Page 114 of All I Need

For our relationship.

For Grayson.

For what this will do to Willow when she finds out.

She’ll be heartbroken to know that Mick was the cause of so much pain to Ellie.

Willow also knows how happy I am and right or wrong, this puts a wrench in all my plans.

Premature or not, I had visions of Ellie swollen with my baby growing in her stomach. Of sleepless nights because of a baby needing our attention rather than our sexual desires calling out to each other in the night. Of watching our children grow together. I dreamed of evenings sitting on the porch as we watched our kids play in the yard.

I know what she needs to think over but it doesn’t make me feel any better.

“I can’t be the one who stops you from having your dream.”

“You’re my dream, Ellie. Nothing else.”

I hear Miss Polly crying and it reminds me that we have an audience. And part of that audience is one of the reasons we’re in this shit in the first place.

“Walker, let me take care of Ellie tonight,” Polly says, coming to sit next to her. She collapses into Polly’s side and it’s like a stab to the heart to see her seeking comfort from someone other than me.

“No.”

“No?”

“No. I won’t walk away.” She rolls her head to the side, looking at me from her place on Polly’s shoulder. “I won’t let you run. I love you, Ellie. Do I want a family with you? Of course I do. I want everything with you. But remember I also said I didn’t know what that looked like. Do you realize how many kids out there need us?”

I hold out a hand and she follows my lead. Gripping her hand tightly, I don’t let go as I walk to the backyard. Standing in the middle of the yard, I cradle her face.

“There’s nothing on this earth I want more than a life with you. I don’t give a shit what happens in that life, as long as you’re by my side.”

A sob erupts from her throat and I pull her in to me, hugging her tightly. “I love you,” she whispers.

“I love you, too. Stay with me. You’re all I need, Ellie. You hear me? The rest of it is just an added bonus. I have everything I could possibly ever want if you’re with me.”

“I don’t want to disappoint you.”

“The only way you could do that is if you walk away.”

“You’re all I need, too, Walker, but I know you want children.”

“So we adopt. Or we foster to adopt. Or we just have a ton of baby cows and goats and puppies and turtles.”

“I do want baby goats,” she says, a sprinkle of happiness washing over her face.

“Then we’re in agreement. Come home with me tonight. Let Mick go to Willow and explain the shit he just stirred up. It’s not our problem, you hear me? That’s on him.” Tears continue to stream down her face and I brush them away with my thumb. “Stay with me,” I beg.

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