Page 82 of Despite It All
“Thank you, baby.” I know the words seem small but someone could tell me the most well-worded, pure poetry compliment and any praise from Stevie would still mean a million times more to me.
“Hey, Stevie,” Jett says behind us. “Can you do me a favor and knock on this door?”
Stevie nods and bolts back to him to pound on the door.
“Knock? Why would she knock—”
Before I can get back to Jett, I hear Stevie scream, “Nana!”
Nana? I give Jett a confused look, but he’s looking at Stevie. I reach the doorway and sure enough, Jett’s mom is holding the door open. “Stevie Rose! I’m so happy you made it! Hey, Pops is in the living room.”
She steps to the side and Stevie books it in.
“Hi, Wyla,” Mrs. Ellison greets me with a hug then one for Jett. “I’m happy you guys made it too, but I have a grandbaby to see.”
She turns around and heads into the living room where I can hear Stevie giggling wildly.
“They’re not staying, Wy. Well, not staying here at least.” Jett laughs. “I’ll explain inside.”
Jett holds out his arm for me to go in first. The entryway is pretty simple, a small table with a round mirror hangs on the wall. Once you get past that, there’s a short hallway to the left then an open concept kitchen and living room area and another hallway at the far end of the living room.
There’s a charcoal sectional with a gray rug underneath. A small side table on each in and on the one closest to me sits a vase of orange roses and a picture frame.
My feet move at their own volition to pick up the frame. My heart wants to leap out of my chest when I turn it around to see a picture of me comforting Stevie at her tumbling class when she fell. She’s got me wrapped up in a hug and my eyes are closed as I take in her embrace.
“It’s one of my favorite pictures,” Jett says as he comes up beside me.
“Can you send it to me?”
“Yeah, baby.” Jett presses a quick kiss to my temple, then comes around to the middle of the living room. Stevie is sitting in Mr. Ellison’s lap while they both listen to her with rapt attention as she tells them all about her daddy playing baseball.
“I almost hate to break up the talk of how great I am, but do you want to see your room, Little Bee?”
“Yes!” She leaps off Pop's lap and jumps into Jett’s arms.
“Well, let’s go.”
He carries her back toward the front and down that short hallway. There’s two doors, one straight in front and one to the right.
Jett reaches for the knob on the right, and I can feel the excitement coming off everyone here. They want her to love it. I want her to love it, but is it bad that it also scares me?
Once the door is open, Jett sets her down and she squeals. “It’s princesses!”
She races in and marvels at the space. Hell, I’m marveling too.
Her twin bed has princess themed comforter, pink pillows, and a canopy draping down around the bed. There’s a small table and chairs in one corner with stacks of coloring books and construction paper, along with a tub of crayons. A stuffed animal mountain on the other side and a Barbie Dream House set up.
“Jett, this is perfect.” Are there tears entering my eyes? I’m afraid so.
Jett pulls me closer to his chest and hugs me from behind so we both can watch Stevie as she happily explores the room.
“I can’t take all the credit. I might have ordered everything but someone had to put it together.”
Now his parents being here makes sense. They moved his stuff for him… they put all this together. For us.
Fuck, now I really am crying.
Rose comes up to us and takes my hand. “Don’t cry, my girl. Jett hired movers for the big stuff but we were happy to help.”
