Page 29 of Finally, Our Forever

“Love you, Momma,” he says distractedly as he trails after Reece, who’s making his way towards the living room.

After a few moments, my mom turns to me with big, happy eyes. “He’s gonna be a great daddy to Bennett, Maci Kate.”

God, that sentence is loaded with so much.

I let out a slow breath that I’d been holding, still a little worried about my parents’ reaction to us.

“He really is.”

She pulls me into her arms and holds me tight.

“It’s all going to work out the way it’s supposed to, Maci. You must believe that. I know it’s been a long time coming for you two, but can’t you can see how much he loves the both of you already? It’s in his words and his actions. Don’t turn away from this out of fear. I know you won’t be disappointed this time.”

“I know, Momma. I’ve missed him for so long. He used to be everything to me. Then he went away and I wouldn’t let myself think of him. It hurt too bad, thinking about him, worrying if he’d come home, worrying about who he was spending his time with. I had to shut the idea of him out. Now it’s like, he’s here, suddenly wanting to be a big, huge, part of my and Bennett’s life. I’m giving in. I’m letting him consume me. I want him to take over our lives and bury himself deep into every crevice he can find.”

“You take care of that man. He has his own set of demons he deals with. You give him all of you and hold onto him tight, and he will be everything you need.”

I think back to last night and how he became restless in his sleep, mumbling incoherently. I’ve been so caught up in Bennett and me that I haven’t delved deeper into the shadows behind Reece’s eyes. Momma’s right. He has demons, and I’m sure they are from what he saw over there during the war. He’s got me now, and I’ll help him shoulder whatever he needs me to.

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