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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Melody
I hadn’t been prepared for the emotions that overpowered my heart as I listened to Asher sing my favorite song. I knew he knew it was my favorite, and the way he stared at me had goosebumps flowing up and down my arms. I didn’t want to be mad at him, but I couldn’t just turn off my feelings like that. His accusations about Alex had really hurt. He might be gorgeous, sitting there singing and playing his guitar, but he needed to take responsibility for things. However, I wasn’t about to beg for his help. I’d come to terms with my situation while I’d slept and I knew I’d be able to deal with it all on my own if I had to.
The next week flew by, and Asher was getting to know his brothers as they had come to terms with him. It was great the way Jackson and Brodie had accepted Asher as their brother. I was glad for him, though I missed my own brother so much, particularly now that I knew I was going to have a baby. Teddy would have made a great uncle. I smiled thinking about that and then the tears came. Would Ted be upset about this? I didn’t think so. He’d hinted so many times that Ash and I should be together. But I’m sure he hadn’t imagined it turning out this way.
Ash played in the band with the Beaumont brothers in the bar, and after Jackson had introduced Asher as their little brother, the entire town embraced Ash as one of them with no questions asked.
Asher finally had everything he’d ever wanted. His brothers’ acceptance and what looked like the beginnings of a loving relationship with them.
Brodie and Jackson really were great, and I was happy for Asher.
Though, my own life was a mess. Ash and I hadn’t come to terms with the situation we were in, and we were barely speaking. This pregnancy was like adding oil to a fire. My mind was already so messed up from Ted’s death, adding an unwanted baby into it only made things worse. Correction, unwanted by one of us. I was scared as hell, but the more I got used to the idea, I wanted a child—Ash’s child—more than anything. I had dreams about whether it was a boy or a girl. I didn’t care either way, but I pictured a little Asher every time I thought about a baby boy.
Nothing in my life was turning out the way I’d imagined it would. I’d spent so many days growing up daydreaming about Ash, wishing we could have the relationship we’d promised each other when we were kids. I certainly hadn’t planned on having his baby without him being a part of it. The way he’d acted hurt so badly, and I hated him for it. I just couldn’t forgive him. Whenever he tried to talk to me, I either walked away or put my headphones in my ears. After about three days of that, he stopped trying. It made staying in the cottage difficult, and Brodie told Asher he was welcome to stay in the guest room they had in the main house. Ash took him up on it almost immediately. That only made me hate him more. He didn’t even want to try anymore it appeared. So it was as if I was living in that one-room cottage over the garage of strangers by myself.
God, I couldn’t wait until I could go home and be in my own apartment and not have to deal with Asher. I’d considered taking a bus home, but I didn’t have the money, and there was no way I was asking Asher for it. I stayed up in the cottage most of the time. I only left it when Lena or Gabby came up and asked me to go for a walk or have some tea with them. They’d become my salvation. Always making sure I was okay and including me whenever they went somewhere or just inviting me down to visit with them. A lot of times, we went to Lena’s house just so we wouldn’t run into Asher. They knew I was avoiding him, though they’d told me several times that even though they understood why I wasn’t talking to Asher, they thought I should at least hear him out. But I wasn’t ready to yet.
I was ready to go home though. Don’t get me wrong. I loved hanging with Lena and Gabby. In the short amount of time that I’d known them, they’d become as close as sisters. But…I woke up missing my mom. She was going to be so pissed at us. Yes, I included Asher in that too because I knew how much she considered Ash a part of our family. And she’d been Nora’s best friend so Ash was like another son to her.
Even though I was mad as hell at Asher, I still wanted him to have the time to get to know Brodie and Jackson. It would have been unacceptable for me to just tell Asher I wanted to go home without giving him a chance to spend time with the two men he’d always wanted to accept him for who he was. And they had, with open arms.
I got out of bed and jumped in the shower. I wanted to go find Asher and see if he was ready to leave. If he wasn’t, then I was ready to ask for the money to take the bus home. I’d had enough with being angry at him. I just wanted to be in my own apartment and get the dreaded conversation with my mom out of the way.
After my shower, I shrugged into my yoga pants and t-shirt, my go-to outfit on this trip. I was all about comfort these days. I headed down the stairs and sat on the swing, waiting for some sounds of life from inside. I didn’t want to wake anyone too early. I glanced at my phone, it was ten o’clock. I decided it was plenty late enough to knock, and if Asher was the only one in there sleeping, then he deserved to be woken up.
I knocked, but no one answered. I tried the doorknob. It turned, and the door slowly opened. I peeked inside but didn’t see or hear anyone. I stepped in and looked around. I heard a faint sound from the kitchen so I headed that way.
“Hey, Mel. Good morning,” a smiling Gabby said.
“Good morning. Um…sorry, I knocked but no one answered and the door was unlocked.”
“No worries. Me casa, you casa. Or whatever that saying is.” She laughed. “You look pretty this morning.”
“I do?”
“Yeah. Your cheeks are full of rosy color and your eyes are bright. Looks like pregnancy is doing its thing.”
“What thing?”
“You know, pregnant women always look so beautiful, glowing with radiance. Of course, that might have something to do with you standing right in the sun’s rays, which are making your blonde locks very vibrant. But, nonetheless, you are stunning this morning.” She laughed. “Tea? I have some herbal decaf that has a hint of peach. It’s very smooth and really good.”
“Thanks. That sounds delicious.”
She pulled a mug down from the cupboard and stuck a tea bag in it. Then poured hot water from a kettle that had been on the stove into the cup. “Honey?” she said, holding up a little plastic bear container half-full of honey.
“Yes, please. Thanks.”
“Here you go.” She handed me the cup steaming with something that smelled heavenly. “Have a seat,” she said and sat in one of the chairs.
“Thanks.” I sat in the other chair across from her and sipped the tea. “Hmmm. That’s delicious.”
“It’s my favorite.”
“Have you seen Asher this morning?”
“Yes. He left with Brodie and Jackson.”
