“What do you do for a car?” I ask Ella.
“I only use her when I’m on a job site like this,” she replies as she shoves the bottle of wine in the freezer. “Thelma’s got property, so I park my girl there when I’m on a regular contracted job since I’m usually housed in an extended stay hotel as part of my contract.”
“Makes sense. Surprised you were able to get it up here, though,” I say. “Because there was a time or two that I thought I was gonna leave my suspension behind.”
Both women burst out laughing then Ella shrugs. “Thelma got one of the guys to get it up here because I kept getting stuck. Of course, the ground hadn’t fully dried out yet so I’m sure it was part of the problem. Okay, I’m out of your hair. Fee, give it about fifteen minutes or so.”
When Ella leaves, I look at Phoebe and ask, “How have you been?”
“I feel like I hit the ground running and haven’t stopped,” she admits. “Why are you here, Eli?”
“Because I found the letter you wrote me,” I admit. “Not sure if you ever intended for me to see it or not, but I did and wanted to make sure you knew how I felt as well.”
A flush covers her face, but she doesn’t say anything right away. “I understand if this means I can’t see Cami any longer,” she whispers, tears filling her eyes. “Can I tell her goodbye when I come back home? I also have her birthday present.”
Stepping closer, I pull her into my arms. “Fee, I came to you so you would know that I feel the same way, sweetheart. I don’t think you’ve broken any girl code or whatever that bullshit you spewed was about. Rosa and I were never going to be a permanent thing, and the fact that she hid my own child from me says a lot about who she was, that’s for damn sure. I love you, Phoebe Cortez, and want you to be mine. I want you to help me raise Cami and any other babies you’re willing to give me. When she’s old enough, we’ll tell Cami about who her biological mother is, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re her mama.”
I can feel her body shuddering as all the emotions I’m sure she’s been holding back come out. “Shhh, it’s okay, let it all go, sweetheart.” I’m not so egotistical that I believe all the tears are from our situation; I think a lot has to do with what she’s seen and dealt with while she’s been here as well.
Long minutes pass before she sniffles a few times then pulls back, her fingers wiping away her tears, leaving behind small tracks in her beautiful skin. “I’m a mess right now,” she says, giggling when she looks at her fingers. “This is why I don’t wear makeup when I do this because I’d look like a melting clown.”
“Because you are,” Ella says as she moves to the freezer and pulls out the wine. “You forgot to pull it out.”
I start laughing when I realize that Phoebe’s timer on her phone has been going off. We were so lost in what was happening between us, that it became background noise. “Pour me a glass while I go get a shower,” Phoebe requests. “Then we can go out and grab some food. Polly said her hubby was making something called smash burgers.”
“I’ll be here waiting when you’re done,” I say.
“I’m going to get our laundry together and take it over to the fire department,” Ella states. “So don’t lock the bathroom door, I’ll just come in and grab it.”
I see the dynamic between the two women when Phoebe teases, “You just wanna see me naked.”
No, but I do,my mind whispers. It must dawn on Phoebe that she said that in front of me because her blush is so deep, she looks like she got a sunburn.
“Where are you going to sleep?” Phoebe asks as we make our way back to the RV after a delicious dinner. Ella is finishing the laundry but waved Phoebe off when she offered to help. “We don’t have the room for you, too,” she murmurs. “And the one hotel that was spared is full of people who were displaced.”
“Stopped and bought myself a bedroll and small pup tent. I’ve slept in worse conditions,” I reply. When I see the look on her face, I add, “It’ll be okay, Phoebe. It won’t be too bad, I promise.”
“You’re definitely a better person than I am because I need creature comforts such as a bed and walls,” she teases. “But just so you know, even though they’ve got showers available at the fire station, you’re welcome to use the one in the RV.”
“Works for me because Thelma is going to have me busy tomorrow. She told some guy named Brad that I was willing to help, which I am, so I’m sure I’ll be a sweaty, dirty mess by the time I’m done.”
“You plan to stay?” she questions as we stop outside the RV.
“Until your contract is finished, yes,” I reply, gently pulling her into my arms.
I’ve had hundreds of miles and countless hours on this trip to think about kissing her and I can’t wait a minute longer. As I cup her face, stroking her cheeks with my thumbs, I lean in and capture her lips with mine. Everything clicks into place inside of me; I’ve found my home, my peace, and I’m never going to let her go until I draw my last breath.
When my lungs are screaming for air, I pull back enough to lean my forehead against hers. “Been wanting to do that for quite some time now,” I admit. “It was everything I thought it would be and more, Phoebe.”
Her face is flushed and her eyes are sparkling when she says, “My imagination didn’t do it justice at all.”
Seeing how tired she still looks despite a shower and food, I murmur, “Go in and get some sleep, sweetheart. Tomorrow promises to be busy for both of us.”
“Okay, Eli. I’m glad you’re here,” she says, turning to unlock the door of the RV. “I’ll see you in the morning. We usually head tothe food tent around seven in the morning so we can find out where we’ll be working, although I suspect Ella and I will be back out on the ATVs tomorrow to check on more people now that we have an idea of where the houses are located. Drones are a marvelous tool right now, that’s for sure.”
“Yeah, they’ve got their uses,” I reply. “Good night, Phoebe. Sweet dreams.”
“Good night, Eli. See you in the morning.”
