Page 39 of The One for Me
And I’ve won out over Declan. See, this is what happens when you have a baby and can’t be here when your niece gets her present. It serves him right.
“Be sure you tell Uncle Declan that.”
She grins. “I will! Where is your friend, though? I am so excited.”
Zach Hennington called about twenty minutes ago to let me know he’s close. It’s been damn near fifteen years since I’ve seen him. I was in a summer camp and college kids came down to mentor. Zach was assigned to my group, and we instantly got along.
Even though he was six years older, we became friends, and when camp ended, Zach and I kept in touch. When it was time for me to pick a college, he helped me choose the best one that would get me a shot at the majors. And then, when he got called up, I was cheering him on. After an injury to his shoulder destroyed his career, he moved back home, but he seems happy.
“He should be here any minute.”
Hadley watches the road and squeals when she sees something.
“Can I go by the fence?”
He nods.
As she runs off, Connor and I lazily make our way there as well. “How’s Ellie doing?”
“Good. She’s exhausted, but good. I appreciate Devney going over there so I could be here with Hadley.”
I smile. “I’m sure she’s happy to be there.”
“What’s that grin for?”
“I’m happy for you, Connor. You’re living the dream! You’ve got a house, kids, a wife, and all that. Plus, you’re starting the security business, I mean, it’s all good things.”
When I got here two months ago, my brother called to ask if I would invest in a company he was thinking of starting. One of his friends owns a security company and was looking to expand into some tech security, which is what Connor did when he was a SEAL. So, he’s able to work from home, be with his wife and kids, and already has a contract. Declan, Jacob, and I all put money in and are silent partners.
Although, there probably won’t be much silence between the four of us.
“Yeah, there has been a lot of changes in the last year. I’m doing the best I can, but there are days I feel like I can’t keep up.”
I look at Hadley, who is standing on the fence, waving at us. “She’s worth it, though, right?”
Connor laughs. “You have no idea. Hadley and Bethanne are everything.”
“You know, I love that you named her after mom.”
“Well, it’s only kind of. It’s for both Ellie’s mom and ours. I’m glad we were able to honor them both.” He releases a long sigh, and I know where his mind is.
“You know that they would be proud. Especially Mom. She would’ve loved seeing you with the life you’ve made here. And I think Ellie’s mom would be too. You make her daughter really happy.”
“Thanks, man. One day this guilt will go away. I just keep waiting for it to happen. Ellie doesn’t blame any of us, but there’s this part of me that wonders if she doesn’t think about how her family was taken away by the accident that dad caused.”
I know what he means. I wonder a lot if Ellie sees us and associates it with her parents’ deaths. I hope not. “I don’t know if the guilt ever will, but we’ll find a way to live with it.”
Connor nods. “In the meantime, we go on. By the way, how are things with you and Devney? I heard a story—”
I stop and glare at him. “What story?”
“Oh, that you keep sticking your tongue in her mouth.”
It’s true. “I’d like to stick a lot more there.”
He laughs and then we start walking again. “You should tell her how you feel.”
“I have.”
