Leaving me with a little more insight into a woman who is hurting way more deeply than I’d known she was before.
TWENTY
Georgie
The early morning sunlight streams into the first-floor apartment, casting a warm golden glow across the room. I’d woken up early, expecting the arrival of the Porter family. They’d decided over the weekend it would be best for them to use Levi’s Sweetkiss Creek apartment as their meeting place, or green room, before heading to the courthouse.
Once I manage to get Toto out of his bed and into the backyard, I pour myself a cup of coffee before heading to the living room to sit, sip, and wake up. The light dances through the sheer curtains I hung the other day, painting delicate patterns on the walls and floor. Every corner is illuminated by the morning sunlight, turning the space into a tranquil sanctuary. I’ve come to enjoy staying here over the past week, but based on the phone call I’d gotten yesterday, my days here are done. My landlord had been excited to let me know my place was ready and I could move back in this week, if I wanted to.
Outside, the world is awake and pumping. A small amount of traffic makes its way down the street, and a horn honks just outside, signaling one of the neighbors beingpicked up for work. The sounds of birds chirping fill the air, mingling with the soft rustle of…my door handle being jiggled back and forth over and over again.
There’s a knock at the door. I take a few long strides across the living room to open the door, finding Duncan on the other side of it grinning up at me.
He holds up a paper bag in front of him. “We brought donuts.”
“I like donuts,” I say, taking the bag from his outstretched hand as he trots past me. Mary marches up the steps, a tight smile stretched across stressed features, with Austin right behind her, both of them sipping coffee in to-go cups.
“Good morning,” she says, kissing my cheek as she makes her way past. “Sorry for this early morning intrusion.”
“It’s a big day,” I say as I turn and wait for Levi to lock the doors of his SUV. Swinging a garment bag over his shoulder, he jogs over and takes the steps two at a time to come up to greet me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me in tight to his chest as he does.
Even in this moment where his and Duncan’s future hangs in such delicate balance, I know inside of me with all my heart that I am in love with this man. Forget the falling part, I’ve already face-planted. I’m his.
His smell has changed; today’s cologne makes me think of clean sheets in the wind, hanging outside on a summer afternoon. There’s a note of coffee and peppermint, but that comes when he brushes his lips across mine.
“Hey,” he whispers, pressing his forehead against mine and closing his eyes. “You sleep okay?”
Nodding, I kiss the tip of his nose. “Thank you for not being mad about yesterday.”
He pulls away and treats me to a half-smile. “You were trying to solve the problem. I can’t be mad at you for that.” Henods toward the house. “I should get Duncan dressed and ready for court.”
I follow him as he goes inside, grabbing Duncan as we head to the back bedroom. I’d already showered and dressed, clearing the path in case anyone needed the bathroom. However, when I look closer at Levi and Duncan, they’re both already in their suits.
“I thought you were using this place as your staging area today?” I picked up the garment bag. “What’s in here?”
Levi unzips it and pulls out their jackets and a couple of matching ties. This small gesture brings a smile to my face, and to Duncan’s.
“You got me a tie like yours?” he asks, beaming.
“Of course,” Levi responds, putting the tie around Duncan’s neck. I watch as he threads the material and loops it through, his hands deftly moving as if they’ve done this a million times before. The tie, a deep navy blue, contrasts beautifully against Duncan’s crisp white shirt, adding a touch of sophistication to his already handsome, and quite grown up, appearance.
Levi adjusts the knot with practiced ease, his fingers brushing against Duncan’s collar in a way that’s both parental and casual.
“Will you teach me how to do this one day?” Duncan inquires as Levi steps back to admire his handiwork.
Levi shoots me a look, his eyes a bit woeful. “I hope so, buddy.”
It only takes him another second before he puts the finishing touches on Duncan’s tie and hands him his jacket. Levi looks at his watch. “It’s eight o’clock now. We’ve got a few more minutes before we have to leave and meet Buzz, so if you’re going to have a donut, get one now from Austin, okay? But nothing with powdered sugar.”
Duncan nods before zipping out the bedroom door,small little boy feet flying down the hallway at the mere mention of sugar. There’s a bittersweet knock at my heart as I turn around to see what Levi’s doing and find him standing and facing the bedroom mirror, his own hands shaking, struggling with his own tie mere seconds after taking care of Duncan’s.
“Here,” I say, stepping in front of him and taking the tie from his hands. The weight of the day and the gravity of what’s about to happen must be hitting home for him. This is one thing I can do to help. “Let me. Being in foster home after foster home, you end up having a lot of ‘brothers’ who need help, always, with their ties.”
“So you come with experience.” He tries joking, but without a smile or laughter in your voice can it be considered one?
It’s my turn to fold the fabric over, looping it around and making the knot tight but not too tight so we can adjust as needed. The hint of coffee and peppermint is back, his breath warm as he stands here and takes deep breaths, trying to calm himself. I wish I could help, and make his pain my own, but I can’t.
Stepping back, I admire my work, like Monet or Degas must have done when they’d finish a masterpiece. Only Levi is his own masterpiece, really; I’m just the lucky girl who got to call him my fiancé for a brief, if not insane, moment in time.
