Wrecked (Clayton Falls) - By Alyssa Rose Ivy Page 0,65

still a five hour drive. I got right in, leaning over to kiss Emily on the cheek before turning around to say hi to Noah.

“Thanks for coming. I know you wanted to spend time with Becca.” Emily pulled out onto the road.

“This is much more important.” I took her hand and squeezed it. She was shaking.

“Have you talked to your mom again since you called me?”

“Yeah. He’s all settled in. Mom sounded so scared though.” She took her hand from mine to brush away a tear. “I can’t imagine what she’s going through. They’ve been married thirty-five years. How do you say goodbye to someone after so long?”

“I don’t know.” The truth was, I’d only been dating Emily a few months and I already knew I couldn’t say goodbye to her.

I tried to keep Emily relaxed as she drove, but I knew how upset she was. Noah fell asleep before we even left town, so most of the ride was quiet. I wished I could just take over the driving to let her sleep.

I’d had my hand on her leg for a while and went to move it.

She placed her hand on top of mine to stop me. “No, don’t. I need to feel your touch right now. It’s what’s keeping me from breaking apart. I don’t know what we’d do without you, Jake. You’re my rock.” She glanced over at me for a second as she said it before returning her eyes to the dark road.

There was something about those words, something on her face. I turned around and watched Noah sleep. I already knew it, but holding Emily’s hand and watching Noah solidified it all for me. I needed them in my life forever.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Emily

I couldn’t have made the drive without Jake. I would have tried, but I probably would have stopped somewhere along the way. Having the conversation I needed to have with my dad would be hard. Doing it knowing he had almost no time left would be nearly impossible.

Mom greeted me with a hug. She didn’t let go for a minute, and I was once again grateful for Jake. He carried a sleeping Noah inside.

Mom let go of me long enough to notice we weren’t alone. “Hi, you must be Jake.”

“Hi, Mrs. Taylor. I’m so sorry about what you’re going through.”

She sighed. “Thank you for coming up with Emily. I felt better knowing they weren’t on the road alone.”

“Is there anywhere I should put him down?” Jake adjusted Noah in his arms.

“Of course. I still have the crib set up in Noah’s old room.” I led Jake upstairs, pausing for a second in front of my parents’ room before continuing down the hall. I kissed Noah before Jake set him down. We left the room, closing the door behind us.

“Emily, can you come here for a second?” Mom called from downstairs.

Jake put a hand on my arm. “I’ll get our stuff from the car. Which room are we in? Or do you want me to stay on the couch or something?”

“No. I need you with me. My room’s that one.” I pointed to my door.

“Okay, go talk to your mom.” He kissed me, before walking downstairs.

I was glad Mom wanted to talk first, because I certainly wasn’t ready to talk to Dad yet. Not that he was awake. It was after two a.m.

“I’m so glad you came. Your father needs this. You need this.”

“I know.” That’s when the tears started. I wanted to be strong for Mom, but I couldn’t be.

I heard the door swing open and closed as Jake brought in our stuff.

“He seems nice.”

“He is. He’s wonderful.”

“And he’s good with Noah.” She smiled. Mom had been really supportive when I’d finally told her about him. She said she hadn’t heard me so happy in years.

“Noah can’t get enough of him.”

“I’m glad you’ve found someone.”

“Me too.” I still couldn’t believe I’d gotten so lucky.

I sat with Mom for a while longer before heading upstairs. She decided to stay up a little later. I had a feeling she wouldn’t be going to bed at all. The light was on in my room, but it was empty. I glanced into the bathroom, but that was empty too. I was about to go back downstairs, when my parents’ door opened and Jake walked out.

“Jake? What were you doing in there?”

He closed the door and walked into my room. I followed.

When we walked inside, he closed my door. “I heard your dad calling out for Noah. I assumed