Page 58 of Liberating Love

“Mom, stop!” I yell as I rush around the car and jog to catch up to her. Stepping in her path, I put my hands on her upper arms and search her for injuries for a moment. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“There you are, Noah dear,” she says. “I was looking for you.”

Pain pierces my heart at the happy expression on her face, and I don’t have the heart to correct her and crush her right now. Lately, she’s been having major ups and downs, and apparently, going for walks alone. God, what in the world am I supposed to do?

Swallowing down my worry for the moment, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and walk her toward my car, saying, “Let’s get you home.”

“Okay, dear.” She pats my hand, then gets into the passenger seat.

I drive the block to our complex, pull into the parking lot to park, and lead her inside. Once I have her settled and I triple-check that the front door is locked, I walk into the kitchen so I can pace for a few minutes. Something has got to change before she gets hurt. I can’t be in two places at once, I can’t be home with her all the time to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself, but fuck, she can’t be alone anymore, can she?

I walk back into the living room, grabbing a new puzzle along the way, and sit beside Mom on the couch. I wait until we’re actively doing the puzzle to say, “I’m going to call the doctor in the morning, Ma. We need to get in there sooner.”

She pauses with her hand in the air holding a puzzle piece, and after a moment, she sighs and says, “Alright.”

Blowing out the breath I was holding and silently thanking whoever wants to listen that she isn’t putting up a fight about it, I pick up a piece and fit it into its spot. “What do you want for dinner?”

“Spaghetti.”

I smile. “I can do that. Do you want regular sauce or alfredo or that butter sauce you taught me how to make?”

“Oh, that butter sauce is really good.” She fits together a few pieces, then asks, “How was your day, sweetie?”

“It was good. Jovany and I were stuck in our office all day, but we went out for lunch with Drix and Jameson, so it was kinda nice to break up the day a little.” She gives me some side-eyes, so I say, “Jovany’s my… partner, kind of, and Drix and Jameson are fellow officers—my friends.”

She hums and nods. “That’s good.”

“I think Delaney’s coming over for dinner again tonight. Is that okay?”

She pauses again before nodding with another hum. Most of the time she recognizes Delaney since he’s been around so often lately, but her short-term memory has definitely been declining.

After half the puzzle is finished, I stand up, kiss her temple, and walk into the kitchen to start dinner. A knock on the door a few minutes later brings a big smile to my face, and I open the door and immediately pull Delaney inside, making him chuckle. I press a kiss to his smiling lips and mutter, “I’m gonna burn the sauce,” then I rush back into the kitchen.

He chuckles behind me and walks over to greet my mother. She ends up coaxing him into doing the puzzle with her, so I finish up cooking and take everything out to the dining room table.

“Alright, guys, it’s ready,” I say as I set the giant pot on a hot plate in the center of the table.

Delaney and Mom sit down, and Delaney scoops out the food for everyone before I have a chance to. When his gorgeous green eyes connect with mine and crinkle at the corners, a little of my stress releases. Nothing’s fixed, but I have people that care about me now; I have backup if I need it. Not that I would necessarily use it, but I’m finally starting to see that Delaney and my friends want to be there for me, just like I want to be there for them.

A few hours later, Mom’s asleep in her room, and Delaney’s already lying in my bed ready to sleep for the night. With a smile aimed at him, I climb in after him, sinking into his strong arms and I tell him what happened earlier.

“I don’t think she can be left alone anymore,” I whisper my biggest fear to him.

“We’ll figure it out, baby. Talk to the doctor. I’m sure they’ll get you in soon if you let them know what happened.” He kisses my hair.

With a sigh, I nod my head, then tilt my face up. I run my fingertips over his lips and cheek and the scruff of his short beard. “Delaney?”

He lifts a brow. “Freckles?”

“How about we end this crazy day on a high note?”

A slow grin spreads on his face and before I know what hit me, he has me on my back, hovering over the top of me, muttering, “I think I can handle that.”

He dips his lips to mine, and I bury my fingers in his hair with a muffled laugh. Then I lose myself in him as he makes me forget all my stresses for just a little while.

21

Delaney

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