Page 92 of Come Back for Me
God, this woman is trying to kill me. I would like to be very, very happy, but I’ll take whatever I can get with her. I may be patient, but I’m a man who is very much in love with the woman in my arms, and I’d like to show her.
She disentangles herself and tucks her hair behind her ear right as Hadley bursts into the living room.
“Can Connor read to me tonight?”
Ellie looks to me. That’s normally something she does for Hadley, so I wait for her to give me the go ahead.
“Of course,” Ellie says with a smile that I can’t read.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m one hundred percent sure.”
“Thank you, Mommy!” Hadley runs over to her, hugs her tight, and then rushes to me. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
Then Hadley practically drags me into the bedroom that has become hers. The bed has been moved away from the window since she was afraid of something outside it, and the sheets are pink instead of the deep blue that used to be on Sean’s bed.
It was strange to me that my father hated us enough to beat us but hadn’t thrown away anything that would’ve reminded him of us after we left.
Everything was as it was when we lived here.
Like how my mother left it. Until we cleaned it out and got rid of the baggage.
Over the last few months, things have just . . . shown up. There’s a plant in the living room, flowers on the table, and those mats on the floor in the bathroom.
Day by day, Ellie has made this house into more. Now, we’re becoming a family.
And that makes me happy.
“So, how does your mom usually do this?”
Hadley sits on the bed and pats the blanket. “First you have to pick a book. I like those over there.”
“Okay, pick the book.” I feel like a total idiot. I should’ve known that much. I walk over to the stack and look for one that looks more worn. I’m assuming she has a favorite. “Any of them you like more?”
She shrugs. “I loveallof those.”
“Green Eggs and Ham?” I ask. Who doesn’t love Dr. Seuss? My brothers and I lovedGo Dogs Go. No surprise. It was all about going fast and not liking hats.
Hadley’s eyes brighten. “I do not like green eggs and ham . . .”
“I do not like them, but Hadley can.” I wink at her and come to the bed, not really sure where to sit.
Hadley scoots over, and I take her cue. I rest with my back on the wall and then she mimics my position, but instead of her head lying back, she rests it on my arm. Her little hands grip my bicep, and I’d swear, she’s holding my heart instead.
I look down at her, wondering what God ever thought I was worthy enough to be a father. After all the bad things I’ve done, I don’t deserve her.
Still, she’s mine, and I vow a new promise right now. I will never do anything to shame her. I will be honest, devoted, and dependable.
“Will you read it?” she asks staring up at me.
“I will,” I answer, but not to the question, but to my own silent vow.
“How did you meet my mom?” she asks after I read the first page.
Crap.
