Page 70 of Uproot

“Thank you for dinner, mother. It was.. just like it always is,” Selah says, scowling over at her.

Bianca ignores her, glaring at me and not bothering to move out of her chair.

I wrap an arm around Selah’s waist, knowing that I need to not leave things quite so messy between them. “Thank you for having us. And no offense meant of course. I’d just love to see you and Selah be able to have some healthier communication. You’re missing all of the wonderful things about her that only takes everyone else moments to realize,” I state.

Carey shakes his head, leaving the room without another word, and Bianca finally stands up. “Selah, I just want what’s best for you,” she clips, moving in front of her and folding her arms over her chest.

Selah keeps her face neutral, but I can still see the hurt inside of her eyes. “I think it would help if you understood who I am before trying to determine what is best for me, mother,” she responds.

Bianca twists her jaw, obviously not willing to apologize, or happy that Selah isn’t capitulating to her lame explanations for being so harsh.

“We will see ourselves out,” I mutter, pulling Selah behind me.

I can’t get the hell out of this house fast enough.

The negative energy is stifling here. For a home so big, it feels more claustrophobic than a closet. I need to get Selah back in a safe place surrounded by love, not whatever the hell it is her mother is handing out here.

We get to my car and take off without any delay, not even bothering to see if Bianca followed us to the front door. The drive back to the cabin is quiet as I hold Selah’s hand and give her time to process everything that just happened.

I park in front of the rental cabin, then reach over to unbuckle her seatbelt. I pull her over to me and sit her in my lap, and she wraps her arms around my neck, immediately burying her nose there. She holds onto me, squeezing me tight against her and I rub her back to soothe her.

I give her all the time she needs to be held and loved on. After a few minutes, she pulls away from me, and the strong façade she had in front of her family is gone. She’s the sweet, vulnerable, girl that feels safe enough to show me all of her hurt and insecurities again.

I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and pull her lips to mine, giving her a soft kiss.

“I don’t want you to listen to asinglefucking word of advice either one of them ever give you, Selah,” I snarl, holding her tightly. “I love youexactlyhow you are, and you’ve accomplished so much in your life. You have made life better for Edison and so many other children in Upwood and Charlestown. And you are the most beautiful woman, insideandout. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you haven’t done enough in your life, or you aren’t the right size, or shape. They’re miserable within themselves, and nothing you do will ever cure their negativity.”

Tears run down her face and she sniffs as I wipe them away. She pulls me in for another kiss, pressing her wet face against mine. I hold her and kiss her with all of the love I have for her, wishing I could transfer it into her body and take away any ounce of doubt she has in the world about what I just told her.

She pulls back after a few moments, and gives me a flustered smile that makes me want to kiss her all over again.

“You’re such a good man, Beckett. Your father would besoproud of you,” she whispers, kissing me on the nose.

A wave of emotion unexpectantly comes over me from her words. I feel a weird sensation tickling my throat, and I clear it so I can speak, “Your father would be proud of you too, angel. He’d be so, so damn proud.”

“Thank you,” she whispers.

She hugs me again and I open the car door, taking her with me inside, exactly where she belongs.

37

Beckett

“Natalie and I can’t wait to see you this weekend and meet everyone,” Bobby says through the phone as I close up my computer for the day.

It’s been a long, busy, week but we’ve finalized everything with Global Games and I’ve completed the final wireframes, and prototyping for our new app. Now our team is going to begin working with theirs to create the user interface.

Now that we have that underway, I convinced Bobby to take a break from working Friday and Saturday, and offered to transport him and his wife, Natalie, to Upwood.

It’s about time he meets his nephew, and future sister-in-law, and I have the feeling he will be as surprised as I am how charming and picturesque this town really is.

“We can’t wait to have you all here too, man,” I respond, getting up to go find Dragana.

“We should be there around 4pm tomorrow according to the schedule. I’ll check in with you when we land in Redland, brother,” Bobby responds.

“Sounds good. Talk to you then, man,” I say, hanging up and walking out onto the back deck.

I find Dragana sitting in her favorite chaise lounge with her tablet in her hand, soaking up the sunshine.

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