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8
Trent
I’m standing off to the side, my gaze taking in the number of people milling about in the back yard. Ally warned me Ashlyn’s family is big, but Jesus, this is crazy. I can’t imagine having this many people related to me. And they all live in the same town. How in the hell do they all get along and not want to bite each other’s heads off? I love my family, don’t get me wrong, but to always be surrounded by them would drive me crazy.
Ally’s only met Ashlyn’s parents so far, so when we got here, we were both bombarded with introductions. No fucking way I retained even a fraction of all of their names.
They were all nice too. The women more so than the men. I could see it in the men’s faces that they were watchful of the newcomers. Can’t say I blame them. I’d be leery too. Especially since we’re staying with Ashlyn and Dillon. The way these people are, I can see them being very protective over each other.
My eyes scan the back yard until I find Ally. She’s standing by one of the tables with Ashlyn and a couple of other women. I think their names are Mia and July. The only reason I remember them is because one is named after a month and Mia is my stepmother’s name.
Ally’s bouncing a baby on her hip, smiling down at the cute little girl. A twinge of pain pierces my sternum when I see the look on her face. We haven’t talked much about having kids, but I know it’s one of Ally’s dreams. Due to the radiation and chemo she’s had in the past, her doctors say her chances of getting pregnant are about one in a million. We could go the in vitro route, but even then, the chance of it working and her having a successful pregnancy aren’t much better. The damage to her body is too extensive. Adoption was brought up a time or two, but we’ve never went into detail when it was discussed.
I’d give anything to be able to give Ally a child made of our flesh and blood, but unfortunately, it’s not in the cards for us.
My eyes linger over her slight frame and note the difference in her weight since she left Jaded Hollow. She’s lost too much, and it scares the shit out of me. Memories of what she went through when she was nine and her leukemia came back, slam into my head. I’ve always known Ally was a fighter, and she never let her illness kill her spirit or her will to live, but watching the toll it took on her body, not knowing if she would survive, was devastating. Her doctors may claim this time around isn’t as dire as the previous ones, but it doesn’t lessen my fear of losing her. I plan to have a private conversation with this new doctor and have him tell me her prognosis himself.
For over two weeks, I knew something was off with Ally. I had my suspicions that it could be the leukemia coming back, but I refused to acknowledge them, not believing Ally wouldn’t tell me and our families.
Late last night, after I spoke with Andrew about my coming down to Murfreesboro, I wanted to leave right then, but knew I needed to get at least a few hours of sleep before driving eight hours. The sun wasn’t even up before I was in my truck, heading south, only stopping for gas once.
When I knocked on the door and saw a man open it, my mind went to the worst possible scenario. Thinking back to my initial thoughts of Ally having an affair, when the door was first opened, it didn’t dawn on me that the man was Ashlyn’s husband. I want to slam my own face against one of the nearest trees. Actually, I should do that twice because of my questioning her on the day she left. Ally wouldn’t cheat on me. I know that down to my soul. The connection we share, the love between us is too strong and special. I hate myself for even thinking it. My only excuse, which is lame at best, was my worry over her behavior lately.
Even so, why in the hell would she lie? And I knew deep down she was lying.
I knew the minute she stepped in front of Dillon and my eyes landed on her, she was sick. And I knew what the sickness was. Her leukemia coming back has always been a dark cloud hanging over us. With it coming back a second time when she was nine, we knew the chances of it reappearing a third time was higher.
I just didn’t understand why she didn’t tell me. Yet, when she did tell me why, her words nearly brought me to my knees. How she could ever think I would be okay with not knowing is beyond me. As far as me being overprotective, I’m only that way because I love her so much and want to prevent anything bad happening to her. Thinking about Ally going through this alone hurts more than knowing the actual leukemia came back.
“Overwhelmed?” a voice asks at my side, yanking me back to the present.
I glance over at Dillon, who’s standing beside me with his hands stuffed into his pockets, his own eyes looking around the yard.
“I’ve got a lot of family and friends back home, but this is kind of insane.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, it takes a little time getting used to, but these are good people.”
I take a look around again. As big as the family is, I have to agree with him. Family is everything, and you can never have too much of it.
“Everything okay with you and Ally?”
Tipping my beer to my lips, I chug the rest of it before tossing it into the nearest trash can.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Just frustrated she didn’t tell me what was going on.” I look at him out the corner of my eye.
“I thought you knew about her illness. Had I known differently, I would have tried talking her into telling you. I can’t imagine not knowing if Ashlyn were going through something like that.”
“Thanks,” I mutter. Dillon seems like a pretty decent guy. I’m glad he’s been in Ally’s corner since she’s been here.
One of the many kids run by and launches a water balloon at Dillon. It bounces off his leg without breaking. Chuckling, I watch as he scoops it up and runs after the little boy.
Grabbing a fresh water bottle from one of the metal buckets filled with ice, I take it with me as I make my way over to Ally.
I hold my arms out for the baby. “Trade you.”
With a smile, Ally hands over the drooling baby, then takes the bottle from me. I rest the baby’s bottom on my forearm, and she just stares at me with curious blue eyes, one of her thumbs tucked into her mouth. After a moment, a big grin stretches around her thumb, making her look even cuter.
“She likes both of you,” Mia says, smiling at, who I’m guessing, is her daughter.
