Conflicted (The Existing Series Book 2) (15 page)

I’d just have to hug her through her grief. Be her strength when she had none.

“I keep ruining your shirts,” she said, pulling away.

“It’s just water. No biggie. You want me to show you to your room?” I asked as she yawned.

“Please. Sorry I’m not much for company. And thank you for letting me stay. Even though I’m fully capable of driving to the inn.”

“No thanks necessary,” I said as I picked up the duffle bag in front of the entertainment center and started walking in the direction of the guest room.

She followed as we walked down the small hallway of rooms. Grace’s first, then the two other bedrooms were side by side at the end of the hall.

“My room is right next door if you need me,” I said as I opened the door and turned on the light. We both walked inside, and she took in the space as I sat the bag down on the bed.

“The bathroom is right down the hall on the right if you need it. I’ll let you get settled and we can talk in the morning,” I said as I walked to the door.

“I thought we were done talking?”

“Not by a long shot.” I walked to my room, immediately shutting the door behind me.

I needed answers. She needed to provide them. And in the meantime, I needed to try and decipher why I offered her to stay here and what her being here meant.

I took a quick shower to get the grime of the day off of me and quickly dried off, pulling on my boxers. I climbed into bed and put my arm over my eyes, hoping sleep came quickly, but knowing that my already racing mind wouldn’t make it easy.

I dozed off quicker than I thought, only to be awakened shortly afterward to screams. Her screams.

I rushed to the guest bedroom to find Delaney thrashing around on the bed. I climbed into the bed and grabbed her body from behind and held her through the nightmare. She never woke from them in the three days that she stayed at my parents’ so I always held her until she calmed.

Five minutes passed and she barely whimpered, her body went slack against my own as she fell back to sleep.

I went to leave only a hand grabbed my arm and stopped me.

“Please stay. I don’t know if I can take having that nightmare again and again and not having someone here to comfort me,” she pleaded in a sleepy voice.

I wanted to say no. Needed to say no for Grace’s sake. Only Trenton’s voice came to the forefront of my mind.

Promise me you’ll take care of her if something happens to me. She’s got no one but me.

Those words alone caused me to get back into the bed. She needed me, and I’d keep my promise. Repercussions be damned.

I laid on my back and she curled into my side, lifting up my arm to lay her head on my shoulder. I threw caution to the wind and pulled her into me. She may need my comfort, but I needed hers as well. The realization that I hadn’t had the urge to hit the punching bag once tonight came to mind as I drifted off to sleep. The last thing I heard was her whispering thank you as she got comfortable beside me.

“
D
addy
,” I heard Grace call out, rousing me from my deep slumber. I blinked my eyes a few times before fully opening them and taking in my surroundings. Delaney was still laid beside me, her leg now thrown over top of mine, her head still laid on my shoulder, and she was softly snoring. In the few short days that I’d known her, this was the calmest I’d seen her. I turned my head fully so I could take her in. Her facial features were finally fully relaxed, no stress lines showing on her face. She finally looked peaceful. A look I’d yet to see on her.

“Daddy,” Grace called out again from her room, breaking my trance on the beautiful woman lying beside me.

I didn’t want to wake her, but if I didn’t get to Grace, she’d become irate and that would wake her anyway. Very carefully, I lifted her leg and slid1 the bottom half of my body away from her as I slowly moved my arm from underneath her head. I didn’t breathe the whole time, for fear I’d wake her and interrupt her peaceful sleep. Successfully, I moved away from her and went to the bathroom to take care of my full bladder.

After I washed my hands and quickly brushed my teeth, I left my room and went down the hall to Grace’s. I opened the door and popped my head inside, and Grace instantly spotted me, standing up in her crib; her hand still clutched her blanket and her bear.

“Daddy, up,” she demanded as she lifted both of her arms up in the air.

I walked over to the crib and got her out. Her arms and legs wrapped around my body as she pulled herself close to me. I hugged her tight relishing in the fact that she still loved to cuddle.

“Good morning, pumpkin,” I said as I walked over to the changing table to change her diaper.

Once she had on a fresh diaper, I pulled her pajama bottoms up and picked her up off of the table. I propped her up on my hip, picking up the soiled diaper to dispose of it.

“You ready for some breakfast?” I asked as I walked out of her bedroom and into the kitchen.

“Eggs,” Grace said as I entered the kitchen. She wiggled to get down and walked over to the chair, pulling it toward the stove.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I threw the diaper into the trash can.

“I help,” she said, and I couldn’t say no to her determination.

She stood in the chair and waited while I grabbed the eggs and sausage from the refrigerator. I grabbed a bowl and fork for the eggs and the shredded cheese, setting everything down on the counter beside the stove.

“You remember how to crack the egg?” I asked. I tapped the egg on the side of the bowl and with a small crack in the egg, I separated both sides and showed her how to carefully crack the egg.

“Yes. I try,” she said taking the egg from me. I scooted the bowl over, knowing full well that she’d make a mess, but that was the fun of it all. The memories that we were making.

Only she fooled me and cracked the egg just like I showed her. She squealed in delight and clapped her hands after she set the egg shells into the bowl I’d gotten for the trash. I didn’t have the heart to quiet her so she didn’t wake Delaney, though. Instead, I handed her another egg and waited for her to crack it.

After the eight eggs were cracked, she helped me finish getting them ready and then I put her down on the floor so I could start cooking. I didn’t like her near the stove when the burners were on.

“I’m going to turn on cartoons. Can you watch them while Daddy cooks the eggs?”

She nodded her head, her curls bouncing with each shake. She walked into the room beside me and sat down on the couch, her head resting on the armrest. I turned on the television, the channel already on cartoons from the night before. I looked over at Grace who now had her thumb in her mouth, a habit I continuously tried to break.

“Blanket and bear,” Grace said through the thumb in her mouth, causing me to smile. She couldn’t do anything without either of the two. Quickly, I retrieved the items and went to finish the task of cooking breakfast.

Just as the eggs and sausage were finishing up, I pressed the button on the coffee pot so it could brew. I spooned out portions for Grace so they could begin to cool. I turned around to find Delaney leaning against the wall that led into the kitchen.

“How long have you been standing there?” I asked as I sat the plate down on Grace’s highchair top.

“Long enough. You concentrate way too hard when you cook,” she said with laughter in her tone, a different sound than I was used to hearing from her.

“I do not.” I shook my head and went to get Grace so she could eat.

“You ready to eat, pumpkin?” I picked her up from the couch, leaving behind the blanket and the bear.

I bounced her up and down as we walked into the kitchen, and she giggled with every step. Sitting her down, I put locked the tray in place. Her small fingers went to pick up her food, but I put my hand on hers, stopping her. I was trying to get her to continuously eat with her fork or spoon and she fought me with it most times.

I handed her the spoon and walked over to the fridge to get the milk. After I had grabbed her sippy cup out of the cabinet, I poured the milk and secured the lid. I handed the cup over to her, which she took and instantly brought to her mouth to take a sip.

“You’re good with her,” Delaney said from the same spot I left her in.

“Sorry about that, but she can be a bear if she doesn’t get her way or her food in a timely manner.”

I finished getting everything ready and carried our plates over to the table, going back to retrieve the cups of coffee and silverware after I sat the plates down.

“Enjoy,” I said as pulled out her chair and motioned for her to join us.

Grace was too in-tune to her food, not even looking up as we sat down.

“Thank you for breakfast,” Delaney said as she took a bit of her eggs.

“No problem at all,” I replied, taking a bite of my own.

“Daddy? Who that?” Grace said, taking a break from devouring the breakfast sitting before her.

“This is my friend Delaney. Delaney, this is my daughter Grace,” I said as I finally formally introduced the two of them. They only had a brief encounter at my parents’ house a month ago.

“It’s nice to meet you, Grace,” Delaney said, a smile formed on her lips as she took a sip of her coffee.

“Hi, Laney,” Grace giggled and went back to eating her eggs.

“So, what are your plans?” I asked, trying to break the silence and learn more about the woman my friend had fallen in love with.

“I packed up everything, taking only the necessities and what I wanted to keep for memories. I had some of his army buddies come over and take his clothes to be donated. I kept his uniforms for his parents, though. I took them over to their house before I tried to find you. There’s a moving trailer hooked up behind my SUV with everything I kept. I took off and drove all the way here in five days, only stopping when I couldn’t stay awake or to get gas. I gave my work notice as soon as I got back from the funeral and figured out I wanted to come back. I started looking for a job here after that and I have an interview at a hospital in Charlottesville next Tuesday,” she said between bites. She seemed to have everything planned out, only she didn’t mention where she’d be staying.

“What about a place to live?” I asked, hoping I didn’t sound too nosy when I was only concerned.

“I haven’t found a place yet. I found the inn online and figured I could stay there until I found something and could move in. I have some money in savings so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Yet I didn’t want her to stay there for some reason. She had nightmares and shouldn’t have to go through that alone. She needed her sleep. Only I didn’t have the guts to ask her to stay here.

“What are you interviewing for?” I asked, looking over to check on Grace who was almost finished with her breakfast. Once she was done we wouldn’t be able to talk like this. She was the only toddler that I’d seen who wouldn’t talk while she ate. She was serious about her food. Almost too serious.

“I’m a registered nurse. It’s a great career to have I’m finding out. Especially when you move to a new place. There are several positions available for registered nurses within the Charlottesville area. I love helping people. The reward I feel when I help a person is worth the stress of the job. I’d rather work in the hospital, which is why I applied there first. I already had a phone interview, so the face to face interview should be a breeze. I just have to get the endorsement to work here, which I’ve already started filling out the paperwork for that,” she replied.

I admired her strength to work in that type of situation. I couldn’t do it myself. Too much risk of seeing blood on a daily basis for me to handle. Thinking back, I’m shocked we were able to keep her away from Trenton while Davis performed CPR. She was trained in that type of situation, but it was too personal, even for her to partake in. Maybe that was the root of her nightmares. But that was for another conversation. One we could have without prying ears. Especially two-year-old ones.

“More, Daddy,” Grace chimed from her highchair as she banged her bowl against the top.

“More please,” I corrected as I took the bowl from her and got up to get her some more.

“More eggs please,” she repeated looking down at her lap like she usually did when I told her to use her manners.

“Here you go, pumpkin.”

“Prize daddy,” she said, her mouth full of the eggs she just spooned into it.

“No talking with your mouth full, Grace. Finish eating and I’ll tell you about the surprise,” I said, picking up my empty plate and half empty cup of coffee.

I refreshed the cup and asked Delaney if she wanted more. When she declined, I walked over to the table and picked up her empty plate and placed it in the sink.

“So what’s on the agenda today? I need to get over to the inn at some point and square away a room and take the moving trailer off the Jeep,” she said, taking a sip from her cup of coffee.

“That’s part of the surprise Grace asked about. If you want to go and start getting ready, I’ll clean this up and get myself and her ready. I’m not going to tell her until I have her dressed and ready to go. That’ll spell disaster because she won’t want to get dressed. She’ll just want to leave,” I joked, getting up from the chair and walking over to the sink to start the dishes.

“I don’t want to interrupt your family day. I can get what I need to get done and we can see each other in a few days.”

I turned and gave her a questioning look, daring her to continue to try to get out of the plans we had for the day.

Instead of trying to go against my word again, she asked what she needed to wear and fidgeted with the hands she’d laid in her lap.

“I don’t know how hot it’s supposed to get today. Check the weather. We’re going to be outside, but that’s all I’ll tell you.”

She leaned down and rummaged through her purse, and I assumed she was getting her phone to check.

“It’s going to be eighty-three today. I’ll go get ready. I think I have what I’ll need in the bag I brought in last night,” she said.

Before I could reply, she left the room.

I hurried to finish cleaning up the kitchen so that I could get Grace ready. She wouldn’t remain patient for much longer in the highchair.

“You ready to go get your clothes on?” I asked Grace after I finished wiping down the table.

“Yay,” she said, banging her hands on the highchair lid.

I wet a paper towel and wiped down her face and hands, and Grace fought me the entire time. She hated getting her face wiped off.

I picked her up and set off to get us ready for the day, glad that the weather would allow for what I had in mind.

Thirty minutes later we were both dressed in jeans and t-shirts, and I’d put her hair in pigtails, upon her insistence.

I walked toward the living room to search for Delaney, finding her in the same spot as the night before. She stared at the picture of all of us with such love and admiration, her hand against her chest as she held in the other emotions I’m sure she was feeling.

“Are y’all ready to have fun?”

Grace screamed her excitement, breaking Delaney from her thoughts. She turned and faced us, smiling, but it didn’t completely reach her eyes.

“Of course. What are we doing today?” she asked as she tried to regain her composure from whatever thoughts she was having.

“We’re going to pick some strawberries then go out for a late lunch. How does that sound, ladies?”

I collected my keys, hat, and wallet from the table in the foyer. I put my wallet in my back pocket and my baseball hat on my head as I twirled the keys around one finger. Both Delaney and Grace were right behind me.

I opened the door and made sure it was locked before walking outside and letting Delaney and Grace walk out in front of me. Delaney extended her hand to Grace to help her walk down the steps. Grace looked up at her and thought about it for a moment before smiling and grabbing her awaiting hand.

I pulled the door shut, and unlocked the truck doors as I continued to watch them walk hand in hand down the sidewalk.

Once we were all inside and secure, I started the truck and backed down the driveway.

“Where exactly are we going to pick strawberries? I’ve never done that before,” Delaney asked as she stared out of the window.

“There’s an orchard not far from here. I went there with my parents’ and siblings when I was younger. We had a blast. I want Grace to experience the same things I did growing up. I love it here,” I replied.

She frowned, but only for a moment and replied, “It sounds like you had a wonderful childhood.”

I agreed, with her and the rest of the ride to the orchard we made small talk about the country and all of its great qualities, at least my opinion of them.

When we got the orchard, Grace tried to get out of her car seat, showing just how impatient she was to get out.

I got out of the truck and walked around to get her out, only Delaney was setting her down on the ground by the time I’d gotten to the other side.

“You ready, Daddy?” Grace asked as she reached for my hand, her other hand had ahold of Delaney’s.