realize that I need to move forward and stop living in the past. A day will never go by when Noah and Kedsey won’t cross my mind. I struggle with the guilt every day, and I feared that I’d never escape that pain if I saw Ella again, but just the opposite happened. The more I’m with her, the more I’m me and the more I’m thankful for her and happy that I am in her life.”
An annoyed long sigh escapes my dad’s throat, but sniffles come from my mother on the opposite side of the table.
My dad shoots her a roll of his eyes and pushes the napkin dispenser her way. “Always the romantic, Katie.”
She wipes her eyes and reaches over to squeeze my hand.
“Okay, you don’t need to be asking for her hand in marriage.” He gives a stern gaze to Crosby.
“No, sir. Not yet.” Crosby looks at me and winks.
My stomach flips as I think about making those notebooks from junior high ring true. Mrs. Crosby Lynch.
He stands, tucking his chair into the table. “I have more chores, and you need to get your butt back up to school to practice.” He eyes Crosby.
I take a deep breath.
There’s nothing we can’t get through together.
I stand and rush over to my father, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Thank you, Dad. I love you,” I whisper.
He lightly pats my back in more of a motion to stop showing affection. “Love you, too, Sweet Ella. I’m not happy that you went against what we agreed on, but no matter what, I don’t have it in me to keep you from something you want.”
I look over at Crosby, and instead of seeing a happy guy who got the approval from my dad, he’s looking at his phone with a scowl on his face.
What now?
Chapter Eighteen
Crosby
“What?” Ella asks.
I’ve piqued the interests of Mr. and Mrs. Keaton as to what I’m staring at on my phone.
Fucking bullshit, that’s what.
“Nothing. Ollie is asking me to grab his bag. He’s hung up at the library,” I lie. I tuck my phone into my pocket and stand to thank Mr. Keaton for the blessing to date his daughter. “Thank you for giving me another chance.”
I hold out my shaky hand, and he clasps it with his.
“It wasn’t about you. It was the two of you together. You both have a hard road ahead of you.” He doesn’t smile. Then, he kisses Ella on the cheek. Right before he fully exits the house, he screams back, “Get your ass up to practice, Crosby! You don’t need to ruin that opportunity!”
I glance at Ella, who rushes in saying good-bye to her mother with a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. Ella bypasses me toward the front door, and I follow her but not before Mrs. Keaton stops me with her hand on my forearm. I turn, and she only bears the softest of smiles.
“Welcome home, Crosby.” She hugs me tight, as though she’s missed me as much as I’ve missed all of them.
I swallow the lump occupying my throat.
Mr. and Mrs. Keaton are like a second set of parents to me.
My own are far too busy with helping others. I never felt neglected, but many times, Spencer and I would be left to find our own dinner. My dad would have dinner meetings and counseling sessions at night, and my mom would have bible study and women’s groups, so my brother and I would fend for ourselves. I don’t fault them—they are selfless people—but a little more attention to Spencer and I wouldn’t have been bad either. After the accident, their need to help others only heightened.
“Thank you, Mrs. Keaton.”
She smoothes her hand down the center of my back. “Please…take care of her. She holds scars, too.”
Ella walks back, stopping in the doorway. “Oh, Ma,” she sighs. “Two days ago, you weren’t even happy about Crosby’s return.”
Her mom backs up, wiping a few tears. “I was scared, but I had a hand in breaking your heart once. I won’t do it again.” She rushes into the kitchen, exiting with another apple pie wrapped in foil. “Here, take this up with you.” She hands the pie to Ella, and her hand gently brushes a strand of Ella’s chestnut hair, tucking it behind her ear. “Go now.”
As fast as Mrs. Keaton’s emotions were hung out on a laundry line for all of us to witness, she takes them down, like a storm has darkened the clouds above.