Page 26 of Let Me Be the One
“I had so much planned to do there.”
“I thought honeymoons were spent in bed.”
Making another face, she said, “Yeah, that was the one drawback.”
Thankfully, the topic took a different turn, from honeymoon to house goods.
“I loved picking out china and silverware, candlesticks, colorful glass bowls.” Her cheeks glowed as she discussed her wish list. “I’d chosen agorgeousbedding set.”
“What color?”
“Several colors, actually. White linen quilted with large, watercolor flowers. Stunning. Like a wash of spring for the bed.”
“You’re a romantic.”
“I am, but that’s not a bad thing, really. Except that I didn’t think about sharing the bed forever with Sutter. I just wanted all this amazing stuff for my imaginary house and my imaginary life.”
And then Sutter had gotten himself fondled in a coat closet. What a miserable jerk.
Tempering her smile, Callie said, “It sounds really ridiculous, I know, but at the time, I had myself convinced that it’d all be fine.”
He’d thought similar things a few times—not the china and bedding, but a forever home with the right person. “It’s not ridiculous to plan a future. You were excited about that part of it, right?”
“Yes.” Out of the blue, she said, “I want kids.”
If she expected him to laugh or act surprised, he’d disappoint her. “How many?”
Proving she’d given it some thought, she said, “At least two, but I wouldn’t mind three. Before Glory came to live with us, I was an only child and it sucked.”
He nodded his understanding. “Before I came to live with Addie, I was the only kid.” And glad of it. He wouldn’t have wished that hell on a sibling, no matter how nice the company might’ve been.
“Then Addie gave you Kam,” she said softly.
“He wasn’t exactly a gift.”
She laughed. “No, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know.” He still remembered meeting Kam, feeling a lot of shit all at once. Threatened, because he’d finally found his place and here was this other punk joining in. Hopeful, because hey, Kam was younger but close enough in age to carry on a conversation, to play ball, to maybe…rely on him. “Kam was a major pain when he first joined our family.” There’d been times Tanner had heard him crying at night. Addie would hear too, and she’d spend extra time with Kam, even when he’d curse her and swear that he hated her. “He was this rotten little toughie, always wanting to fight.”
“Uh-oh. Awkward.”
“Yeah, especially since I’m three years older. Not a big deal now, but there’s a lot of difference in size and strength between a boy who’s thirteen and one who’s sixteen.”
“Did you two fight?”
“Sure. Occasionally.” That had him smiling again. “There were times Kam didn’t give me a choice. He’d just attack and I had to defend myself. But man, Addie would throw a fit. We’d get lectured about brothers and what that meant, and how we should rely on each other.Guess it finally sank in, because Kam let up, I cut him some slack, and now…he’s my brother, period.”
A suspicious sheen made Callie’s eyes extra bright. “I’m so glad.”
Now that Tanner had Addie and Kam as his family, he knew he’d die for either one of them. They were that important to him.
“You also have Blu. I always wanted a dog.”
“Blu is my second dog. Addie had a hound when I moved in, and man, I loved that old dog. He was my instant buddy, insisting on sleeping in my bed with me, following me everywhere.” Tanner remembered feeling safer with that dog than he had with any human at that point. The dog had helped to transition him into Addie’s home, and for that, he’d always have a place in Tanner’s heart. “He lived to a ripe old age and passed peacefully at home. At first, I didn’t want another dog, but then I found Blu.”
“Found him?”
Yeah, that was another shitty story. He was nothing but depressing today. “Never mind. Long story.”
