She chewed her bottom lip, running her fingers across the bridge of her nose. Finally, her hands went up in defeat. "You're right, Wes. I'm not being fair. I'm so sorry. This is all just new to me."
"I know what you're saying, but think of how new it is for me. At least you're still in a familiar place. This is all new to me. Literally all."
She nodded. "I appreciate you getting a place so quickly. I know it isn't easy for you, and I know how much you must miss her. How did you manage to get moved in so quickly anyway?"
"I took yesterday off."
She did a double take, her head jerking backward. "I'm sorry. You did what?"
"I took the day off to get moved in so Rory could visit sooner. If I'd tried to work through the evenings, it would've taken me all week to unpack and get moved in. You knew I was coming to get my stuff while you were at work.”
She blinked slowly, processing what I was telling her. “Yeah, I thought you were just going in a few hours late. You mean you took all of yesterday off?”
I tried to hide the triumphant smile I felt playing on my lips. “Yeah, I took the whole day. I wanted to get it done. I knew how important it was to you.”
"So, wait. You're saying you're off right now when it's only," she glanced at the clock on the wall, "five thirty. And you also took yesterday off."
"Yeah, that's right."
“Who are you and what have you done with my husband?” she joked, watching me closely as if she truly suspected I were an imposter. I’d obviously impressed her, and I saw my chance to make a move.
"I’m still me, but I’m trying to be better. I heard what you were saying, Addy. I heard you, and I'm trying to make the changes to prove to you how serious I am about you. About us. I know I wasn't doing everything I needed to for you. For Rory. I know you weren't happy here, and I'm sorry it took you kicking me out for me to finally listen to you. I love you so much, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to prove that to you. And I mean now. Not in a month, not next week, now. I'm going to be better for you because that's who you need. You need the best version of me, and I'm going to give you that."
I swallowed, breathlessly staring at her as I waited for her response. It was the best speech I’d ever given, and I hadn’t rehearsed a moment of it. She stared at me, unblinking, as she processed what I'd said with a soft gaze.
"I love you, too, Wes. And that truly does mean so much to me. Thank you for…for hearing me. I'm really impressed and appreciative of what you’re doing."
I wanted her to say I should move back in, that I'd done enough. That I'd proven how serious I was, but I couldn't ask. I couldn't press. She'd given me an inch, and I couldn't ask for more. "I'm glad to hear it. And I really am sorry for stopping in unannounced."
"I should've answered your calls. I know I should have. It's just so hard to talk to you. It just…it makes me sad, Wes." A hint of tears glimmered in her eyes, and I watched her blink them away quickly, clearing her throat.
"Talking to you is still the highlight of my day," I told her honestly.
She didn't respond right away, instead taking a deep breath, seeming to collect herself as she brushed away a stray tear. "I will tell Mom she doesn't have to stay here anymore if you want to start taking Rory to her soccer practice on Thursdays."
"Yes, I would love to," I said quickly, practically before she'd finished the sentence.
She grinned, almost laughing. "And I stay late at the school on Wednesdays to grade papers, so if you want to come over on Wednesday nights, you can have dinner with her."
"Yes. Done."
"You'll have to cook."
"I can do that."
"I can't guarantee that she'll want to spend time with you. She’s always YouTubing or FaceTiming, and there’s this new boy that she likes—”
“A boy?” The warmth of the moment had disappeared at once. Since when was my daughter interested in boys? Seriously, anyway.
She grinned, shaking her head. “My point is, my time with her is mostly her in her room, but I can tell her how important it is to you. I know she misses you."
"I miss her," I said. "I miss her mom, too."
She cocked her head to the side, staring at me with a dreamy expression. I’d almost sold her, I could tell. I was close to closing the deal. "And as for staying all night," she interrupted my thoughts, "I'll talk to her about spending every other weekend there with you. She wants to be with her friends more than anything, Wes, and I don't want to take that away from her right now. I know she's having a hard time with this, and I don't want to take away anything that’s helping to keep her mind off of things for a bit."
"I don't want that either. I just miss her."
"I know," she said, patting my chest cautiously. I lifted my hand to cup hers, and to my surprise, she didn't pull it away. I studied her face, my eyes drifting back and forth between hers. I wanted to kiss her, to smell her hair, her skin, to feel her
