Page 40 of Until Delilah

One night while we were sitting out on the deck when I had Delilah curled up next to me with a blanket covering us to keep out the chill, she suggested putting up twinkling lights in the trees closest to the house and along the deck. I was happy she was starting to see this place as somewhere permanent she’d like to decorate, so I gave her the go ahead.

She’d spent long hours skillfully arranging the lights to not be intrusive, but an accent to the night when we were outside.

“Yeah, okay,” she says. Deflated, and starts to move off my lap.

I clamp my hands around her waist and keep her right where I want her. “Hey, it won’t be forever, but for right now we have to do everything we can to keep all of you safe. Let me think about what options we have, but for now, staying home is the best option I can give you.”

“You’re right. Please don’t think I’m not grateful for all that you’ve done because I know you do more than you tell me. It would kill me if something happened to you or anyone in your family for having any involvement with me.”

She slumps against me and I know this can’t be easy for her. She left one horrible situation to now feel imprisoned here. “I’m tired. I think I’m going to go tell Beck goodbye and then take a nap until you get back.”

She moves to crawl off my lap again, but I hold her in place and bring her mouth to mine to get a taste of her. Only then do I let her go. “If you’re still asleep when I get home, I’ll come wake you.”

Trudging up the stairs, she looks back when she reaches the landing with a sad smile on her face. Maybe I should take them to some exotic country until this passes over? I don’t know the right answer, but I hate to see her like this.

Since it’s not time for Beck to go over to his grandparents’ house yet, I pull out my phone as I make my way into my office. I don’t go in here often because I don’t have much use for it, but I don’t want my conversation overheard by Beck if he comes down.

My dad answers on the second ring sounding distracted. “Hello?”

“Hey, Dad. It’s me. Are you busy?” I sit down in my leather chair and turn it until I’m facing the window so I can see out back.

“You know I always have time for you. What’s wrong, Son?”

“How did you know something’s wrong?” I ask curiously.

“Because I know you better than you know yourself. I can hear it in your voice.” I hear the back door slide open and then shut. “Give it to me.”

For the next few minutes, I tell him everything I’ve learned since I last spoke to him about the situation with Delilah and Beck. “What do I do?”

He lets out a sigh. “Is there something in the water here that brings trouble to any couple the second they fall for each other?”

“There might be,” I say, cracking a smile. “Murfreesboro sure has itself quite a bit of trouble when involving the Mayson clan.”

“If you want to stay by her side—”

“Of course, I do,” I say, cutting him off.

“Alright then, your options are to keep them in the house or go somewhere else. Both I know you don’t want to do.”

He’s correct about that.

“They need to be caught and put in prison for the rest of their lives, so Delilah can live free and clear of their wrath,” I growl down the line.

“That they do, Son, but you’re not going to be the one doing it. You’ve got a woman now, a little boy, and a kid on the way.” He chuckles. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think you’d be the reversal of me.”

What the hell is he talking about?

“How’s that?” I ask and turn in my chair when I hear some noise in the kitchen. Unfortunately, from my vantage point, I can’t see in there.

“When I met December, I was single with two boys, and here you are finding your woman and you’re inheriting two kids.”

“Yours and mom’s relationship definitely helped pave the way for me. It’s taken Delilah some time to come to terms with the fact that I don’t care that Beck and the baby aren’t mine. One day they will be though.”

“That’s what I like to hear. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help to you.”

“It’s a good thing you can’t. If you could, it would probably mean you’d have a lot of trouble on your end. You’ve had enough to last a lifetime with my mom. I was thinking of getting a dog who could help guard the house, but I’m not sure if Beck is ready for that after the attack.”

“It’s not a bad idea. Why don’t you ask him, and if he doesn’t seem opposed, let him pick out the dog,” he answers wisely.

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