Page 65 of A Magnolia Move-In
Jackson furrowed his brow as he turned his glare on us. “I’m not crazy. There’s something going on with him, and if you walk out my door, I can’t protect you anymore.”
My heart swelled at the love my brother had for me. We’d gone through thick and thin together. I never wanted to disappoint him. But I couldn’t stay here. I had a life in North Carolina and a baby on the way. He couldn’t expect me to walk away from the father of my child.
“I’ll be fine,” I said and forced an encouraging smile. “We’ll be fine. Walker will take care of me. You’ll see.”
Jackson stared at me. I could see the moral pull inside of him. He wanted to believe me, but he couldn’t. I also couldn’t force him to change his mind. It was going to take time for him to come around.
“I’ll be fine,” I said again, this time a whisper.
Fiona reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “She’ll be fine.”
Jackson glanced between the two of us and then turned and walked down the hallway, disappearing up the stairs to the loft. I let out my breath and glanced up to see Fiona smiling down at me.
She dropped down and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “Just in case you need anyone, the entire book club is here for you. We’ll do anything to help you out—we’re just a call away.”
She gave me a quick squeeze and then stood before I could respond.
I doubted that I would need their help, but I was grateful for her offer. I knew my brother would be there for me if things went south, but just in case I needed animpartial person to get me, I’d rather it be Maggie or Shari than my big brother who would probably track down Walker and make him disappear if he hurt me.
I had an out if I needed it, and I was grateful for it.
Though I doubted I would need it.
Walker seemed to have had enough of the scene in front of him. He grabbed the suitcases and started to drag them from the house. I was amazed at the speed with which he packed his car. I made a mental note to call the moving company who was storing my items to drive them back down to North Carolina.
Once Walker’s car was full, he turned to me and Fiona. “We should head out, so we can utilize the remaining light.”
I felt a bit whiplashed. We were leaving already? I didn’t have time to say goodbye to my new friends or even process what was happening to my relationship with Jackson.
Fiona seemed just as startled as she glanced down at me. “Are you okay with leaving right now?”
In all honesty, I was just tired. It had been an emotional month and a half. I just wanted to get to a place where I felt at home. I’d always thought that included Walker, and I wasn’t going to try to fight that now.
Once I got to North Carolina, I’d figure out my new normal.
“I’ll be fine. It’s better that we get moving and settled.” I patted my stomach, and Fiona nodded in understanding.
“Well, travel safe, and I expect a text once you get there.”
We embraced once more. She gave me a tight squeeze and proclaimed the hug was from Jackson even if he was being a grump right now.
Tears brimmed my eyes as she pulled back. “Thank you for being my friend.”
My emotional response must have rubbed off on her because her eyes filled with tears as well. “Of course. We will always be friends. Call me whenever you need me.”
I nodded but didn’t have time to respond. Walker was moving to help me into the car, and I was too tired to fight him.
I buckled my seatbelt as Walker shoved my chair into the remaining space in the back and then climbed into the driver’s seat. He started the car just as Colten pulled in next to us. He looked confused as he climbed out of the car.
Not wanting to hear another big-brother speech, I just waved at him as we pulled away.
Once we were on the road, my body began to relax.
This wasn’t how I saw my life going, but what did it matter?
Truth was that fate had different plans for me than I had for myself. With the pregnancy and the accident, I was starting to learn that the worst thing I could do was fight fate.
For now, I’d let her take the reins.
