Page 82 of Badges
Three hours away.
That’s it. By dinner time I can see her again.
“Can I go with you?” I’m still transfixed by the blue line showing the way.
Wade finally turns to me, his brow furrowing. “There was never a question. You’re going.”Emotions threaten tooverwhelm me. Uncontrollable tears well and start to run down either side of my nose. “Thank you,” I sniffle.
“We’ll have to swing by the house to drop off Dad’s food, but it’s on the way. I guess we can take her shopping tomorrow so she can pick out her own stuff for her room?” Wade shifts us into drive, then drops one hand on my thigh.
But he taps one finger intermittently while he watches the road. And I see his jaw tighten and relax repeatedly.
Idly, I trace from the veins of his forearm to the gaps between his knuckles. “Nervous?”
He lets out a long breath. “Yea. I think it’d be different raising a kid from a baby. Well, maybe not, but another kind of worry, ya know?”
“She’ll be good practice,” I laugh. “‘Thia is about the coolest person I know. Mom really went downhill by the time she was like four or five. So it was mostly just us girls. She’s easy going and never asks for anything.” I pause, chewing on the inside of my cheek. “I don’t think she’s ever had her own room. This will be huge for her.”
“She can have yours.” Wade turns to meet my gaze. “You’re going to be in with me from now on.” He squeezes my leg possessively.
Everything is changing. I know the last couple of months have been good.
But is it always going to be like this?
“Wade? Is this real? You’ve gone from no one in your house to two extra people. No kids to having one half grown, then asking for more…” My voice trails off.
Mom had two. Dad left her.
She left me.
Even Cynthia was taken and I was put through absolute hell trying to find her and earn her back.
It all feels like it’s crashing in.
“What if it’s too much?” I squeak. I have no doubts about how I feel.
But does he?
His jaw tics as he pulls into the driveway.
Only after we’re at a complete stop in front of his father’s porch does he turn to me and gently cups my cheek.
“I know you’d blow up my barn if I fuck up.” His smirk makes his auburn mustache tug up at the corner.
I’m still speechless when he pokes my nose then jumps out.
By the time he opens my door to get the bag of food, I’m ready. “What if I’m the one who screws up?”
He shrugs and drops his palm to pat the side of my thigh. “I have handcuffs.”
“There you go, promising me a good time again.” I flash a broad grin, then shoo him away.
He’s still chuckling when he reappears.
But his affect changes when he settles back in the truck. “I can’t believe we’re gonna do this.”
I lean across the console to brush his cheek with my lips. “You’re gonna have a whole family.”
Our little road trip goes by quickly with only one pit stop in the middle.
