Like I’m on a roller coaster, the weight shifts until I’m flying once again. Seeing her smile is everything. If only she’ll stay…

Jack and Wolf stand on either side of the freshly painted front door and April leaps from the car, bending to smell some tulips. “Tulips don’t have a—” Wolf begins to say, but wisens up and shuts his mouth.

“Flower boxes? A new walkway? Even the driveway looks new.”

“We sprayed it off,” Jack says, hooking his thumbs through his belt loops and bouncing on his toes.

“There’s even flowers on the front door! It’s yellow!”

April runs toward the two men and as she does, her hand reaches out to touch both of them. My hopes soar. Does this mean she’s impressed? Will she be ours?

Wolf waves her into the entrance and her hands clap over her gasping mouth.

“Boys! This is incredible! You did all of this in a week?” She hurries through the living room, now clean, painted, decorated, and smelling good. “Brahn! Your books are in alphabetical order.”

I nod. “Yep.”

With a skip, she practically sprints through the rooms. In the kitchen, she squeals with every cabinet she opens, stocked with food and baking supplies. The pristine new flooring and fresh surfaces. The overflowing refrigerator. And even with the bouquet of flowers on the table.

She hops with excitement seeing her new bathroom with a luxury shower, all we could fit in the small space, but she doesn’t seem to mind.

“Are these two king sized beds?” she asks, plucking at the new comforter in the main bedroom.

“Yes, sweetheart. Figured we could use it. It takes up more space, but we don’t need the other bedrooms anymore, so?—”

“I’ll show her…” I interrupt. I’ve been dying to see her reaction to the room I designed.

Jack’s old bedroom is now a giant closet for all of us. But Wolf’s…

When I toss open the door, April grows still. She’s frozen so long, I’m worried it’s all wrong. With a cautious step inside, she creeps around and then faces the three of us, hovering at the doorway.

“It’s Wonder Woman.”

My throat gets dry and I swallow. “Yeah. I thought you may like it.” Maybe I was wrong.

“And all the comic books. A reading corner with a new chair. What is this?” She points to the far wall.

“A drafting table, girlie. In case, well Brahn thought?—”

“I thought if you wanted to do some art or maybe that was dumb…” I trail the end of my sentence off.

She picks up some pens from a cup, then places them back delicately. Her fingers trail along the surface. The white light from the window catches her blonde hair, setting it aglow and my chest feels tight.

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