Page 13 of Wounded Fox
"Sure." She smiled sweetly at my mother. "Whatever you both need."
"No." Mother had the nerve to respond with the one word.
"What do you mean, no?" Was this really the argument we were having right now? How was this my life? Stubborn women everywhere.
"To answer your original question, yes, I would rather Panther stay with me than you. At least he won't hover and drive me to drink."
"You can't drink with a concussion!"
All the more reason for me to spend the one night. It was clear she needed someone to make sure she didn't make an irrational decision. I couldn't be sure that Panther wouldn't be a total pushover.
"It was a figure of speech, son." My mother rolled her eyes at me. "I know I can't drink, but if you're there watching my every step, then there's a good chance that's what I'm going to want to do."
I couldn't believe what she was saying. Actually, I was completely flabbergasted and speechless, if I was being honest.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ms. Hill
Aaron would thank me later for what I was doing. He might be hurt now but I could see the change plain as day between him and Valerie and I was all for it. They just needed a little push in the right direction.
"You don't want me to stay with you tonight?" He stumbled through the words.
"No, I don't. Now it's getting late. Take Valerie home and make sure you both get a good night’s sleep. You've had an exciting day."
I could see he wanted to argue but a whispered word from Valerie and he was following her out the door after giving me a kiss on the forehead. I watched the two of them with a smile on my face because hopefully soon I would get the daughter-in-law I always knew I would one day have.
"Aaron's a lucky man," Panther walked up next to the hospital bed and said.
"He will be once he gets his head out of his ass and asks that woman to marry him," I huffed.
"That's not what I meant. He's lucky to have you." I waved off Panther's words but he just kept going. "I'm serious. There are parents out there who only think about themselves. I can tell from only knowing you a short time that you're not like that at all."
I kept my eyes focused on the curtain Aaron and Valerie walked through just minutes before. "Those two deserve happiness and I'll be damned if I stand in the way of it. I've known since they were ten years old that they were going to get married. I have no idea what happened all those years ago but I won't stand in the way of them fixing it now."
"Like I said, Aaron's a lucky man."
Maybe so, but I was raised to always put my children first and that was what I would continue to do as long as I lived.
CHAPTER NINE
Valerie
The drive home was quiet. I could see that Aaron was stuck inside his head and I wasn't sure how to help him. Each time I thought about opening my mouth and saying something, words escaped me, so I said nothing.
But I couldn't continue the course when Aaron pulled into the driveway, turned the vehicle off, and just sat there.
"Are you okay?"
I immediately wanted to take the question back. It was so stupid of me, but before I could, Aaron answered. "I'm not sure."
He rested his head against the seat and I just watched as he closed his eyes. Like a creeper, I observed the rise and fall of his chest as we sat there in silence. It was several long minutes before Aaron opened his eyes and met mine.
"I just don't understand why she practically kicked me out."
"I don't think that's how she meant it." I didn't believe that for a second but I wasn't about to tell him that. For whatever reason, Ms. Hill didn't want Aaron to stay with her tonight and I was going to respect her decision. Growing up she was like asecond mother to me, so if she wanted Aaron at his house, then I was going to do everything in my power to make that happen.
Aaron sighed. "Maybe you're right." He blew out an exaggerated breath before looking at me. "Let's go inside. You've got to be exhausted after the day you've had."
