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We ride in silence, crossing the border and arriving home just before nine. Tug’s Porsche is in the driveway, along with Harrison’s car. My mom and I go inside while my dad and Brady get the luggage.
When we
open the door, Harrison, Liv, and Tug are watching TV in the front room. They hop up and hug my mother. She hugs them back. Tug takes her sweater when she removes it and drapes it over the couch. Brady and my father come through the door with my parents’ luggage. After shaking hands with my father, Tug and Harrison take my parents’ things up to the guest bedroom.
“I have some snacks out in the kitchen,” Liv offers.
“Oh, thank you, dear, I’m starving,” my mother responds. Liv grabs her hand, steering her to the kitchen. The rest of us follow.
Before we reach the kitchen, my dad stops, clasping a hand on both my and Brady’s arms. “How are you two really doing?”
I smile, wrapping him a hug. “We’re good, Daddy.”
Liv’s outdone herself with food. The table is covered in fruits, veggies, crackers, and cheese. We could feed an army. We sit around the table, snacking and talking as though it was any other time my parents have come for a visit. No one wants to poke the elephant. It’s perfect.
“The house looks lovely,” my mother chimes in, glancing around. The last time they were here, we hadn’t done much to the place yet.
“Thanks. Liv has a bit of a shopping problem.”
Harrison snorts. “Yeah, you should have seen how much crap she bought for the…”
He stops himself, and Liv gasps, “Harrison.”
“No, it’s fine.” I have to be able to talk about these things. Everyone has been on eggshells, and I hate it. “She went a little overboard on the nursery.”
“Oh.” The small frown casting over my mother’s trembling lips shatters me.
I pull myself together and straighten my spine before I cry. There will be enough tears shed tomorrow. “I loved it.”
“I’m sure it’s beautiful.” My mom smiles.
It was until I took the scissors to it. “So, Dad, how’s the job?” I glance at the faces around the table, noticing the relief in everyone’s expressions for the shift in conversation. My dad grumbles something none of us can hear.
“His boss is in an incompetent asshole.”
A rumble of laugher fills the room. My mother is not one to curse. “Mom.”
“She’s right.” My dad chuckles, leans over, and kisses my mom on the cheek. “Your mom gets the brunt of it.”
We spend the rest of the night discussing Brady’s music, the Center, and Tug’s work at Gibson Capital. I situate my parents in the room next to ours rather than the spare room downstairs. I like having them close. Before I leave, Mom reminds me to wake them up early.
When I enter our room, Brady’s on the bed. He’s lost in thought when his phone vibrates on the nightstand. He smiles at me as he picks up his phone. I notice his brow wrinkle as he looks at the screen. He returns the phone to the nightstand and taps the bed next to him. I sit down and lean into his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
“Who was it?”
I feel him shrug beneath me. “No one important.”
I could argue, but I’m exhausted, and I need my sleep if I’m going to hold up tomorrow. “I love you.”
His fingers skim my arm. “I love you, too.”
Before long I’m fast asleep.
Morning makes its arrival all too quickly. I open my eyes to find I’m tucked neatly into Brady’s side, still wearing my clothes from last night. I turn to see Brady awake and watching me. We smile sincerely at each other.
I fight against the ache in my stomach that threatens to bring tears. His expression tells me he feels it, too. Today is the day we say goodbye to our little girl.
“I love you.” He kisses my head. “I’ll be by your side all day.”
