Page 126 of One More Chance
"You were gone for quite awhile. Did you run into any kind of trouble?"
I chuckled. "Not exactly, but trust me… you're going to fucking love what I found out today."
"Well, do not leave me in suspense," Charlie said. "Spill the tea, as Violet would say."
"Sorry, bud. You gotta wait. We'll discuss it tonight over whiskey."
"Oh… I see."
And I honestly believe the clever bastard somehow knew right then and there… and I hated him the tiniest bit for it.
I asked, "Hey, is Sloane around?"
"She was accepting a delivery at the door, but she is on her way now. Drive safe, Levi."
There was a moment of quiet, some rustling and jostling on the other line, and then Sloane's melodic voice filled the cab of my truck.
"Levi?"
I turned the volume up so I could feel her voice.
"Levi, you there?"
"I'm here, my love. I'm right here. What delivery did you get?"
She laughed. "You know damn well what it is, Levi. Thank you, they're as beautiful as always."
Blue hyacinths and white roses. Every week.
I said, "Violet did great. You would have been proud."
“Oh, I'm proud of her whether I can see her or not. But I'm glad the drop off went well. I hate that they wouldn’t let both parents attend.”
I shrugged, “Well, you know how these things go. They have their little rules and regulations they want everybody to march to.”
She laughed. “I guess so. Amber stop that! Those are mine!" I heard rustling and then her breathless voice asked, "Will you be home soon?”
“Yeah. Thirty minutes. Should I grab anything?”
She made a noise like a ravenous animal. “A gluten-free pizza sounds fabulous right now.”
“You got it. Veggie for you, Amber, and Charlie? Meat for me and Rowan?”
“Yessss!”
Her voice was warm, teasing. I felt a rush of love and a familiar pang of remorse.
“I love you, Sloane.”
She heard the shift in my tone. “I love you, Levi. Are you okay?”
No. I don't think I can ever be truly okay… but that's okay.
“I miss her.” A partial truth to the storm inside of me.
“Yeah,” she said softly. “I miss her, too.”
The phone was silent for a moment but connected us in the quiet. I heard Sloane moving something, maybe walking to the bedroom before she finally said, “We did it. We survived so much, haven’t we?”
