Page 78 of Rescuing Josiah
Pulling her head back enough that she could look up at him, she studied him carefully with her gorgeous gray eyes. “It is?”
Dragging in a breath, trying to steady his nerves, he nodded. “I don’t want to let fear and guilt rule my life anymore. Part of me is always going to feel like I should have died in that desert along with the rest of my team, but I have to accept that I didn't. Everything you’ve said to me these last few weeks is true. My team would want me to live. Honoring them is moving on, being happy, living my life, falling in love.”
A smile immediately curled her lips up. “I told you already that you can't take that back. You said it, it’s out there, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“And I told you that I don’t want to take it back.” Josiah wasn't going to lie, it was utterly terrifying having that declaration of love out there. It felt like tempting the universe to snatch Chelsea away from him. But it had had its chance to do that, had given him the option of hiding behind the vest or letting go, and he’d chosen letting go, saving Chelsea’s life in the process.
“I am never going to tire of hearing you say that.” Chelsea’s smile was so bright that he found himself wanting to do anything to keep it that way, even saying words that, while true, still felt weird coming out of his mouth.
“Love you, Chelsea.”
That smile of hers brightened further. “And I love you. So much. For so long now. I know everything isn’t going to be perfect and magical from here on out, you still have a lot to work through, but I’m going to be right there, loving you every step of the way.”
Which was the only way he could face this.
Especially what was going to happen any second now.
This second it appeared when the door to the hospital room was flung open.
Six years had passed since he’d last laid eyes on his parents in person, and they both looked older. His mom’s hair had still had a smattering of chestnut in it back then, but now it was completely gray. She’d put on a few pounds, and there were a few new wrinkles in her face, but nothing had changed the love in her eyes.
She was still his mom.
Despite the way she’d burst into the room, once her gaze landed on him, his mom froze. Standing there, like a deer caught in the headlights, seemingly unsure what she should do or say.
Behind her stood his dad. Like his wife, his dad had aged, his belly hanging slightly over the waistband of his jeans, a little less hair than had been there before, and definitely more wrinkles. But still his dad.
“I'm just going to go and get something to drink,” Chelsea murmured, trying to tug herself gently from his arms.
Instinct had him tightening his hold. He could do this, was doing it whether he was ready or not, but it would be so much easier with her by his side.
“Stay,” he ordered.
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Stay,” his mom echoed, and Chelsea nodded and sank back into his arms.
Then like the dam had burst wide open, his mother was crying. She hurried to the bed, wrapped her arms around him, and alternated between telling him how much she loved him and how angry she was that he’d shut her out. His dad was there, too, patting his shoulder, holding his wife, not saying anything, but tears shimmered in his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Josiah whispered, his face pressed against his mother’s neck, feeling very much like a little boy again.
“You should be,” his mom shot back, but there was no heat to her tone. “I should put you over my knee and give you the spanking of a lifetime, like you were a little boy again.”
“Mom, you never spanked me when I was a little boy,” he reminded her. Back then, his mom had been an expert at the long-winded, I'm so disappointed in you lecture. A skill he was sure she was going to resurrect, because he definitely deserved a lecture.
“Because I loved you too much to hit you.” His mom’s hands framed his face, and there was so much love in her gaze that his eyes grew misty. “I always loved you, my sweet son. I wish you hadn't shut us out, but it doesn’t mean I stopped loving you. Ever. Not for one single second.”
Same way Chelsea had never stopped loving him even when he gave her no reason to like him let alone love him. Automatically, his hand reached for Chelsea’s, and it didn't go unnoticed by his mom.
“And this must be your lovely Chelsea. It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you, dear,” his mom said, turning her warm smile to the woman at his side.
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Ma’am.”
“Pfft, we don’t do ma’ams in our family, dear.”
“Mrs. Fleet then,” Chelsea corrected.
“So polite, dear. You can call me Melanie, and maybe one day, Mom, when you're part of the family,” she added with a sly smile that slid between the two of them.
