Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37508 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37508 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
I glanced around the room at all that Thatch had done, and it made my heart swell. The man never ceased to amaze me. I stepped over to him and slipped my arm through his. “You really didn’t have to do all this.”
“Yeah, I did.” His eyes locked on mine. “I want to take care of you, Laken. I want to take care of you both. I just need you to let me do it.”
And God help me, but the way he said it, like taking care of us wasn’t a burden or obligation, but something he wanted, hit me in the center of my tired, hopeful heart. For the first time since Baylor’s fall, the knot in my chest disappeared.
I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his, kissing him. When I heard Baylor giggle, I eased back and gave her a smile. I gave Thatch’s arm a quick squeeze, then I claimed a spot on the sofa next to Baylor and Bunny B. From there, things seemed to slow down.
Thatch made dinner, and of course, it was all of Baylor’s favorites. We had chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and corn on the cob, and we all ate in front of the TV. Baylor and I settled into Thatcher’s house like we’d been there a hundred times before. It was easy. The place felt like him. Safe and comfortable.
After dinner, we all curled up on the sofa and watched one of Bay’s favorite movies. Normally, she would’ve talked through the entire show, but tonight, she just leaned against me, fighting her heavy eyelids. By the time the credits rolled, she was asleep against my shoulder.
Thatch carried her down the hall to the guest room, nudging the door open with his foot. I followed behind him, quickly pulling the covers back before he lowered her onto the bed. The room was simple but comfortable. The bedding was white, and there was a small dresser in the corner with a TV on the wall above it.
It was nothing fancy, just a simple guest room, but it was the first time Baylor would be sleeping in a room that was all her own. I tucked her in, making sure her cast was propped up on the pillow and that her bunny was snug against her cheek.
She was out.
She didn’t even flinch when I lay down next to her. Thatch stood in the doorway for a moment, then turned out the light and closed the door. I knew she was asleep, but I wasn’t quite ready to leave her. I lay there with her for half an hour before finally getting up and slipping out of the room.
I went back to the living room, and Thatch was there waiting for me. He didn’t say anything. He just got up and walked over to me. He took me by the hand and led me to the bedroom. He grabbed a T-shirt from his drawer and offered it to me as he said, “We’ll run over to your place tomorrow and grab whatever you need.”
I nodded, then started to undress. Seconds later, we were both in bed, and I was lying next to Thatch with my head on his chest. He leaned down and kissed me, slow and gently, but it ended there. He didn’t push for more or act like he expected anything from me. Tonight wasn’t about that.
Tonight was about him being there for us in every way possible, and he’d done that at every turn. And kept doing it. He continued to help with Baylor, and he did it without any hesitation. The following day, he went out and bought enough groceries to feed an army. Once we put everything away, he took us over to the apartment to get some of our things. He even took Baylor by the clubhouse so the guys could sign her cast. She adored all the attention, and she adored him even more.
And so did I.
I expected to be off work for at least a week. I thought Baylor would need the extra attention after her surgery, but with all of Thatcher’s doting, she was doing better than I’d expected. So, I went back to work, and he sent hourly updates, letting me know exactly how she was doing.
When I got back to Thatch’s, Baylor took me to her room and showed me all the decorating she’d done. She had her toys in a basket in the corner, and she’d taken her coloring pages, and with Thatch’s help, she’d hung them throughout the room. She had them on the wall, in the bathroom, and even on her closet door. She even had her favorite book on the nightstand. It was perfect.
Every time I walked past her doorway, I’d find myself peeking into the little world she’d created, and I’d find her happy as a lark, playing or watching her television. She was at ease.