Page 66 of Willow Vale

Hearing Irene’s words today, how she treated her daughter so cruelly, I understood why Delilah thought she was unworthy of being loved. It broke my heart for her that she never received true unconditional love growing up, and she tried her best to give her brother that type of love now. I wished she could see what I saw in her. How amazing she truly was.

Delilah thought she was no good. Like a gloomy cloud in the sky. A storm bound to wreck everything in its path. But to me? To me, she was the sun.

I took her hand in mine and interlaced our fingers, smiling when I felt her give it a single squeeze.

Once I parked in front of the apartment building, I got out of the truck and carefully unbuckled River. I carried him as I followed Delilah up the stairs to the third floor.

She didn’t speak until we reached the door. “I can take him from here. You should probably go home and get some rest.”

I knew what she was doing, and I wasn’t about to let her push me away again. I said I’d prove to her that I’d be here, and I was going to make good on that promise.

“It’s okay, I don’t want to wake him. Just open the door,” I whispered.

She stared at me, knowing she wasn’t getting rid of me that easily. With a sigh, she unlocked the door and held it open for me. I laid River down in his bed, letting her change him into his pajamas and get ready for bed while I waited in the living room. I was sitting on the couch when I heard River say my name then her soothing voice speaking to him. Myfirst instinct was to go in and see him, but their voices were muffled and eventually it got really quiet.

When she eased out of the room and closed the door behind her, she spotted me on the couch. “He was asking for you.”

I perked up at that, “Really? What’d he say?”

“He asked if he was going to see you again at the rodeo tomorrow.” She chuckled as she put his boots by the door, and I smiled.

“Tomorrow, Wren and Finn are roping again and next weekend too before the rodeo ends. They’d never let me live it down if I didn’t go watch them show off in front of the whole town.”

“That sounds like something they’d do. Wren did sort of guilt me into going next week too, so I guess we’re in the same boat.”

“I guess we are.”

Silence stretched on between us and she sighed. “Since you’re here, do you want something to drink?”

Before I could answer, she walked past me to the kitchen. I watched her reach for a glass from the cabinet and pour herself a cup of water. She chugged about half of it by the time I stood up to follow her.

I slowly walked toward her and when she didn’t turn to face me, I placed my hands on either side of her, bracing them on the counter. She tensed but leaned against me after a beat.

“Talk to me, darlin’. What’s on that beautiful mind of yours?”

With a deep weary sigh, she turned to face me. She ran her hand up and down my chest. “I’m just tired.” I remained quiet, knowing she needed to sort through her thoughts before fully opening up to me. “Seeing my mother again after solong, and to not even recognize her at first…well, it jarred me. I thought I could be unaffected by her if I simply put my mind to it. I’m afraid it’s just not that simple. Then I couldn’t stop thinking about that night all those years ago. Being in that hospital, wondering if she’d wake up. I poured so much of myself into helping her for so long that I’m not sure I learned how to live for myself. I even contemplated never going to college so that I could take care of her before I graduated high school.

“I went on to raise River, and I’d gladly do it again if I had to, I’d drop out of college again and again if it meant being with him. God, I even arranged my grandfather’s funeral alone. I worked myself to the bone to ensure I could provide for my brother. And there she was today…acting as if she didn’t abandon us. Guilting me for not looking out forher. But the truth is, she should have beenhereall along, and I’m angry. I’m so angry because, despite all that, I still love her. I still hope that she’ll decide to get help someday. I want to help her but I’m just not sure if I can do it anymore.”

I wiped away her tears only for more to keep rolling down her cheeks.

“She’s your mother. As much as I detest everything she’s done to you, I can see why you can’t let her go. I don’t think I would be able to let either of my parents go if they were in the same situation. It’s not foolish to wish she could be different. It’s your hope and empathy that makes you so damn good, Delilah.”

Her brown eyes swam in a sea of unshed tears, and I reached out to wipe away another one before it could roll down her cheek. I knew this was a big step for her—by confiding in me, letting me take on the burdens that had been weighing her down.

I pulled her to me until I was wrapping her up in my arms. I felt her tears against my shirt, but I didn’t let her go.

She hesitated before asking, “Do you want to stay the night?”

I leaned down, tilted my head, and kissed her long and hard until I felt her melt into me.

When I pulled away, I said, “Yeah, I do.”

We fell asleep on her bed, holding each other. Whispering soft words and kissing until eventually we fell dozed off. When she fell asleep on my chest, I stared up at the ceiling as I ran my fingers through her hair. Thinking about the past, the present, and what I hoped was a future with her. Because I was in love with Delilah North. I always had been and I always would be.

I just had to wait for her to realize she loved me too.

CHAPTER 25

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