“Well, that’s my cue. I’ll talk to you later? Maybe we can get together for dinner when we get back,” she told me.
“It’s a date,” I told her.
Beck’s gaze flashed to me. “Hey that’s my wife you’re making dates with.”
I let out a loud laugh, “Well, I was referring to both of you guys coming. I figured you’d come to.”
He reached his hand out to me, and I took it. We shook hands, and then they left for the cake.
Not really wanting to stay and watch the festivities, I decided to walk outside.
Walking out of the reception hall, I saw someone sitting on the bench a few yards away.
I couldn't tell who the woman was, she had her head down resting on her hands. Her dark hair spilled over her shoulders. She was shaking, and I realized that she was crying.
I slowly walked up, not wanting to scare her. As I got closer, I recognized that the woman was Ellison.
I sat down next to her, and cleared my throat to let her know I was there.
She looked up, and the white in her eyes were bright red, making her blue eyes stand out even more. She was so beautiful that it hurt looking at her.
“You okay?” I asked her. I watched a few emotions pass over her face. For a minute it looked like she was about to make something up, but then she turned to me and laid her head on my shoulder and started crying even harder.
“They took Nick from me,” she said in between sobs.
“Who did?” I asked.
“My grandparents, we had another court date for custody. The judge agreed with them, that I was too young. Now I only get him once a month.”
“When did this happen?” I asked her, trying to remember if I had heard Beck talking about it. “Beck doesn’t know, right?”
She shook her head, “I didn’t want to tell him, it would ruin the wedding,” she admitted.
I pulled my phone out from my suit jacket, and opened up my contacts list.
She lifted her head off of my shoulder and glances down to my phone.
“Who are you calling? You can’t tell Beck, not until after he’s back,” she told me.
Beck and Calla had just left to go on their Honeymoon, they were going to be gone for a week, and I knew that he’d cancel it to help her.
“Relax, I’m just calling my dad. He’s an attorney, a really good attorney. If anyone can help you it’s him,” I told her, as I got ready to hit the call button.
She grabbed my phone from my hands.
“No, I don’t need you to call him. I’m fine,” she said with a lot of fire behind her words. She was glaring at me and mad… really mad.
“Relax, I’m just trying to help you,” I told her.
“Help me? You think that everything is solved by a phone call to Daddy. I wouldn’t expect you to understand how the real world works,” she answered back.
I didn’t say anything, because she was partly right. I didn’t even try to pretend that she was wrong. So far, all of my problems had been able to be fixed by a single phone call to my dad.
She looked beautiful when she was angry and I felt bad that the thought came to me when she was clearly upset. However, a part of me sort of wanted to make her mad more often.
I didn’t know why I wanted to help her, I barely knew her. The only person I’d really cared about besides my family was Calla, but Ellison for some reason, I wanted to help. I wanted her to look at me the same way Calla looked at Beck, like I could fix anything that was wrong in the world.
“Please, I really think he can do something to help your situation,” I told her again.
She stood up and put her hands on her hips; her dark hair fell into her face.
“Why do you care, Parker?” She asked me.
I could tell she was trying to stay strong, to show the world that had failed her so many times that she was tough enough to take on this too. But underneath her facade, I saw her falter a little, she was scared and alone.
I resisted the urge to grab her hand, and tried to come up with a lame excuse as to why I cared. I wasn't good at showing my emotions and feelings, but with Ellison, I didn’t want to hide from her.
I answered honestly, “I don’t know.”
She studied me for a minute, and then sat down next to me again. I glanced over to her and saw that she was crying again, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. I put my arm around her and pulled her close to me.
I just held onto her while she cried. After a few minutes, she stopped, and looked up at me.
“I don’t need saving, just a friend. Do you think you can just be my friend?” She asked me.
“I can do that,” I replied to her. Vowing to myself to be there for her no matter what, and however she would let me be in her life.
Acknowledgments
A huge thank you to everyone who has helped me during this process.
Thank you, God, for giving me a story to tell, and the ability to share it with others. I pray that this will bless all those who read it in one way or another.
To my family and friends who I know I probably drove crazy with all my “book-talk.” I appreciate the fact that you always listened to me when I was having a good day and a discouraging one.
To my husband, thank you for allowing me to follow this newly found dream of mine, and being willing to let me take some chances.
To my editor and friend Liza, you have helped me so much. I don’t even know where to begin… without you this book would still be unfinished. You helped me get back on track, and were always there to tell me things were going to be okay.
To Chelsea Barnes, who saved the day by making my cover. I am so thankful that God put our paths together!
About the Author
Michele Tucker was born and raised in Tacoma, WA. When she was fifteen, she met her future husband and at nineteen moved to Eastern, WA to live closer to him. They were married in 2003, and since then have welcomed three very sweet, but energetic boys.
Prior to writing her debut novel, What's Left of Us, it had been about fifteen years since she'd written anything beyond an email. She's thankful that God has given her stories to write, and the ability to share them.
Michele is very active in her church, and teaches the Wednesday night program for the four and five year olds.
Anything else you'd like to know, just follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authormicheletucker
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
What's Left of Us (The Us Series Book 1) Page 19
