Page 47 of Fight For Us
“Tiger?” he spoke low next to my ear and the skin on my arm pebbled. “You okay over there?”
“Hmm?” I blinked, pulling myself into the present. “Sorry, I’m tired. If you see the waiter, remind me to order a coffee.”
“Sure,” he said. “Alex was just asking if Lilly is his sister now.”
I smiled at my son. “Stepsister, but yes. How do you guys feel about that?”
They gave each other goofy looks and Lilly answered, “I always wanted a sibling. Specifically a sister, but I’ll take him.”
“As long as she doesn’t mess with my stuff,” Alex said. “My Lego display is off limits.”
“Like I don’t already know that. You’ve told me a hundred times.” They went back and forth with each other and Wes leaned in again.
“Looks like we’ll have to find a bigger place soon. Them sharing a room might end up in World War III.” He was right, those two bickered more than meand Wes.
“Alright kids,” Val said. “Settle down. Santa’s watching, you know.”
“Santa… right.” Both kids laughed conspiratorially and Val gave me a thumbs up.
Walter cleared his throat. “I want to say how happy I am for you both. Olivia, when you first came into our lives, I knew you were special. You were our angel that night, stepping in to help at Sunshine, and you’ve been there ever since, keeping this guy in line.” He gestured toward Wes with his water glass. “Wesley has been through so much grief. After the accident and losing his leg…” He glanced at the kids and paused for a moment. “After what Savannah put him through. I never thought he’d find love. But the way he looks at you, I know he’s found it. So welcome to the family. We’re so blessed to have you and Alex.”
My eyes watered as Walter came around the table to give me a side hug. I whispered, “Thank you,” not knowing what else to say. Had Wes told them this wasn’t real? If he did, then what was that speech?
“Walter, you’re making the poor thing tear up,” Val said. “Sorry, love. He gets emotional sometimes. What he said is true though. We are excited to have you in the family, right Wesley?”
Wes cleared his throat and met my gaze. My eyes drifted lower, settling on his lips. “Right. Couldn’t be happier.”
“I was going to wait to tell you but it seems like the right moment. We know you can’t have a real honeymoon like your father and I did, but we booked you a room for tonight. A honeymoon special. We’ll stay with the kids, so don’t worryabout them.” Val beamed as she ruffled Alex’s hair. I waited for Wes to say something. Clearly, he hadn’t told his parents this whole thing was a ruse. He massaged his temple and I reached for my water to clear the sand in my throat. As I sipped, Val lowered her voice and added, “We know you could use the privacy.”
My water slid down the wrong tube and came spewing out onto the table as I heaved a choking cough. I coughed again, gasping for breath.
“Shit, are you okay?” Wes asked as he thwacked my back a few times. I nodded and made an unintelligible sound of agreement through another bout of coughs.
“Be right back.” I stood and gestured toward the restroom across the floor. If I was dazed before, now I was wide awake. We had to get out of this, but I had a feeling Val wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Oh, I’ll join you,” Val said, getting up to follow me.
“Great,” I muttered. There’d be no five minute break to collect myself. I guess I should get used to having attentive and overly friendly in-laws. I didn’t think my mother had accompanied me to the restroom since I was out of diapers. She was usually too busy schmoozing someone at the club, drink in hand.
I glanced back at Wes and he flashed me a look that was a cross between a wince and a grin. He’d be hearing a piece of my mind later. Val caught up to me and squeezed my hand. I flinched out of habit before taking a breath and squeezing back.
“Sorry, I’m a bit extra affectionate today. I’m just so happy, I could burst. You two make such a sweet couple. Walter and I knew for months that something was going on.”
She radiated joy. Lord help me, I didn’t want to burst her bubble. “That’s so sweet of you,” I responded. “You and Walter are the best.”
We pushed through the restroom door as she went on. “Let’s sit down for coffee this week and I can go over some of his care needs. It’s been years now, so he’s more or less healed and with all the therapies he’s come leaps and bounds, but still, I’d like you to be aware of some things to look out for. You know since he won’t be living with us anymore.”
I hadn’t thought about any of that. Not that I wasn’t aware of his limb loss, but sometimes, it slipped my mind that he needed accommodations or special care. “Oh, okay… sure.”
“Don’t worry, love, he’s a grown man fully capable of taking care of himself.” She paused in front of an open stall. “It’s just, we all need someone to watch out for us too, you know?”
My heart swelled at the pure kindness of this woman. I did know, because it’s how I felt about Alex. It’s what I’d needed from my parents but never received. “I know what you mean.” I smiled. “He’ll be in good hands.”
“And so will you,” she said, smiling back at me before heading into the stall.
I didn’t even need to pee, but I sat there anyway, thinking over our conversation. There was so much I didn’t know about Wes. So much he didn’t know about me. I’d be lying if that didn’tscare the crap out of me. I pulled my phone out of my sundress pocket and swiped to his name.
Me:Sooo… your parents don’t know?
