Page 70 of Bound to Him
“Yes.”
We spent the next couple of hours walking up one side of Main Street and down the other, and I was in a good mood as I helped Noah pack the shocking number of purchases he’d managed to make into the back of the truck. Mama would have a hissy fit and I was already grinning about it. She’d yell at me, but I’d bet my last dollar she wouldn’t say a thing to Noah about presents or money spent on her or the farm. He was my new secret weapon.
On the way home I reached over and took Noah’s hand, and he smiled at me. “So, you like shopping? Why didn’t I find out about this back home in New Gothenburg?”
He shrugged. “For presents, yeah.” The smile he gave me was bright and silly and wrinkled his nose a bit near the top—and I loved it. My breath caught.
“You can do the shopping next Christmas, then.”
Noah nodded absently and leaned forward to fiddle with the radio, and I held my breath as it occurred to me what I’d said. Noah didn’t point out that I’d been talking about something that would happen a year from now. I fixed my attention on the road as he began to hum under his breath along to a remix version of “Carol of the Bells.” I snuck a peek at him, but he only pulled one of the bags between his feet closer and began to root around in it, letting out a happy hum when he found a bag of wrapped chocolate bells and opened it.
“Want one?” he asked.
I shook my head and focused back on the road.What if...after the six months were over—my heart hammered faster because I still hadn’t done even half of what I wanted to him—what if I just don’t mention it?What if we stayed married? Slightly stunned, I didn’t glance at Noah once as he made content sounds I assumed were him eating candy. I was too worried I’d lost my damned mind.
18
NOAH
Mama was givingme sad eyes and it was all I could do not to pout back at her. Christmas day had been a beautiful affair, filled with laughter and presents and stories about Alton as a child, and as a bonus, our luggage and some packages from Antoine had arrived that evening. While we were sitting around the tree sipping peppermint cocoa, Mrs. Bouchard had demanded I call her Mama, and only Mama, and I couldn’t help but comply because I liked her a lot. Daddy did the same thing, and even though it was a little weirder, I agreed. Alton’s parents were everything mine weren’t, and it was hard to say goodbye to them the day after Christmas.
“Y’all don’t have to leave,” Mama said, glaring at Alton as though it was entirely his fault. Maybe it was. He’d told Mama we were going to the cabin we’d booked to spend some time together, since he’d been busy for the last two months.
Alton stood beside me, his arm around my shoulders. The truck was all packed. It was clearly time to go. He laughed. “Mama....”
“The boy is only starting to ride Willow, Alton. He has a lot to learn. You don’t have horses in New Gothenburg.” She frowned and crossed her arms. “He needs more time here at the house, not in a cabin somewhere away from the farm.”
“Mama, we’ll be back sooner than next Christmas, I promise.” A lie, because by that time we wouldn’t be together, and the thought made my gut churn uncomfortably. Alton tugged me tighter against his side, and I leaned my cheek on his shoulder. He’d taken a shower less than half an hour ago and had a fresh, woodsy smell. It was delicious.
“You better.” She slapped her hands on her hips and frowned. “Because I love this boy”— she waved her hand at me—“and I want him here as much as possible.”
My heart squeezed and I pushed away from Alton so I could go over and give her a hug. She held me tightly against her body, kissing my cheek. “Thanks, Mama. I love you, and Daddy, too.”
She pinched my cheeks, and I laughed. “Look at this cutie, Alton. Look at him. You married the right man. I want y’all to come back and have a ceremony here. Am I clear? I want to see y’all get married.”
My face heated and I nodded. I wanted to believe we would do just that, but I wasn’t kidding myself. By April this would be all over and done with, and I would never see them again. It hurt to think about it.
“What about me? Don’t I get a hug?” Alton asked, opening his arms.
Mama chuckled and stomped over to him, throwing herself into his embrace. She was short compared to him and the top of her head fit comfortably under his chin. While they hugged it out, Daddy came over to give me a shoulder pat and a wink.
“You be good, and if Alton tries to pull any stunts, you give us a call. We’ll sort him out for you.” His laughter filled the quiet morning air. “Actually, his mama will.”
“Don’t give him any ideas, Daddy.” Alton shook his head as he came over to give his father a hug. “He’ll be on the phone to Mama every day.”
“I will not,” I said with a huff, then grinned because I liked Mama and I probably would, but not as a tattletale.
“Don’t you let him convince you otherwise, honey.” She came up behind me and kissed my cheek. “You call me. Every night, you hear? Alton doesn’t call his mama nearly enough. Now I have a second son and I want more phone calls.”
“Deal.” I gave her one more hug before Alton dragged me to the truck.
I had the top half of my body outside the window waving at them as Alton drove us along the long dirt drive and back onto the narrow road that led away from his family farm. My heart hurt. I’d never met anyone quite like his parents, and they were all the good in this world I’d never experienced. I’d always wondered what it was like having parents who cared, and now I saw it firsthand. They would move mountains to give Alton what he needed.
I settled back into the passenger seat and turned my head to stare at Alton. “Your parents are amazing.”
He nodded, grinning in a way I hadn’t quite seen from him. There was love in his eyes as he checked the rearview mirror, and real jealousy settled in my chest. Even though they’d told me to call them Mama and Daddy, they wouldn’t be my in-laws for much longer. I’d be alone again, the sole mental supporter of my younger siblings. Being what I needed to be for them was difficult in the best of times, but I knew what it was like growing up without someone on my side. I didn’t want it to happen to them.
“How far away is the cabin?” I asked, staring out at the countryside that seemed to go on forever. We passed green and brown grass, homes scattered on large pieces of land, and a mixture of animals, and it wasn’t something I thought I’d ever get used to.
