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16
Ally
Iwake to the smell of bacon and coffee. Stretching my arms over my head, I roll to my back and stare up at the ceiling. I’ve missed sleeping in my own bed. Since Trent has been with me, staying with Ashlyn and Dillon isn’t as bad as I had feared, but I miss being home.
We got in at eight last night. I slept most of the trip, then when we got here, Trent insisted on carrying me inside and had to hold me up in the shower. I hate being so tired all the time, and I can’t wait for my treatments to be over.
I fell into bed and was asleep within minutes.
With the smell of bacon and coffee calling my name, I swing my feet to the floor and get out of bed. Walking into the bathroom, I cringe when I get a look at my face. My eyes look sunken and there’s dark circles surrounding them. My cheekbones are hollow, despite the few pounds I managed to put on since my doctor gave me the stomach medicine. I look horrible this morning.
After relieving my bladder, I brush my teeth and wash my face. As I slip my scarf over my head, a smile comes to my face as I remember Destiny’s declaration of wanting to cut off all her hair. As sweet as the gesture was, I adamantly told her I didn’t want her to. Her hair is too beautiful to chop off. I could tell the little girl was upset by my refusal, but I explained having her hair would give me a chance to play with it, since I didn’t have any of my own. That seemed to appease her. Ashlyn sat by silently, I’m sure conflicted on how to answer her daughter. When I looked at her once Destiny agreed to keep her hair, she had tears in her eyes. I didn’t need to tell her how special the girl she and Dillon created was.
I pat down the scarf before walking out of the bathroom. I don’t have to worry about wearing it in front of Trent, but I’m still self-conscious. Grabbing clothes from my dresser, I slip them on.
Leaving the bedroom, which is in the back of the house, I hear several different voices before I get to the end of the hallway. I have a smile on my face before I make it to the living room. The voices stop and several pairs of eyes move to me.
“Ally.” Mia is the first to approach, and she envelopes me into her arms. “Damn, girl, but I’ve missed you.”
I let out a choked laugh. “I’ve missed you too.”
“We wanted to come see you last night, but Trent threatened to maim anyone who stopped by.”
I laugh and my eyes slide to Trent, who’s leaning against a wall with a smile on his face as he watches everyone greet me. As much as I missed my family and friends, I’m glad he kept them away last night. I was exhausted and would have been crap company.
Mac comes up beside Mia, and as soon as she lets me go, he pulls me forward for a hug. “It’s good to see you, darlin’.”
Letting him go, I take a step back. Although Mac isn’t Trent’s biological father, they look remarkably alike, which stems from Trent’s real father, Shady, being Mac’s half-brother.
“It’s good to see you too, Mac.”
Bailey comes forward next. My throat tightens when I see the tears in her eyes. “Don’t ever leave like that again,” she says, quickly wiping away a tear from her cheek. “You know we’re all here for you.”
“I know,” I croak.
We reach out at the same time, our arms going around each other tightly. We stay that way for several long seconds, both soaking up the comfort the other gives.
Despite the scar that runs from the corner of one of her eyes and ends at her ear—a souvenir from her bastard ex-husband before she came to Jaded Hollow—Bailey is one of the prettiest women I’ve ever met. Jaxon, who’s hovering at her back, watching his wife with eyes filled with love, thinks so too.
He steps up next and gives me his own hug.
More people approach and more hugs are passed around. I feel like I’ve hugged every person in Jaded Hollow by the time the last person lets me go. I’m not complaining though. These people love me, and although we may not be related by blood, they are my family. I hurt them when I left without telling them my illness was back, something I regret doing. From the moment Andrew introduced me to them when I was a child, they’ve welcomed me with open arms.
Looking around the room, I notice a few people missing. “Where’s Nick, Chris, and their crew?”
Andrew slides up next to me, casually draping his arm over my shoulders. “They’re on their way. They forgot something from home and had to go back and get it.”
“Ally!” A loud yell comes from the kitchen doorway. “Get your butt over here and give your granny a hug!”
Laughing, Andrew’s arm falls away from my shoulder as I rush over to Maggie, Jaxon and Mia’s grandmother, and wrap my arms around her frail shoulders. She’s not really my grandmother, but she’s my honorary one.
“You leave like that again and I’ll whip that behind of yours,” Maggie warns. “You don’t leave family in the dark like that.”
Tears prick the back of my eyes, and I nod, unable to form words.
“Now, I’m making all of your favorites for breakfast. You go sit your butt down, and I’ll have Trent bring you a plate when it’s done.”
“Do you need help with anything?”
