Page 59 of All Inn Thyme
I pick up dinner from Freedom Pizza on the way home. Cheese for Kase and a meat lovers for Mellie and me. I smile when I pull in and see the lights on and Mellie’s ATV parked out front.
They’re home.
As I walk up to the front door, I can hear she’s playing Zach Bryan music. As I get closer, I pause and watch her chasing a giggling Kase around the living room. She has no idea how much I want her.Want this.I’ve never felt more sure about anything. But when she knows the truth, will she still feel the same?
She causally glances at the front door and freezes when her eyes catch mine. There’s a quick flash of terror in her eyes before she realizes it’s just me. I set down the pizza and go to her, pulling her into a hug, making sure she knows she’s safe.
“Hi, beautiful,” I murmur into her hair.
She’s still breathing heavily and shaking. “Hi, Ty.”
“I’m sorry if I scared you.”
I scan the room and see Kase peeking out from behind the couch. “Hey, Kase. It’s just me. How’s it going?” I try to remain calm, so I don’t freak him out even more.
He slowly slides out from behind the couch and has wide eyes, watching me as he reaches for Nova and pulls her in for a hug. And damn if that doesn’t warm my heart that he uses my dog for comfort.
“I brought pizza. Did you guys eat?” I rub Mellie’s back and hold her to my chest until her breathing slows down.
“Not yet. I was just thinking about what to make or if we’d go over to the inn and find something,” Mellie says.
I pull back and say, “Why don’t you go get some plates and I’ll check in here with Kase.”
When she heads into the kitchen, I kneel and stroke Nova’s head, giving him space. “Hey, Kase.”
“I don’t like it when Momma gets scared.”
“Me neither. I don’t want anyone to be scared here. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll never hurt you or your momma. I’m a safe space. Okay?”
He nods, looking relieved but still unsure. “Okay.” It breaks my heart seeing this kid’s reaction of wanting his mom to be safe. He’s only four, but he’s seen some hard stuff.
I’m not entirely sure where he puts everything he eats, but this kid is always hungry. He runs around all the time, though, so that probably explains why he has endless energy and a bottomless appetite. Already knowing the answer, I ask anyway, “Are you hungry? I got you cheese.”
His eyes brighten a little. “I love cheese.”
“Let’s eat,” I say as I hold out my hand and he accepts it. Relieved at his reaction, we go to the kitchen where Mellie has plates and drinks set up.
“All good?” Her eyes go over Kase holding my hand and her eyes soften as she watches us walk toward her.
“Yeah.” I squeeze her shoulder gently.
“Thanks for bringing dinner. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Thanks for being here so I don’t have to come home to an empty house.”
“It’s not empty. Nova’s here,” Kase pipes in.
I smile and make sure they have their plates of pizza before I get mine and join them.
“That’s true, but she would have been here all alone,” I say, pulling up a chair next to Kase at the table.
“Do you work tonight?” Mellie asks me as she sits down across from me.
“No, I’m off. I was thinking we could work on your garden after dinner if you want. I can show you some trellis stuff with your tomatoes.”
Her eyes light up at that. “Really? You want to do that?”
“Yeah.”
