Page 36 of His Forever

He watched her stammer for a few seconds before saying, “Princess, if he’s the kind of man I think he is, he is showing you in countless ways just what you mean to him.”

She sat there and thought about it for a few minutes. Zeus had become her best friend, next to Paulie, and he was always showing her she mattered. From screening in her deck to getting her planters so she could plant flowers, he was there. Even this morning when he got the converter box so she could have the heating pad for the trip, he had shown she was important to him. Looking at her father, she said, “Daddy, I don’t know how or when, but I’ve fallen in love with him.”

He smiled at her as he said, “It’s written all over your face, Princess. At some point, you’re going to have to tell him how you feel.”

She rolled her eyes before replying, “I’m not there yet, Daddy. C’mon, let’s see if Paulie and Gray are ready to go. I really don’t want to stay around Mother any longer if I can help it.”

He helped her up and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he led them back toward the house. It wasn’t his story to tell, but he wished his kids could remember the fun-loving woman his wife was beforeithappened. She had never talked to anyone and he knew if she would, she would regain that part of her life again. He would keep praying that one day, she would realize that being isolated wasn’t good for her or any of them.

***

They left shortly thereafter with her dad, aunt and uncle promising a visit the following weekend. She had already booked them for massages, and her aunt for a facial. She would just have to tell Zeus that their normal Saturday running would have to wait.

As they drove, she slept, having taken the second half of her pill. With the heating pad on her back and the pillow and throw that they had grabbed, she dozed while Paulie and Gray quietly talked in the front seat. “I can’t believe she said what she did but I’ve never been prouder,” Paulie said.

“I know, I wanted to high-five her!” Gray responded.

“Hey, call Zeus and let him know what happened. I don’t know how this will affect her later.”

Gray grabbed Paulie’s phone and dialed Zeus. “Hey man, it’s Gray. Paulie’s driving but we wanted to call and let you know we’re on our way back and today was a doozy for Marleigh.”

Zeus, sitting at home on the swing, said, “How so?” as he got up and made his way through the house to pack another bag for him and Duke.

“Well, her mother was her usual condescending self and for some reason, today was the day that Marleigh struck back.”

Eyebrows raised at what Gray was telling him, he silently wondered how she was doing. Finally, he said, “Is she okay?”

“Yeah, we think so. She took the other half of her medicine and is sleeping right now. She also spent some time talking to her dad. Oh, speaking of which, be prepared. Paulie’s folks and Marleigh’s dad are coming down next weekend to meet you.”

He laughed before saying, “She already texted me to tell me they would be coming. I would like to meet the people who matter to her. She’s everything to me, Gray.”

Gray’s voice softened as he looked over his shoulder at the sleeping woman. “Yeah, I think it’s the same for her, man. And gotta say, we’re both thrilled for her because we know how crushed she was.”

Zeus thought about the woman he had met on the side of the road months ago. Even as upset as she obviously was, he could tell there was something there. “She’s my best friend, Gray. I cannot imagine life without her, but don’t want to scare her off.”

Gray laughed before saying, “I don’t think that’s gonna happen. Listen, we’ll see you soon. Gonna stop and grab some barbeque on the way home. You want us to grab you some as well?”

“Yeah, that sounds good. Let me know when you’re about twenty minutes out and I’ll call the order in if you want, si?”

“Yep. See you shortly.”

Chapter Twelve

She woke up when strong arms lifted her. “Shhh, mi siempre hermosa, I’ve got you,” Zeus whispered in her ear. Snuggling closer, she allowed him to carry her upstairs and into her room.

“Hey, beautiful, I missed you today,” he said as he watched her wake up.

“Mmm, I missed you too, Zeus,” she replied.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m hurting but I’ll be okay,” she finally said.

“We’ve got barbeque for dinner if you want to go freshen up or anything,” he told her.

She got up and before she headed into the bathroom, she hugged him close before she leaned up to kiss him. Breathless, she finally pulled back and smiled at him saying, “Just wanted you to know how much you were missed.”

As she went into the bathroom, she missed hearing him say, “Not as much as I missed you, Marleigh. Not by a long shot.”

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