“I know,” she says and gives me a smile. “They’re good people, Jamie. They took me in like I was their own.”
I laugh. “After raising two rambunctious sons, they really wanted a daughter.”
“Now they have a rambunctious grandson.”
“After Ethan and me, Chase will be a walk in the park for them,” I say, and it brings a smile to her face.
“Oh,” she says and turns to me. “I heard from Joyce at HR. My job is waiting for me, but I’m going to take a month to get the house on the market and find a new, smaller place near the hospital.” She looks out the window, off in the distance. “I know it’s not much time, but I need to occupy my mind.”
“I can understand that.”
“I know you can,” she says and before I ev
en realize what I’m doing, I reach across the seat and give her hand a squeeze. Our gazes meet for a second, and she tugs her hand back and puts it on her lap. “I have to get Chase into daycare, and find a nanny for my night shifts.”
Shit, I’m home until practice starts up next month, but I can’t make the offer to help out at nights. “I’m sure Mom would love to help out.”
“I don’t want to ask too much, or put anyone out,” she says.
I take a left and pull into the driveway of Mom and Dad’s new bungalow. Fallon sits up a bit straighter and glances at the house. “I knew they moved, but for some reason still had it in my head we’d be at their old place.”
I unbuckle. “I’m still have a hard time getting used to it too.”
We exit the car and I grab their bag as she helps Chase from his seat. “Mommy, I want to go swimming,” he says.
“We’re going to,” she says. “But first you have to say hello to Grandma and Grandpa Adams.”
The front door opens and Fallon goes a bit still when she sees my mom and dad standing there. Her gaze rakes over them, and in turn they take in their daughter-in-law and grandson. They don’t come rushing out. No, instead they let Fallon and Chase come to them, like they’re skittish animals who need to make the first move, and I can’t help but think it’s the best approach for all.
I cross around the car, put my hand on the small of her back, and slowly usher her forward. Mom’s smile is wide, if not a bit wobbly, and that’s when I notice the fine lines around her eyes are just a bit deeper today. My dad has his arm around Mom’s shoulder, a stabilizing force, as his dark eyes brim with joy.
“Look who’s here,” I say, keeping things light.
“Fallon, Chase, it’s so good to see you both,” Mom says, and Fallon relaxes under my touch. Mom pulls her in for a hug when we reach the landing.
“Marion, it’s good to be back.”
The women hug and Dad and I exchange a look, one filled with pain and hope. I know they’ve been worried about me, but have kept mostly quiet as I work out my own demons. Do they think now that Fallon is back, it will somehow help me move forward? They always knew how close we used to be.
Fallon turns to give Dad a hug. “Barry,” she says, her voice shaky as he pulls her in. After the hugs, she drops to her knees.
“Chase, can you say hello to Grandma and Grandpa.”
“I want to swim,” Chase says and we all chuckle.
“Chase, that is not polite. I asked you to say hello,” Fallon says in a disciplinary tone of voice.
“Hello,” Chase says, and my mom carefully reaches for his hand, but it’s easy to see how excited she is, how much she wants to embrace him. But she’s going slow. We all need to go slow.
“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, how about a swim?” Mom says.
Chase takes her hand, and as she leads him inside. We all follow. Fallon turns to me, gives me a smile that nearly stalls my heart.
“Thanks, Jamie,” she says.
“Fallon—”
As everyone disappears around the corner, she puts her hand on my chest, and her touch goes right through, wraps around my heart in a way that’s almost frightening. Jesus fuck, I’ve missed her.