Page 95 of Forever Enough
Emily laughed. “Well, we did get home late last night.”
Glancing around, I focused back on her. “Did Doug leave already?”
“Oh, he left at around nine when Bradly came to pick him up.” She giggled and sighed. “Doug was so cute dressed in his jeans and cowboy boots he bought in Missoula. I hope he’s warm enough, though. He looked goofy in his knit beanie hat standing next to Bradly, who had a cowboy hat on.” Emily gave me a look. “I have to just say again, Bradly is one good-looking guy.”
I shook my head to get rid of what felt like cobwebs. “Wait. Bradly was already here, and he left without saying anything to me?”
She nodded. “Yeah, he didn’t want to wake you up. He said you looked too cute sleeping on the sofa with Mr. Whiskers all curled up next to you. By the way,” Emily pointed a spatula at me, “you sleep like the dead. I don’t know how we didn’t wake you up simply by talking. No one really tried to be quiet, either. I’m pretty sure Bradly was hoping you’d wake up on your own so he could at least say good morning.”
I stood and stretched once again. Yawning, I said, “I definitely slept like the dead.”
“You did!”
“Ugh, I wish someone would have woken me up. I wanted to see him.”
My sister grinned. “You really are in love with him, aren’t you?”
Returning the same grin, I replied, “I really am, and I don’t care what anyone says.”
“That’s all that matters. And you’re really going to come to New York City for a few days?”
I laughed. “I guess so! I want to be able to see firsthand Bradly doing what he does.” Walking up to my sister, I took the offered cup of coffee.
“You’re not afraid of him getting hurt?” she asked with a concerned expression.
“Of course, I am. But I would never in a million years tell him not to do it, just so I have a bit of peace. I wouldn’t want him telling me I couldn’t work on the farm anymore. Besides, he’s under contract and has obligations.”
She moved the scrambled eggs around in the pan. “True. I also can’t see him being that type of guy. Doug would never dream of telling me what I can or cannot do.”
Leaning against the counter, I took a sip of coffee and let the silence linger for a bit before I spoke. “Do you remember Daddy at all?”
Her shoulders slumped a bit. “I remember bits and pieces of things. Like the time we all went camping. That was fun.”
Smiling, I nodded. “That was fun. He made Mom so happy, and sometimes I think she’s with asshat as punishment.”
Emily turned and looked at me. “What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “Maybe she didn’t want to be happy without Dad. I’m just trying to make sense of the thoughts in my head. I guess I’m always trying to find a reason why she stays with him. Why she lets him treat her the way he does.”
“Or why she allowed him to treat us the way he did. More so you than me, thank you for that. I know I say it all the time, but there’s no way to ever repay you for what you took on to keep him away from me.”
I drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “I wish our family could have been like Bradly’s or Doug’s.”
Emily pointed to the toast that popped up, and I quickly got to work buttering the pieces. I put a few slices of bacon on our plates and watched as Emily divided the eggs.
“When I’m with Doug’s family, I feel like I’m in a TV show from the fifties. Or at least that’s what I think of anyway. They’re so loving and caring for one another. And from what I saw last night at the wedding and the party, Bradly’s family and the Shaws are the same way. Can you imagine Mom doing any of that for one of us?”
We carried our plates to the table and sat down. I stared at my food for a few moments before I answered her. “I think if Dad hadn’t died, she would have. I think deep down inside of her, she wants to be that type of mother, but she’s lost herself completely. Now, she can’t find her way back even if she wanted to.”
Emily sighed. “I wish she would leave him.”
I nodded in wordless agreement. We ate in silence for a few minutes before Emily smiled.
“I wonder how long it will take before we can move here. I hope it’s before spring. I imagine it’s so beautiful here in the spring.”
I smiled at the thought of spring in Montana. “I’m looking forward to it also. I don’t make near as much as I did when I was working for the State of Georgia, but I’m so much happier here in Montana. I’m not looking over my shoulder, and honestly, I don’t need much. Peace is really all I’ve been looking for. Fate threw in a handsome cowboy and I feel like I’m set, especially now with you and Doug moving here.”
She gave me a soft smile as she said, “You deserve all the peace and love. I’m so happy you’ve found it, Kenz.”