AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Fourteen
Olivia
The first couple of weeks at my place started out well enough. Charlie accepted his situation, and I went to work while Emmett took care of him during the day and then headed back to his place at night. It meant Emmett and I didn’t see much of each other. We’d already become like ships in the night, waving as we passed by each other.
By the end of the third week, Charlie was getting fed up with being immobile and seeing the same grey walls day in and day out. Emmett took him for a few walks in the wheelchair, and they even went down to Venice Beach, but my kid was bored.
I was barely coping, too. This was my third double shift in as many weeks, and I swore my boss was trying to punish me for taking the day of Charlie’s surgery off.
When I got home to a Charlie meltdown, I was at the end of my own tether and in no mood for his moodiness. Emmett was doing his best to calm him down, but he wasn’t listening.
“What’s going on in here, Charlie? I can hear you from the end of the street,” I asked as I shut the front door.
“I’m sick of not being able to walk. I don’t want to do any more schoolwork or read any more comic books. I want to do something fun! I want to play with Duke! I want to kick my ball around!”
“You don’t have a ball anymore. You lost it when you ran in front of poor Emmett’s car, do you remember? If you had done what you were supposed to do instead of listening to Duke, you wouldn’t be in this predicament!” I bit my tongue before I said too much that I would regret later. “I’m going to make some dinner.”
“It’s made. Spaghetti Bolognese. I hope you like it.” Emmett followed me into the kitchen and lifted the lid off a saucepan and the aroma drifted into the air.
“It smells delicious.”
Emmett picked up a bowl and scooped some of the food into it, then grated proper Italian parmesan onto the top. Gosh, he was spoiling us. I knew how expensive the real Italian stuff could be.
“Has he been like this for long?” I whispered as Emmett carried my food on the table.
We sat down together and peeked over at my grumpy son.
“Most of the day. He wouldn’t do much schoolwork. So when he wasn’t sleeping, I got him to read.”
I twisted some spaghetti around my fork. “I’m sorry, Emmett. You didn’t sign up for this.”
He chuckled. “I distinctly remember that I did.”
I wrinkled my nose. “You’re right, you did. I still can’t believe you’ve done this for us.”
Emmett shrugged. “I see someone in need, I have to help. It’s a fault in my nature.”
“It’s not a fault . . . I think it’s incredible.” I began to lean in and kiss him, then caught myself.
“Well, thinking about my nature, I have a suggestion that may tackle grouchy Charlie’s cabin fever.”
I swallowed my mouthful. “What do you suggest?”
“He needs a change of scenery. He needs to be able to get more sunshine and have more fun. I know he can’t bare weight yet, but there are ways around that. Why don’t you both come and stay at my place? It’s bigger, it’s right on the beach, he could make friends with Tank, and we would be able to see each other more.” His hand crept over to mine.
“But it’s so far from work. An hour to and from each day. I can’t afford that much in fuel.”
“Cut back your hours. Or I’m sure you could find a job in Santa Barbara.”
I laughed at the ridiculousness of Emmett’s suggestion. “Then what will happen when I come back here? There’ll still be the issue of travel.”
“Who said you have to come back . . .?”
My jaw fell slack. “Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
Emmett said nothing and waited for me to put two and two together myself.
“Emmett, isn’t it a little soon to be moving in together? I did this last time. I rushed my previous relationship. I won’t do it again.”
