Page 17 of Always Been Yours

Vivi turns and walks back inside before I had a chance to properly greet her.

Asher notices, elbowing me and shaking his head. “That could not have gone worse,” he says loud enough for only me to hear.

Chapter Six

Grady

Sun, Aug 7 at 5:55 PM

Arielle

Hi how are the girls?

Hey. They are good. Both are very excited for school to start.

When is that again?

In two days.

Right. I wanted to order them a surprise to come home to

They wouldlove that.

:)

And how are you?

I’m good. Thanks. You?

I’m good…

I don’t have a show tonight. Can I FT you and the girls?

We’re having dinner with my parents. Won’t be home until after 1am your time.

I’m in Dallas. Call whenever I’ll be up

Ok.

In the twenty minutes it took for all of the food to be ready and the patio table to be set, Lexi asked me about every aspect of my life in the last decade except my marriage. I meaneverything.She asked if I started on a teaching track—started as an Econ major. How I tore my ACL—running the bases—even though I am almost positive she’s seen the video. If that was why I didn’t go into the MLB—mostly, no elaboration. How we came up with the names Stella and Daisy—we both had great-grandmothers named Stella and we found a field of daisies on our first date.

There were at least ten more.

Vivi was inside helping our moms the entire time, but I could hear my daughters talking animatedly to her through the opendoor. Daisy was telling her about their animal hospital, and that tomorrow it will probably be a circus. Stella gave her a very detailed explanation of all the stuffies’ diagnoses. She played along the entire time, asking questions and acting shocked at the medical miracles happening.

Even now, sitting across from Vivi at the table, my heart feels like it has grown three sizes. I would never want someone to replace Arielle, because she’s a greatmom and I don’t begrudge her for wanting to follow her lifelong dreams. But I know that’s what my girls miss the most. The love and understanding that a mother brings.

I don’t expect Genevieve to give that to them, but it reminds me how important it’ll be for my future partner to have a good relationship with Stella and Daisy, to be someone that they trust.

“How was yesterday,mijo?”

My mom’s question pulls me out of my thoughts. I start cutting Daisy’s steak for her and nod at my dad in gratitude for helping Stella. “Hm?”

“Didn’t you take the girls furniture shopping? I swear, Grady, if you didn’t go then I’ll be picking everything out for you tomorrow. That house is completely bare, and he’s been in it for a month now,” she tells the table.

I’m a grown man but that doesn’t stop the color from staining my cheeks at being chastised by my mother.

“No, mom, we went. I promise. You can come see all of the boxes getting delivered tomorrow if you don’t believe me.”

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