Page 52 of Finally Home
“Hey Doc?”
She’s still chuckling lightly when she answers. “Yes, Rhodes?”
I rub my sweaty palms together, more nervous now than I was before the session began. “Could I maybe…bring Wren to an appointment sometime? Or even recommend you to her for her own therapy if she moves here? I don’t know if that’s like…a no-no or some ethical issue, but I think she would love you.”
A bright smile crosses her face, and she taps her pen against the notepad on her knee. “There’s no legal reason I can’t see both of you individually, but there would need to be firm boundaries in place. I won’t discuss the details from our sessions with her, and the same would go for the opposite if I were to treat Wren.”
Nodding emphatically, I give her a cheeky grin and wink. “You got it, Doc. Secret squirrel meetings. I hear you loud and clear,” I say with a salute.
She shakes her head with a laugh and checks her watch. “It looks like that’s our time for today. Did you have any questions before I go?”
I shake my head, already feeling much better. Plus, talking about college gave me an idea. Hopefully, my surprise for Wren will help with any big feelings she’s got right now. I’ll give her three more days of space before I track her down, but for now, I have an errand to run.
Signing off from my session with Dr. Connie, I grab my keys, Google the nearest apparel printing shop, and text Aidan to invite him along. Copeland is out of town for a few days dealing with some family stuff, otherwise I’d invite him, too.
Me
I’m gonna make something to cheer Wren up. Wanna come?
Preacher
Crew is with my mom, so as long as there’s food involved, hell yeah.
Me
Sweet. Pick you up in five?
Preacher
See you soon, Streaks.
He lives just down the road, so it’s only a couple of minutes before he’s yanking open my passenger door and dropping his happy ass into the seat. Aidan buckles his seatbelt, slaps his hands on his knees and beams at me. “So what are we doing for my new bestie?”
It’s nice to finally see him so excited about something. The guy has gone through so much in the last five years since Crew’s mom left, so he’s earned some happiness that doesn’t come from his kid or baseball.
I smile at him out of the corner of my eye and grab a bundle of fabric out of the backseat. “Here’s what I’m thinking…”
CHAPTER 32
WREN
After an obsessive number of hugs from Jamie, Wes, Asher, and Jeremy, I hopped on a plane back to Charleston with Kaci and Dom and had them drop me off at Rhodes’s house to surprise him. I’m nauseous with nerves the entire ride there, and by the time I unlock the front door, my heart is beating so fast, I feel faint.
“Hello?” I call out into the quiet house. The only answer is Finn’s enthusiastic yip from the mudroom. It’s the middle of the afternoon, but Rhodes shouldn’t have practice today. Oh well. Now I have time to start dinner. I’m mostly useless in the kitchen, but surely I can’t mess up fried chicken and mac ‘n’ cheese if I follow the recipes Mama Gray gave me.
When I enter the mudroom, Finn wriggles excitedly and whines when he sees me. I drop to my knees in front of his kennel and let him out, overwhelmed by how much bigger he looks after being away for a week. “Hi baby boy!” I coo. “Did you miss me while I was gone?” He licks my face as if in answer, and I laugh loudly.
Holding him under his furry front legs, I lift him up and look into his soulful blue eyes. “I missed you so much, big guy. I promise to never leave like that again, okay? I missed you and your daddy too much.” I let Finn outside to potty and put some fresh food and water on the patio so he can play while I cook.
An hour later, I throw the pan into the sink with a crash as frustrated tears spring to my eyes. I take in the smoke coming off the ruined chicken and huff a sigh through my nose.
“Dude, I think your house is on…fire.” Aidan’s worried voice catches my attention and I turn off the stove, forgetting all about my tears as I spin around to face the two men who I didn’t hear walk in.
My cheeks burn so hot I swear I hear a sizzle before I hurriedly wipe the tears away. “Uhm… hi,” I choke out.
Aidan looks like he’s fighting a laugh, but Rhodes just stands awkwardly in the kitchen doorway with his eyes wide and mouth ajar as he takes in the disaster.
Following his line of sight, I grimace and hold out my hands. “I’m so sorry. I just wanted to surprise you with dinner, but then the oil got too hot, and the chicken started burnin’, and then the water boiled over. It just… went to hell in a hand basket from there,” I say sheepishly.