AllFreeNovel
Share Us
One hand pushed on his chest as the other swiped away tears. “Oh! You go sit back down so I can finish dinner.”
She turned from him, but not before he saw a glimpse of a smile on her face. A tissue pulled from the pocket of her apron and a swipe of her face with it wiped away her sadness and brought back her resolve. The spoon once again was in her hand as she stirred the sauce.
Water boiled in another pot. She set down the spoon and placed pasta in the water with ease. It sank down in and began to cook. Drew took his spot on the counter stool again and watched her work. Nothing more was said while she finished making their meal. Both of them content to soak in the simplicity of being in the same room. Yet another thing he loved about Baylee. She could just be. Didn’t have to fill silence with chit chat or solve the world’s problems every time they were together. But rather, enjoyed the art of cooking while she hummed.
It was much the same as they sat and ate fresh baked garlic bread, pasta with heavenly marinara sauce, and tossed Caesar salad. She did update Drew on how things were going for Casey in school. He was doing well, but the cost was substantial. Again, he tampered down the desire to ask how much Casey’s father’s contributed, but didn’t want to pry. If he and Baylee stayed together, however, he had every intention of taking that worry off her plate. Casey would go to the best schools possible for the rest of his life if Drew had anything to say about it.
Jenny called and asked if Casey could come home. He was wanting to be in his own house and getting a bit fussy about it. Drew wanted nothing more than the three of them to be together, so after cleaning up dinner, they sat on the sofa and watched baseball together, Casey rattling off the batting averages of every player.
It was then that Drew decided he would leave. The next day. It sounded calloused, but it wasn’t. The evening was perfect. It couldn’t be replicated if they tried. He had to. He was going anyway. If he stayed a few more days, they would only be spent somber and focused on what would be instead what was, right then in that moment. And that was him, Casey, and Baylee. Together.
Drew hugged Casey goodnight and said goodbye. He waited on the front porch while Baylee tucked Casey in for the night. When he heard the front door creak open, he turned to see Baylee step outside, her eyes already brimmed with tears.
“You’re going, aren’t you?”
A nod was all he could manage.
She did the same in return. “Your goodbye with him was different tonight.”
“I will come back, Baylee. This isn’t goodbye for good.”
“I know. But maybe the break will be good. We can actually see how we do with the distance and all…” Her voice trailed off and she looked out into the yard, arms wrapped around herself to hold together.
They could try and convince themselves all they wanted that being apart would be good, but they were kidding themselves. Sure, it might show them what it would be like, but it wouldn’t be good. Any time away from her wasn’t good. Would never be.
She stepped into his arms, her body fitting against him like it was made for him. Her hands rubbed his back as she buried her head in his chest and cried. His fingers toyed with her hair, the curls wrapping around like strands of silk against his skin.
When she pulled back, she looked up at him. “Okay. I’m done. No more tears.”
He nodded in agreement and kissed her forehead. “I love you, Bay.”
“I love you too.”
His mouth claimed hers, all the emotion and tenderness he felt for her poured into their kiss.
How he had the strength to step away, get in the car, and drive away, he’d never know. But the view of her in his rearview mirror burned into his memory and tore his heart from his chest.
*
Drew looked outthe window of the 747. The New York skyline looked majestic from thousands of feet in the air. He’d always loved flying into the city, especially at night. But not this time. A heaviness set in as soon as he drove away from Baylee’s house and weighed him down.
Leaving a few days earlier than he’d planned gave him time to stop by his place in New York before heading to Florida for spring training. As the plane set its wheels down, Drew took a deep breath in and let it out. He was back. Back to his life, his world. All that he’d known before Silver Bay. Before Baylee. Was there even such a thing? She filled every corner of his thoughts. Every fiber of his being.
He found his bags in baggage claim without a fuss and met with the driver Monica had set up for him. The town car dropped him at his apartment with enough time to shower, change his clothes, then meet Monica.
They chose the coffee shop in the lobby of his building. A few known actors and professional athletes lived there so the place was discreet. It was one reason Drew chose the place. Not only was his apartment suitable for him, meaning small, simple, and low maintenance, but the security was tight and he could breathe there. No worries of photos or anything leaked to the press.
“Hey, you.” Monica sat down in the chair across from him. “How you holding up?”
“I’m fine.”
“I’d hug you but, good heavens, I feel just awful about that picture. I don’t want to give the piranhas anymore ammo. My friend, Anna, feels bad too.”
“Wasn’t her fault. Or yours.”
“Still, I’m sorry.” She pointed to his empty cup and said, “Hey, let me get you another cup of coffee. My treat.”
She stood and headed to the counter before he even had time to answer. Being his assistant, of course she knew what coffee he liked without having to ask.
