Page 64 of A Magnolia Move-In
Maybe getting away from my grumpy brother was the key to fixing what had broken in our relationship. After all, how could I remember what I had with Walker if I wasn’t in a place where I could be happy with him? I could feel Jackson’s frustration with him every time he walked into the room. It was getting exhausting to keep the two of them content.
“I’m ready,” I said as I pushed the negative voices from my mind. It was just fear. Good relationships were never based on fear.
Walker paused before glancing over at me. “Really?”
A flicker of excitement sparked in my chest, which I leaned on as I nodded. “Really.”
His smile was wide. The light turned green, so he pressed on the accelerator and took off down the road. If anyone could happy drive, it was Walker. He was smiling at everyone we pulled up next to, and when we got to Jackson’s house, he skipped his way to the trunk to get my chair.
“Can we leave tomorrow?” he asked as he lifted me up.
“Tomorrow?” He wanted to leave that early?
“It’s perfect. What are you waiting for? Let’s get back and find a place of our own.” He knelt in front of me with a wide smile.
I studied his gaze. Wasn’t he scared? How was he so sure of our relationship? Why wasn’t I more confident? It must have been the pregnancy hormones that had me rethinking everything.
Even though I wanted to hesitate, I didn’t. After all, this was what I wanted. I wanted Walker to come and get me. To bring me back home.
Why wasn’t I relieved?
Maybe if I just moved forward, I would eventually feel better.
“Yes. Let’s do it.” The words were out, and I expected to feel relief, but I didn’t. But I wasn’t going to focus on that right now.
Walker whooped. I could feel his glee as he pushed me toward the house. By the time we got inside, his excitement was starting to rub off on me. This was good. We were having a baby. We were moving back to North Carolina. We were going to be the family I’d always dreamed of.
This was the perfect life I wanted.
I was going to be happy once everything was in place.
My nerves were a jumbled mess the entire time while Walker packed up my things. He kept talking about how he couldn’t wait to leave and start our life again. I just forced a smile every time he looked over at me. I was going to rely on his happiness until I felt the same.
All I knew was I needed to tell Jackson, and I wasn’t sure I was strong enough for that.
Most of my clothes were packed when Jackson and Fiona got home. They were carrying white Styrofoamboxes of food when they came in. I was sitting in the hallway just outside of my room, and when they saw me, Jackson’s face instantly fell.
“What’s going on?” he asked as he set the food down on the kitchen counter and moved to join me.
“Jackson,” I said, my voice low. I didn’t want him to be upset, and I couldn’t handle a freak-out. He needed to know that I’d already made up my mind. No matter how he felt, I was moving back with Walker, and that was it.
Jackson didn’t seem bothered by my tone. Instead, he sidestepped me and peered into the room. “What is this? Why are your suitcases on your bed?”
Walker cleared his throat. “We’ve decided—”
Jackson held up his hand, effectively stopping Walker from speaking. “I didn’t ask you. I asked Naomi.”
My stomach sank as I saw the rage in my brother’s gaze. He stared down at me as if he were daring me to speak. “We’re moving back to North Carolina.”
Jackson’s cheeks flushed a deeper red. “No, you’re not.”
I parted my lips to speak but nothing came out.
Fiona put a hand on his shoulder. “Jackson, you can’t keep your sister here. If she wants to go, she can go.” She stepped up next to me, and I was grateful for her support.
Jackson just glared at Walker. “I knew it was a mistake to have you here. Where were you when she was in the hospital? Who took care of her? You’re a lousy excuse for a man.”
“Jackson!” Fiona and I said at the same time.
