Page 24 of Waiting for Her

“Can you help?” she asks, her voice small with a hint of embarrassment, and it’s only then do I see the tears welling in her eyes.

I take the stairs two at a time to get to her, wrapping my arms around her and kissing her temple.

“What’s the matter, baby?” she shakes her head, sniffling. “If you don’t tell me I’ll just assume the worst and you know what that will do to me.”

She rolls her eyes, a small chuckle escaping her throat.

“I can’t see my feet,” she whispers, leaning her head on my shoulder.

“Addison, you haven’t been able to see your feet for a few months now.” I try to make my voice gentle, but a small growl fills the space between us and if I didn’t know she was upset I would think it was cute.

“I know, but now I can’t even go down the stairs. I can’t see where the steps are.”

Realization hits, and I know why she called me for help, and instead of saying she’s being crazy, or irrational, I just take her hand in mine and lead her down the stairs. Her grateful smile causes something to still inside me and I wonder what would have happened if I didn’t push my way past her walls. What would have happened if she really did have to do all of this alone, right now the guilt racking my body for leaving it this long is enough to set fire to my veins.

These last three weeks have been hard on Addison, and I can tell as the days drag on, that she’s getting more and more uncomfortable. She’s up half the night having to go to the bathroom, and the heartburn is something out of a nightmare. But the worst is the Braxton Hicks that she’s been experiencing these last few nights. Every time she winces, clutches her side, or takes a sharp breath, I wonder if this is it, yet it always passes, leaving my girl feeling defeated.

When we reach the kitchen table, I help her sit down, her eyes taking in the toast and orange juice in front of her.

“When did you get up?” she asks, a small smile playing at the edge of her lips.

“Not too long ago, maybe twenty minutes?”

“Why didn’t you wake me? I could have helped.”

I shake my head, kneeling in front of her and softly kissing her stomach and then her lips.

“Baby, I’m just trying to make your life simpler.”

Her eyes narrow and I know I hit a nerve and I brace myself for the words she’s about to unleash on me.

“Simpler? What made you think it was your job to do that anyway? And who said I can’t do it myself, huh? I did just fine before you.”

I take a breath, reminding myself that she’s tired, uncomfortable, and just using me as a sounding board.

“Addison, I know you’re capable. You know that I know that, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to help you. That doesn’t mean I want to take over your life. That doesn’t mean I don’t want you to do things for yourself. It just means I love you and want to make sure you’re okay.”

Her head dips as I stand up, kissing her forehead before walking back toward the island and making myself a bowl of cereal, hoping the space between us helps.

After a few minutes of silence and me leaning against the counter, lifting spoonfuls of cereal into my mouth, Addison sighs loudly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t have a great night’s sleep and I’m just irritable today. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

I smile as I place my bowl in the sink and head back to sit next to her.

“I know you had a rough night. That’s why I let you sleep in.”

Her eyes soften as her head shakes.

“Max, if I had a rough night, that also means you had a rough night.”

I kiss her once more before pushing her plate toward her, urging her to eat.

“Me having a rough night isn’t important. You are important.”

Her bottom lip quivers as I take her hand in mine and kiss each knuckle softly.

“This is really good,” she teases, winking at me as she eats the rest of her toast and downs her juice.

Her smile lights up her entire face, and I’m reminded of why I go the extra mile for her. It’s that look of pure happiness that she just graced me with that reminds me why I get up through the night with her, why I make her breakfast, buy her food and help her down the stairs. She deserves all of it and more, and if I have my way, she will have it all for the rest of her life.

---