Page 105 of Truth or More Truth

He lifts an eyebrow. “It was your idea!”

“I know, and it was a smart one, but not necessarily an easy one.”

“True. Now, I have something I need to tell you.”

My stomach drops at his serious tone. Is he about to tell me there’s no way they can move to Chicago? If that’s what they decided, that’s fine. I can move here. But I really, really want us all to live in Chicago.

“O–OK,” I stutter.

He takes my face in his hands and swipes one thumb over the corner of my mouth, making me tremble. “I love you, Melissa Imogene Teague.”

I don’t know whether to cry with happiness or laugh at his guess at my middle name. So I do both as I squeeze him tightly. “I love you, too, Bobby Joe.”

“Does my declaration of love earn me the right to finally know your middle name?”

I’ve been holding out on him because it drives him crazy, but he’s right. It’s time to give in. “It’s Helen. That was my grandmother’s name. She died just before I was born.”

He gives me a sad smile. “I’m sorry you never got to know her.”

“Me, too, but let’s not dwell on that.” I do a silly little dance in his arms. “Because you love me!”

He laughs and pulls me in for another kiss. Then he slings my duffel bag over his shoulder and clasps my hand in his as we make our way through the concourse.

“Did you check a bag?”

I laugh. “Oh, you’re funny. Of course I did!”

“You’ll only be here for thirty-six hours! How could you need more than what will fit in this bag?” He jerks his head toward the decent-sized duffel hanging off his shoulder.

I shake my head at him. “It’s like you’ve never met a woman before.”

He shrugs. “Nanette never liked to travel much, and whenever I take Kelli somewhere, it’s usually for a week or two, so multiple bags are warranted.”

“You’re such a man.”

“I sure am.” He squeezes my hand. “And don’t you forget it.”

“Not likely to happen.”

“Almost there,” Bobby says nearly an hour later as my eyes are starting to droop. It’s past 11:00 California time, which means my body thinks it’s after one in the morning.

I rub my eyes. “Good. I’m ready to sit somewhere that’s not moving.”

He chuckles. “Before we get to the house, I have a question to ask you. I know we said we wouldn’t talk about moving at all until we were at the house with Kelli and Nanette, but I need your answer on something first. Please don’t get mad at me for asking, because I think I know the answer, but Kelli asked me this question that’s actually meant for you, and I’ve never asked you since I assumed, but you know what can happen when you assume, so now I’m asking.”

I blink a few times. “That was very convoluted, but I think I get what you’re saying. Go ahead and ask.”

“If you were to move here, or even if we move to Chicago and get a similar setup, would you be OK with Nanette continuing to live in the backyard and Kelli splitting her time between the two houses?”

I smack his arm with the back of my hand. “Of course I’m OK with that! What kind of person do you think I am?”

It’s obviously not ideal to have his ex living on the property,but it’s a unique situation and is what’s best for both Kelli and Nanette. It would be petty and cruel of me to object to those living arrangements, and I’m neither of those things. Now, if I determine that Nanette still has feelings for Bobby, we’ll need to revisit this conversation. But I don’t think that’s going to be necessary.

“Ouch!” He rubs his arm. “I told you not to get mad and that I already knew the answer. But I had to officially ask you so if Kelli asks again, I can give her your answer instead of either answering for you or giving a non-answer, which I did the other day.”

“Ah, the ol’ non-answer lawyer trick. You’ve tried using it on me a time or two.” I smirk in the darkness.

“Didn’t work, did it?”

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