AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know, but that’s not me and I really just want to put it behind me. Maybe things will change, but for now…I’m at peace.”
He looked like he wanted to object, but Cody’s voice came from the bathroom. “Uncle Matt?”
“Matt, go take care of what needs taken care of with Cody. I’m really okay with this decision I’ve made, but thanks for your concern,” I said and pulled the blanket in my lap up over my shoulders.
He looked like he wanted to say more, but I encouraged him with an assuring smile. “Alright, I’ll drop it, but anytime you’re ready to take back what belongs to you, I’m here for you baby,” Matt said and winked at me. Then, he got up from the couch and headed back to where Cody was.
“Achooo,” I sneezed, then I stared at the fire as thoughts of suing Melinda and Colorful Times flooded my mind. There was really no point in it, when my life was better now. That I was confident about. I didn’t need them, and I didn’t need their money. I would be just fine. “Achooo!” Well, I’d be fine if I could just get and stay warm.
Chapter Eleven
Matt
It came on so suddenly. One minute we’re discussing how she could sue her former employer, then I left to take care of Cody, and when I came back…she wasn’t feeling well. She's the prettiest thing God ever put on this earth. I couldn’t fight the desire to pull her into my arms and tell her everything would be okay, as she sneezed continuously. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tight. I could feel her trembling. I pressed my lips to her head and breathed in her fresh vanilla scent. She pulled away all too soon and I was left feeling empty.
“Matt, I’m coming down with something and I don’t want to get you sick.” She argued.
What she didn’t realize was I didn’t care about that. I just wanted to do whatever I could to make her comfortable.
“I’ll be fine,” I whispered. “Just rest against my shoulder.”
We lie there getting lost in staring at the fireplace as her soft breathing echoed in the room. I just wanted to be close to her, in sickness and health, as wedding vows would say. Yes, wedding vows were passing through my mind uninvited, and it had everything to do with Tasha being the dynamic woman that she was. I didn’t have to think of wanting to be with her; it was simply a yearning deep inside of me.
“Uncle Matt, I’m ready for bed!” I looked up to find Cody standing under the arch. “Is she alright?” he asked, and fear echoed in his voice. Cody loved her, almost as much as I did. Yes, I love Tasha Baker.
I nodded. “She’s just coming down with something, probably from the chill in the air. She’ll be fine buddy.” I slowly pulled my arm out from under her. She moaned and her eyes fluttered open. “Tasha baby, get dressed for bed, and I’ll make you some soup.” I was sure we had something in the kitchen that would do.
“Thank you!” Her feeble voice was enough to break my heart. I helped her to her feet and guided her into our cabin bedroom, then went into Cody’s room.
“You don’t have to tuck me in, Uncle Matt. I’m ten years old.”
“I know buddy, but I like the time we spend together at the end of the day. How about you?”
Cody pulled the covers back and got underneath them. “I like it too, but Tasha could really use you to help her get well. I don’t like that she’s sick,” he said.
“You’re a smart young man,” I stated, thinking that I must’ve been doing something right. “Whatever would I do without you?”
Cody smiled. “I feel the same about you, Uncle Matt. I say that to myself all the time.” It was a sweet moment between the two of us and one I hated to depart from.
“Goodnight buddy.” I leaned down and kissed his forehead. I never thought I would be such a pushover when it came to my nephew moving in with me. I was pretty much a sucker every time he smiled at me, and especially when he looked sad. I would give anything to have my sister back in my life, but I was super blessed to have Cody there with me. I instantly became a better man, just knowing that I had to show him how to conduct himself. “See you in the morning,” I said as I walked to the door.
“Goodnight!” Cody rolled onto his side and closed his eyes.
I watched him for a minute, then left his room and went to the kitchen nook. I dug through some cabinets, until I found a can of chicken noodle soup. As I thought about Tasha and life without her, I felt a loneliness creep in. In the short time we’d known one another, I knew for sure that I’d never felt such a pull toward one woman before. I knew with everything inside me that the love for her was real and the thought of her hurting in anyway was something I couldn’t deal with.
I finished cooking the soup and dished it out into a bowl, then grabbed a bottle of water and headed off to our room. When I got inside, she was already dressed for bed in a silk gown and under the covers. Her eyes were closed until I reached the bed, then she opened her eyes and stared up at me. She looked weak, but just as beautiful. “Hey, soup’s here,” I stated.
She pulled herself up in bed and leaned back against the wall. I sat on the edge of the bed and dipped the spoon out to feed her. She laughed as she took a bite from my offered spoon. “I’m not that helpless. I can feed myself.” She grinned, staring at me.
I shrugged. “I like doing things for you.” I gave her another spoonful of the soup and she took it like a good patient.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“I feel like it’s the least I can do, after all I forced you out into the cold.”
She smirked. “Well, honestly…it was worth it. Had it not been for your insistence, I would have never gotten on the slopes,” she said, then came another sneeze that looked like it took the wind out of her. She pulled the cover over her legs and I continued to feed her soup. Then, she grabbed the water and opened it up to take a drink.
I put the bowl down. “I’m going to get dressed for bed, so I can cuddle up with you and keep you warm.”
