Page 70 of Worthy of Sunsets and Second Chances

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Eli

Easton promised Kendra that her place would be ready in time for her to celebrate Christmas there. Her eyes sparkled with tears of excitement and gratitude when he told her. I felt sad because I had visions of us spending Wren’s first holiday season wrapped up together, celebrating, making memories, and creating traditions under the same roof. If we are in separate houses by then, my magical plans go up in smoke. I already don’t get to have Thanksgiving with her because she is going to be with her dad and I have to be on shift at the fire station.

I was so proud of Kendra for coming to see the cabin and knew how difficult it must have been to finally walk through the door. Ever since that first day she stops over once in a while, but only when I am there helping out or if I’m available to go with her to check on progress—and that makes me proud as fuck. To know that she feels comfort and safety with me. Seeks it out and needs me. Of course I want her to be able to go alone, be relaxed in her own space, but for now I’m glad to be her crutch.

Now we just need to get her to go back into the pottery studio.

Ever since Danny took the evidence he needed and I cleaned everything up the following day, Kendra has not gone back in. Sutton has stopped over to pick up some inventory for the store, but Kendra just handed over the key and told her what to pick off the shelves . . . which is very un-Kendra. The girls were going to do one of their pop-up shop events that they have organized a couple of times since Kendra started selling out of Brooks and Books, but Kendra canceled it saying she didn’t have enough for a big show.

Her injuries are healed, and even her physical therapist has been encouraging her to do some pottery, saying that the strength of her arms and hands benefited her and contributed to her quick healing. Kendra acted like that was exciting news, but when it came time to actually go in the studio, she froze and froze and froze again upon every attempt.

Kendra is stubborn.

She doesn’t like to be told what to do.

She doesn’t like to be pushed.

Her buttons can be detonations.

But I think she needs it this time.

She needs her art like she needs air, and I know that in order for her to be fully herself she needs to get her hands back into the clay and pour out the rest of the pain she has been holding in.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Kendra screeches at me from the mouth of her wide-open sliding garage door.

I greet her with my signature smile, knowing my dimple will get to her. “Making my mom a gift.”

“With my shit? You don’t even know what you’re doing, Hulk. Step away from my wheel!”

Her eyes are wild with horror as she watches me fumble a small lump of clay as well as a preschooler probably could. I try to shove my thumb into the middle, making a poor attempt at a hole for a mug shape.

Kendra stomps her way into the space.

Yes, come to Daddy.

She turns off the wheel and crosses her arms.

“Hey, I was making a masterpiece!” I object, trying not to laugh.

“Where the hell did you even learn how to do anything with my pottery stuff? What are you trying to make? Why? What?” Her questions are a jumbled mess of frustration, and she’s fucking adorable.

“I watched a YouTube video,” I say proudly.

“A YouTube video. As in one!” She growls at me and scoops up my small mess, tossing it into her trash bin in anger, and washes her hands.

“I want to make my mom a mug as a thank you and special Christmas gift for all her help with Wren.” That part is at least true, but I want a Kendra mug.

“Oh, so one of my stock mugs isn’t good enough?” She motions to her shelves that are starting to look like slim pickings after Sutton came by for another restock for Brooks and Books two days ago.

“No, her favorite color is green, and you don’t have any.” I shrug innocently.

Kendra stomps to the shelf and nudges two mugs around and presents me with a stunning mug covered in hand-painted flowers on a green mug.

“Wow, look at that!” I exclaim. “It’s beautiful, sweetheart.” Kendra narrows her eyes at me.

“You just decided to watch one, one video and come out here and give it a go then? Not even ask me? Eli, this is part of my livelihood. This is my grandfather’s equipment!”