Page 50 of By Your Side

He loves me. Warmth spreads through me at hearing those words from him, but the reality is I still don’t know where he stands on the issue around children. All I can hope is that love is enough.

thirty

Owen

Mom dotes on me as I sit on my couch. The hospital cleared me to come home after a round of tests. I got lucky. It was purely my dedication to site safety that I was wearing my hard hat. It likely saved my life.

“I’m making some soup. You need to rest up.” She hovers, handing me some water before moving around my kitchen.

I texted Adeline this morning, letting her know the doctors cleared me to come home, but she hasn’t replied.

The cloud looming over us lingers, but it was a no-brainer for me to choose her over some imaginary picture of a life with kids.

“That Adeline is so sweet. I really like her,” Mom says, as though reading my mind. “I was starting to think you would never settle down and I wouldn’t get to watch my son’s family grow. Grandchildren would definitely make me sell my place and move back here.”

She turns to me, her grin falling when she sees my face.

“Adeline can’t have children, Mom. Or it would take a small miracle for her to have children. She was open with me, and I took the time to think about it. I decided it doesn’t matter to me.” My voice is gentle but firm.

Mom’s eyes soften and she nods. “You can have a full life without children. Thank you for telling me. All I care about is that you’re happy.”

“I am.” Smiling at her, I say, “You know, you don’t need an excuse to move back here. It would be nice to have you closer. You’re too far away.”

She smiles, coming over to sit next to me and wrapping me in her arms. “It would be. When I heard what happened, the fact I couldn’t come right to you destroyed me.”

Hugging her back, I kiss the top of her head. “Wouldn’t it be nice to retire back here, at home. Raelynn can find you a place and I would be close by to help more.”

She nods as she pulls away. “It’s been on my mind. I do love the idea of seeing you more. I will think about it. Right now, I just want to focus on you and getting you back to full strength.”

“I am, Mom. The doctor will clear me after my follow up appointment in a couple of weeks. The initial scans looked good. Don’t worry about me.”

“It’s a mother’s job to worry, Owen. It’s impossible not to, even when your child is thirty-three.”

Chuckling, I shake my head. “More reason to move back then.”

Mom heads home the next morning after reassurance from me that I will take it easy, and I have Wally drive me to Adeline’s.

The dogs greet us at the gate, their tails wagging before taking off down the driveway ahead of me.

Hopping out of the truck, I wave as he drives away before following the dogs to the back of the house, where I find Adeline reading in her cozy egg chair. Her hair is tied up, wrapped in a blanket, and she’s so lost in the book she hasn’t noticed me yet. She smiles as she reads. She’s a sight for sore eyes.

“Good book?” I ask.

Her eyes light up when she sees me. “It’s really good.”

Moving toward her, I crouch down. Reaching for her hands, I gaze at her, soaking her smile in for a moment before saying, “I don’t want to be with anyone else. I love you, and you’re all that matters.”

Her smile is brilliant as she slides off the chair into my arms. “I love you too.”

thirty-one

Adeline

Three Months Later

Breaking down the last box, I smile at all of Owen’s things intermingled with mine. Wally decided to sell the farm and it seemed like the perfect time for Owen to move in.

Pictures of the two of us have started to fill the walls, but he’s encouraged me to keep photos of me and Scott up as well.

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