Page 128 of Power
Bennett looked so tired at the podium that all I wanted to do was be there with him, to wrap my arms around him and tell him everything would be okay. My stomach flutters just thinking about him; my heart hammers with desire.
I should have courage and reach out to him. “Be brave,” I whisper to myself.
The bathroom door opens and May returns. There’s a mischievous smirk on her face. “Enough now,” she says as she stops in front of me.
“What?”
“I doubt you’ve run a brush through your hair in a couple of days. One of my chickens could lay an egg in that rat’s nest you have going on and you’d never know it. And when was the last time you brushed your teeth? Get up and go take a shower.” She points toward the retreat.
“What?”
“Enough, Reece. You’ve been moping around, barely changing out of your pajamas, feeling sorry for yourself. You’ve done life on your own; now it’s time to let that man in. You’ve dragged yourself out of a bad situation and made a life for you and that little girl in there. Now it’s time to let someone else care for you. He’s a good man, and you’re a damn good woman. You deserve this. Now, get your ass up, clean yourself up and be the woman you’ve always been. Strong, powerful, and damn sexy.”
I burst into tears at May’s tough love, but this is what I need. I jump to my feet and throw my arms around her. “You’re right, May. I do deserve to be happy.”
“I’m seldom wrong,” she sassily replies. “Leave Emily here, and go have a shower. It’s time you claim back your life.”
She’s right, it’s time I start feeling more like me than the murky haze I’ve been in recently. “Thank you.” I head past the kitchen and down to the retreat to have a shower and get ready so I can tackle this head-on. It’s the least I can do for myself.
No one is going to save me, it’s up to me to save myself.
Once I’m showered, changed, and my hair is back in a ponytail, I feel like a massive burden has disappeared. I head back up to May’s so I can talk with Emily.
“I’m back,” I call as I walk into the house.
“Mom!” Emily runs to me, smiling, and hugs me. “You look so much better.”
I catch May smirking from behind Emily. “I feel it.” I smile at May and mouth “thank you.” Then say, “I’m thinking tomorrow we head back home. What do you think?”
Emily looks over her shoulder to May, then back to me. Something passes between them, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. “Sure, Mommy.”
“What are you two up to?”
“Us? Nothing, why?” May asks. “I’m too old to be up to anything. Besides, haven’t you seen me moving? It’s not like I rushed out and quickly made arrangements for a party while you were in the shower.” Emily giggles and covers her mouth.
I narrow my eyes as I stare between them. May is glaring at me, daring me to challenge her further. Emily can’t even meet my stare. “You two are up to something.”
“I’m too old.”
“And I’m too young,” Emily says immediately after May.
“You’re too uptight,” May snickers. “Loosen up a bit.”
Coming from the left, I can hear a heavy, mechanical whooshing sound approaching. The closer it gets, the louder it is. “What’s that?” I walk over to the massive window in the family room and look out.
“He’s here!” Emily squeals with happiness as she takes off out of the house.
“Who’s here?” I turn to find May with a cocked brow, smiling widely at me. Realization quickly dawns on me, and I look out the window again. “Is that Bennett?” I ask as my voice tightens.
“What if it is?”
I straighten my shoulders and run my hand over my hair. “How?”
“Does that really matter? That boy is coming here for you, are you really going to worry about the how?” The left side of her upper lip tugs upward. “Is that what’s important here?”
I tidy and flatten my t-shirt and jeans, then clear my throat. I look out the window and see an army green helicopter begin its decent in the large open area. I turn to May and smile. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t do a single thing. I think you best get your butt out there.” We both look out the window to watch the helicopter land. The top part of the helicopter is white, and the American flag is proudly painted on it along with the words United States of America.
