Page 57 of SEAL's Doorstep Baby
“Yeah?”
“I’ll be hoping to change your mind in the time from now until the tour is done.”
“I understand. Thank you, Colleen. I’ll keep in touch.”
“Goodbye Ms. Smith. Have a wonderful day.”
I stare at the ceiling for a couple of seconds after she ends the call.
I’m following my heart again, and I can only hope it turns out well this time, I think. In this moment, my heart is completely filled with hope.
Chapter twenty-one
JACOB
All I can think about is Allison. I miss her and I’m honest enough with myself to admit it. I knew this would happen, and I also knew it would happen quickly, but I didn’t expect to crave her with every fiber of my being in only a couple of days. I have spent most of the time without her, yearning for her presence.
Having Allison here with me transformed this apartment into a home, and now that she isn’t here anymore, it is just cold and empty.
“I miss her, Maddie; I miss Allie pretty badly.” Maddie looks up at me at the mention of both her name and Allison’s. “I know you miss her too, baby. Nothing is the same without her here.”
My words are completely true because ever since Allison left, I haven’t been able to function in the same way. I have managed to handle the basics, like taking care of Maddie and providing everything she needs with Sherry’s help, but that isn’t the reason I feel like my world has caved in without her.
“I don’t miss her because of the chores or any of the other household things she’s been doing. I mean, I don’t exactly like doing it myself, but I can manage just fine. The reason I’m missing her so much is because I don’t want to live this way. I don’t want to live without her to hold, laugh with, and talk to. I don’t want to live the rest of my life without her.” I complain to Maddie, and despite her attention being glued to me, I know she doesn’t have a clue as to what I mean.
“I don’t know what to do.” I finish tiredly. “I’ve messed it all up because I was too afraid to let her see all parts of me, the bad and the good, and now I don’t know how to fix it.”
I can feel a headache coming on, so I sit on the couch next to Maddie as I pinch the bridge of my nose with the other. “I know you probably think I’m crazy, and to be honest I don’t blame you.”
I feel her hand on my head. When I raise it, I see Maddie with her arm stretched out as she pets my head in her attempt at comforting me as she coos gibberish at me. Her intention is clear as day, and it is heartwarming.
“Thank you, baby. I appreciate that.” I tell her as I lift her to sit her down on my chest.
We settle into an easy silence. I rub gentle circles into her back when she burps, and she settles down back into a groggy wakefulness. The silence is split by the ringing of my phone, and I reach out to silence it before I check to see who the caller is.
“Hello, Naomi.”
“Hi Jacob. How are you doing?” She sounds calm and happy like the Naomi I have always known.
“I’m good. You okay?”
“I’m great. I’m on my way to the airport right now, and I’d like to see you before I leave. Can we do that?”
The last time we had spoken, Naomi had said she was glad that I had found love. At the time I had been befuddled becauseI didn’t know it for certain, but the moment Allison had listened to me and left, I knew that part of my heart had broken and I was letting the person I loved walk away; there wasn’t anything I could do then.
And there’s nothing I can do now either.
“I can come and pick you up on your way if you want that.”
“I’ll have Janice drop me at your house before we finally go to the airport. I want to get a look at princess Maddison before I leave if that’s okay?”
“That’s great. Stop by when you can.”
“Bye, Jake. See you soon.”
“Bye.” I put down the phone when the call ends and I settle back into the easy silence while I wait for Naomi to arrive.
A loud and obnoxious honking from outside announces her arrival. I make sure Maddie is settled and content before I go to the door, where I find Naomi sitting in Janice’s passenger seat.
