Page 113 of So Much More
“Heshould have protected me,” I say vehemently. “That was supposed to be his job.”
“It was, and he failed miserably. But you, my son, are doing an excellent job of protecting your family. Thank you for shielding your sisters from what happened here today, and thank you for being here with me now.”
I nod, because if I speak, I’m afraid I’ll start crying.
“And I’ll also be thanking Wendy and Leslie for all they’ve done for us, especially for the girls.”
“They’ve gone above and beyond,” I choke out.
Mom gives me an appraising look. “Do you love her? Is she the one?”
My face breaks into a smile. “Yes, and yes.”
She smiles back at me. “Have you told her?”
“Tonight she told me she loves me, and I said it back.”
Her eyes open wide. “Yet you came here to me instead of staying with her?”
“She kind of made me.”
Mom laughs. “Of course she did. And it proves she truly loves you—and our family.”
“She’s so amazing, Mom. And it’s not that I didn’t want to come here. I wanted to be here all day, and it drove me crazy that I wasn’t. But the girls helped me understand what I was doing for them was as important as what Ash was doing here.”
“They were right.”
“Yes, but once I knew they were going to be fine, I needed to see with my own eyes that you’re all right.”
“I will be. And you don’t have to stay the night. Go back to your girlfriend.”
“I’d be tempted to do that, if she wasn’t asleep in my bed … with Leslie.”
She laughs again. “Yes, that would be a little awkward, wouldn’t it?”
fifty
“Are you feeling okay?” I ask Leslie as we get ready in Randall’s bathroom early Friday morning. She’s not quite her usual self today, though granted I’m not used to seeing her so early in the morning.
“I’m tired,” she responds while applying eyeshadow, “and a little nauseous. With all the stress of yesterday and being in an unfamiliar bed, I didn’t sleep very well, which always makes me feel a little sick.”
“Probably didn’t help that I kept trying to snuggle up to you in my sleep.” I grin at her in the mirror.
“I’ll admit I panicked a couple times when I woke up to someone draped halfway across me.”
I shrug. “It’s what I do. Thankfully Randall doesn’t mind it.”
Leslie smiles at me. “Because he loves you.”
“He does.” My smile is so big it hurts.
“And you love him.”
“I do.” I stick my lipstick into my pocket. There’s no point in putting it on until after I kiss my man goodbye.
“I can’t believe you let him go last night.”
“I had to. He was so upset all day that he couldn’t be with his mom. I made him go.”
