Judith started to tear up, “That young girl is wise beyond her years.” She walked up, taking Evelyn’s hands, “My sweet beautiful Daughter I will always be your home. I have missed you.”
Evelyn let a few tears fall, causing me to tear up. Stefan looked at me, “Why are you emotional?”
I swatted his shoulder, “Because it’s an emotional moment. Don’t be annoying.”
He smirked, “You’re cute when you’re annoyed.”
“And you’re not getting any sex because of that comment.” I smirked, stepping out of the car.
“That is not a fair argument.” He called out.
I leaned my head down before shutting the door, “There was no argument.” I laughed.
I walked over to Judy and Evelyn. Evelyn wiped a tear from her cheek; Judy brought me into a hug. “My sweet girl, you I am thankful for.”
“I have missed our hot tea conversations.” I smiled.
She squeezed me tighter, “We can certainly have many of those while you are here.”
Stefan walked up, with a bag over his shoulder, “All my favorite ladies in one place.”
Judy hugged Stefan, “You are just too cheeky. How was the flight?”
“It was good.” He adjusted the bag. “I’m quite hungry.”
She waved her hand toward the house, “Come in, come in. I have a roast in the oven.”
That night the four of us had dinner for the first time ever together in one room. My heart was full. Stefan was happy, although he would make his usual sarcastic comment about something one of us would ramble on about. We never addressed the touchy topic of Henry and Thomas’ arrest. We all had hopes that they would get maximum time, but that verdict would take a while. Not even my Mom’s death was brought up. It was peaceful. Judith told a few stories of when Evelyn was a child. How she used to dress up in Judith’s hates and make kissy faces in the mirror pretending to be a model. It was such an Evelyn thing to do. She was sassy even when she was young.
The next morning we woke up to the sound of Evelyn and Judy laughing in the kitchen. Stefan rolled over, bringing me closer to his chest, placing a kiss on my neck.
“Good Morning.” I rolled over to face him, placing a kiss on his lips.
“Good Morning, Little one.” He snuggled me tighter.
I danced my nose with his, “How did you sleep?”
“Like I was on clouds. I always sleep best when you’re next to me.”
I placed another peck on his lips, “Me too.”
He pressed his hips forward, making me feel how turned on he was.
“Stefan Edwards, I will say you are very awake this morning.” I smirked.
“You turn me on that’s all.”
I laughed, “I look a hot mess right now.”
“Mmm that’s my favorite look.” He pressed his lips to mine, bringing me into a strong kiss. I laughed against his lips, as he put his hand down my panties.
An hour later, we walked out into the living room where Judy and Evelyn were having their morning coffee. They both smiled as we walked into the room.
“Good Morning, sleepy heads.” Judy said, as she took a sip of coffee. “There is breakfast in the kitchen if you are hungry.”
I smiled, “I’m very hungry.”
Stefan plopped down on the chair, “She’s always hungry.”
“Am not.” I snapped.
Stefan raised his eyebrow, “You’re telling me that you don’t wake up hungry every single morning?”
I rolled my eyes walking into the kitchen, “That is what normal people do. You’re the weird one.” I sang.
“This is true, Son.” Evelyn added.
“Thank you! See someone is one my side.” I called out. Evelyn and Judith laughed. I could imagine Stefan’s face, while I put jam on my toast.
I walked back into the living room taking a bite of toast, “I think I want to go to my Mom’s house today.”
Judy and Stefan shot me a look. “Are you sure?” He asked.
I nodded, “I am. I think I’m ready.”
“Would you like us to go with you?” Judy asked.
“If you would like to. I’m just going to start going through things, and putting things in boxes. I might get emotional, so apologize in advance.”
Judy gasped, “My sweet girl you have nothing to apologize for. We’ll be there to help, won’t we Evelyn?”
My eyes went to Evelyn; I knew she still had some guilt for how my Mom’s accident happened. She forced a smile past her emotions, “Of course we will.”
“I’m going to go get ready then. Should we leave in an hour?” I asked.
Judy smiled, “Sounds perfect.”
The hot water rushed down over my head. This was a day that I had been dreading for a long time; Going back into my Mom’s house. It was something I thought I would never be able to do. That’s why I left everything when I came home for her funeral. I couldn’t bear to touch anything. It was hard enough that she was gone, and they wanted me to disrupt her house? I closed my eyes stepping back into the water, letting the water fall over my face. I don’t think you’ll ever be truly ready, but as time passes the days get easier.
I blow dried my hair and straightened it. I put on a t-shirt and skinny jeans that I cuffed at the bottom. Of course I wore my beloved white Keds, which are more of the shade of dirt due to how much I have worn them.
Everyone was waiting for me in the living room. We had made a plan to pack up as much as we could today, I would keep what I wanted, and Judith would organize the rest when we went back home to New York.
Stefan and I rode in the rental car. Judith and Evelyn rode in her blue T-Bird. We knew we were going to have to bring boxes back to the house, so we thought we could put them in the back of the rental.
This time it wasn’t Evelyn who was nervous, it was me. The closer we got to my Mom’s house, the more my stomach danced. I missed our home, I missed my Mom. Every day I thought about her. We pulled into the driveway, and my heart fluttered. The front door screen was still peeling back, the roof needing some work; the lemon yellow house was exactly the same as I remembered. I don’t know why I thought it might be different. I guess maybe because it had been awhile since I had visited. I felt a small spout of guilt for not coming sooner.
“Are you ok?” Stefan asked, as he turned the car off.
“I think so.”
He touched my hand, “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. We can turn around right this second if you want.”
“I’ll be ok. It’s never going to be an easy thing for me to do.”
He gave me a sweet smile, “Ok. Let’s go then.”
Judith and Evelyn stepped out of their car chatting amongst each other. I walked up to the front door with Stefan a few steps behind me. I knew what he was doing, he was letting me process this alone. He knew my mind was going a hundred miles a minute. I opened the screen door; it creaked just like I remembered. I put the key in the front door, and took in a deep breath when I pushed it open. My heart stopped for a moment. I felt my Mom hear. Her jacket was still laying on the back of the sofa. She probably tossed it there when she was leaving that day. The sun was shining through the windows. You could see the dust floating in the sunshine. I swallowed the frog that had formed in my throat and walked further in.
This is one of those moments you will remember forever; packing up your parent’s things. We had been here two hours, and we had made our way through a lot of the house. Judith and Evelyn were tackling the kitchen. Stefan was going through the garage, and I was in my Mom’s bedroom after I had already finished mine.
I had gone through her dresser, folding her clothes on top of the bed. I barely kept any of her clothes, except a sweater she would wear every Sunday. I moved on to the closet next, I slid the doors open and started fanning through the clothes. I got to the deep right corner of the closet, and found a few of my father’s things. There was a brown suit that I could vaguely remember him wearing. I picked
up the suit jacket, and admired it for a moment. I tossed it over my arm, and took a deep breath. I missed them both so much.
“How are you doing in here?” Stefan’s voice startled me.
I composed myself, “I’m ok.”
He studied me for a second, “Are you sure? You looked like you’re thinking really hard.”
I sighed, “I want you to take me somewhere.”
“Right now?”
I gave him a weak smile, “Yes.”
We told Judith and Evelyn that we would be back soon, and that we would pick up lunch on our back. They kept trudging on through the kitchen, wrapping each plate delicately.
When we arrived I wasn’t quite sure where to go. My heart was beating calmly as I walked through the trees. Stefan stayed back by the car, I wanted to be alone for this. I was counting the isles, and then the headstones. My heart leapt when I found them. My parents. I pulled my coat tighter around my chest, as I stared down.
“Hi.” I smiled, as a tear formed. “I’ve missed you.”
I knelt down, curling my legs under me. “I’m sorry I haven’t come since Mom’s funeral. I’d be here every day if I could.”
A few moments of silence passed. Wind blew through the trees. The smell of fresh cut grass filled the fields for miles.
“Dad…” I looked at his stone. “Stefan treats me really good. You’d like him. He laughs like you. I wish you had met him. He drinks coffee the same way as us. Black with a dash of almond milk,” I let out a small laugh, “I thought you’d like that. Mom told me that’s how you always drank it; I guess I picked up the trait.”
I looked at my Mom’s stone, my eyes focused on her name Lucielle. “Hey, Mom...I miss you a lot,” Another tear fell. “Stefan kept your promise, you know? He takes care of me. Every day...and I’m happy. Sometimes it feels wrong to feel happy without you here…” I wiped my face. “I just want to squeeze your hand three times to tell you I love you, but I think you know.”
“Stefan is good to me...he really loves me.” Tears were full on coming down now. “I wish you had more time to get to know him, Mom. And Dad...oh you would have loved the way he makes me smile.”
I closed my eyes tight, trying to stop the tears from falling, “He’s the one...the one where my heart calls home. I’m not alone, and I wanted you to know that I’m loved. A love I never knew was real. I needed to let you know that your little girl is going to be ok.” I wiped my face again. “You both loved me more than I could ever have hoped for. You made me strong even though at times you thought you weren’t doing it right. Especially you, Mom. Stefan’s got me now. So, you don’t have to worry. You can rest.”
I felt Stefan’s hands on my shoulders; he crouched down, pulling me between his legs. I leaned into him as the tears slowly fell. He sat with me, letting me silently cry while the wind blew through the trees, and the birds sang their beautiful songs.
Before we left I looked back, “I’ll always be your little girl.” I whispered.
Chapter Thirty Eight
Sophia
Two years had passed. I moved back into the Brownstone after 6 months of living in my apartment. I got a new job at a book publishing company that I applied for on my own and got by myself. Stefan and I were blissfully happy. To our surprise, Evelyn moved to Nebraska to be close to Judith. Stefan and I didn’t think she was actually going to follow through with the thought, but a few weeks after she told us, she had purchased a house down the road from Judith’s. We’ve spent the last two Christmases in Nebraska. It was very different from what Evelyn and Stefan were used to. More of a simple quiet time, than the large parties they were used to throwing.
Today all my favorite people were brought together. I wasn’t quite sure how we were able to get everyone in one location, especially this location, but Stefan was determined to make this day perfect.
My lips were my favorite red. I stared in the mirror at my reflection. My life had changed so much since I moved to New York. I never knew it would bring me to this day, but here I was. My hands were clammy. Butterflies filled my stomach. I took a sip of my mimosa, and then took a deep breath.
“Knock knock.” A deep voice said from the door. “Keira told me I could find you here.”
I turned to find a well dressed Joe standing in the doorway. A warm smile appeared on my face, “Hi, Joe.”
“You look good in white.” He wrapped me in the same bear hug he always gives.
“Thank you,” I tucked a loose hair behind my ear. “What’s this?” I gestured to the small black box he was holding.
He laughed in that awkward dad way, “It’s a gift for you.” He held out the box.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” I sat down, with the box in my hand.
“I didn’t, it’s from Stefan.”
“Oh…” My stomach did a flip. I pulled open the top of the box to find a diamond bracelet with a small locket attached. “It’s beautiful.” I dangled it in front of me, then popped open the locket, I gasped. A picture of my mom and dad were on either side. How did he get these?
“Oh I was supposed to give you this note first.” He handed me a small card. “He gave me an important job, I got nervous, and I did it backwards.” He laughed another dad laugh. I smiled, trying to hold back the tears that were begging to get out as I took the card.
They’re with you today. Just breathe.
Love, SE
A tear fell onto the card. Joe handed me a tissue. “Don’t mess up your makeup. Isn’t that what I’m supposed to say?”
I laughed through the tears, “I’m fine. I’m just happy.”
“You changed him. You made him a man instead of the boy he was for so long.”
“He taught me how to love.” I ran my thumb over the locket. “Will you put it on me?”
“Of course.” He took the bracelet, wrapping it around my wrist.
“It’s almost time,” Keira sang as she entered the room. She gasped, “He finally gave it to you?” She rushed up to me, taking my wrist in her hands, admiring the bracelet.
I laughed, “You knew about this?”
“I feel like you should know this by now. I know everything.” She smirked.
“I’m going to go find my seat. I’ll see you two out there.” Joe said, as he left the room
Keira took both my hands bringing me in front of the large mirror. “You look so beautiful. I can’t believe you’re getting married. Actually I can’t believe Stefan is getting married.”
I laughed, “I’m still pinching myself.”
“How are you? Are you ok? Do you need another mimosa?”
“I’m fine. Are there a lot of people out there?”
“Yep. I think everyone you invited showed up.”
“Have you seen Stefan?”
She smirked, “Duh. He looks so handsome. He’s super nervous.”
“He is?”
She nudged me, “Yeah, he’s marrying the girl of his dreams. That’s you.”
We both burst into laughter, just as the wedding planner cued us that it was time.
Stefan
“She’s here right? Someone has physically seen her?” I asked as I paced the room.
Leo took a sip of his drink, “Man you need to chill out. You flew over here on the same plane. Of course she’s here.”
I shot him a look, “She could run you know? She knows how to get a plane ticket.”
“She’s here. Chill.” Leo laughed.
“Were you this nervous when you and Keira got married?”
“Hell yes. I thought I was going to throw up all morning. I’m surprised you haven’t.” He took another sip.
Joe entered the room, “How’s our guy holding up?”
Leo eyed me, “He’s having a panic attack. He needs a drink.”
Joe laughed, “What is it that you needed, Stefan?”
I walked over and grabbed the box from the table. “I need you to give this to Sophia, but it’s important to give her the note first.
”
He looked down at it, “What is it?”
“It’s something that will calm her nerves.”
Leo laughed, “That’s what you need. You got one of those for yourself?”
“Will you shut it?” I snapped. Leo continued to laugh.
“When would you like me to give it to her?” Joe asked.
“Now. Go now.” I ushered him toward the door.
He nodded, “Will do.”
I walked back through the room with my hands on the back of my head, “I’m a fucking wreck.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying for the last thirty minutes.” Leo chimed in again.
I shot him another look.
“Hello.” My Mum’s sweet voice appeared near the door.
I looked over and smiled, “Hi, Mum.”
“You look so handsome.” She brought me into a hug, kissing me on the cheek.
“Thank you. How are you?”
“I’m very well. You’re Nan and I had a lovely breakfast.”
“Good I’m glad.”
She fixed my tie, “You shouldn’t be nervous. Sophia is so lovely.”
I laughed, “It’s still weird when you say that.”
“Back then was a different time. I love her dearly. She was made for you.”
I smiled, “Thanks, Mum.”
“It’s almost time,” The wedding planner told us from the hall.
“Ok. I will leave you to it. See you in a bit.” My Mum kissed my cheek again then left the room.
Leo stood from his chair, “Are you going to throw up? Because this is the time.”
“Shut it, Leo.”
Leo laughed, and grabbed his jacket.
Sophia
My body was buzzing with nerves. I could hear the waves crashing. That smell of the ocean reminded me of mine and Stefan’s time here after my Mom passed away. I looked down at my bracelet and smiled. Keira was straightening Leo’s tie. My heart was racing. I peeked around the corner, looking at the guests. White roses filled the aisle. I saw Stefan’s Nan in one of the front seats next to Evelyn. Stefan wasn’t in sight; I just needed to see him. I stepped back as a rush of nerves came over me again. I shook my hands trying to calm down.
Until Him: Book 3 - Until Then Series Page 25