CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
(JPOV)
The kids were still playing when we arrived back at dads to pick them up.
"Oh no!" Clarissa sighed heavily. " Is it time for us to leave Grandpa Billy and Uncle Gentry already?"
"Afraid so, kiddo. Afraid so." I replied, noting the look of true disappointment on her face now.
"-but we only got to read two of the stories I brought with me and Mason and Madison just started their puzzle. We can't leave just yet. Can't we stay a little while longer? Please, daddy?"
Billy cleared his throat and motioned for her to to climb up in his chair as he hugged her.
"I've loved having you all here today and if it's alright with your daddy, you three can camp out here for the night."
"Really!? We can!? Oh, that sounds like so much fun, Grandpa!" Clarissa eagerly chimed, her face instantly brightening at the offer Billy had given.
"Dad, that would make for a really long night and-"
Gentry came out from the living room then and slung his arm around my shoulders with a raised eyebrow in question.
"What's going on?" He hedged.
"I was just telling Jake here that the kids could stay over tonight, as long as he and Bella were alright with it, of course. He thinks I'm overdoing it." Billy explained.
"They've been great, Jake. Really, they have. If they wanna stay, they're more than welcome to. I see no harm in that. Just gives us more time to eat more ice cream sundaes, right Clarissa?"
I peered over to him with a narrowed gaze and he shrugged in response upon seeing the strong disapproval in my stare.
"Really, man? Load em' up with more sugar?" I half chuckled. "I don't think you know what you're getting yourself into. The three of them all here overnight is a lot. With dads recovery and- "
"Oh, stop." Billy chastened. "They are always welcome here. Day or night."
"You just got out of the hospital a few weeks ago, dad. They advised you not to push it, remember?" I reminded, as Bella came inside to join us there.
"You guys ready to go home?" Bella asked, peering down to see Clarissa shake her head in response.
"No, mama. Grandpa Billy said we could spend the night!" She beamed. "Please tell daddy it's alright for us to stay. We've really missed Grandpa."
Clarissa hugged Billy tight and glanced our way again, her bottom lip jutting out some with a tremble as she put on her best sad face and waited.
"Oh, come on now. Look at the girl." Gentry aided her, "Who could say no to that precious and innocent face, huh? Only if you have no heart, I say."
"Gentry-..." Billy laughed, looking sheepishly our way. "But he does have a point. Gotta' give him that much."
I rolled my eyes and hunkered down in front of Clarissa then.
"Baby, I know you've missed Grandpa a lot lately, but he needs his rest-"
"I promise that we'll be really good, daddy."
"I know you would, but-"
"Oh, Jake, just let them stay." Billy hedged. "It's not gonna hurt anything. We'll have ourselves a good time."
Bella swept Clarissa's long hair out of her face and looked down at her with a tender expression.
"They've really missed him, Jake. I think if your dad says he's feeling up for it, then we should let them stay til the morning. We'll come over and pick them up after breakfast."
I pondered this over for a few more seconds before nodding to Clarissa and seeing her genuine excitement in return.
"Yay, we get to stay!" She beamed up at us, hurriedly running out to the living room to tell Mason and Madison.
Gentry laughed at this and sighed as his gaze followed out after her.
"Bro, I hate to tell you this, but you do know you're gonna be in big trouble when she gets older, right? If you can't say no now then-"
"Oh, I see how this is going." I replied, nudging into his arm with a shake of my head. "You were playing devil advocate before, but now-"
"Alright, Alright. I must admit, you kiddos have turned me into a bit of a softy. It's kind of embarrassing." Gentry admitted with a smirk.
"I know the feeling. Please tell me you're staying here to help dad with them?"
"Yeah, man. I'm not going anywhere. I'll call Leah, have her swing over here for the night. It's all good. No worries. We'll see you guys in the morning."
We hugged the kids and told them to behave before heading home, and though the drive was short, Bella was already falling asleep in the passenger seat, her head tilted to the side and her eyes closed when I put the car in park and gazed toward the house.
She didn't stir as I simply stared at her pretty face so at peace when she slept. I didn't have the heart to wake her when I pulled the keys from the engine and unlocked the house door. She remained in her dreams as I opened her door and carefully unhooked her seat belt, my arms gathering her up without jostling her too much. Her head fell to my shoulder and she nestled her face into the side of my neck with her tired barely audible words.
"I love you, Jake."
I placed her on the sofa and covered her in a blanket before heading back outside to survey the yard, as I silently mapped out where I wanted to plant the new tree and garden. It was something I couldn't get off my mind now that I knew Bella wanted it as badly as I did. The knowledge sparked something inside me to get it done for her. I knew it would serves as a tangible way to both grieve what we lost and put faith and hope into the new. Whatever that may be.
I hunkered down on the bottom step of the porch and peered up at the stars above as I thought of what we said back at the restaurant.
'I wish I may, I wish I might. Have this wish I wish tonight.'
I drew in a deep breath and peered heavenward, knowing that somewhere up there, my mother was listening, and for the first time in years, since I was just a little boy, I talked out loud to her.
"I miss you, mom. I miss you every day. I wish you were here with us watching the kids grow. They miss you, too. Which hurts even worse, cause they never got to meet you. God, I wish that wasn't the case. Clarissa asked me to take her to heaven so she could visit you, and in all my life, I don't think I've ever wanted something more than to be able to do the impossible for her then."
I closed my eyes, pausing in thought briefly as I recalled her smile and her laughter when I was young.
"I hope I never forget all the special things about you and all the memories we shared. I hope you know how much I love you- how much I wish I could just hug you one more time. I know wishing is foolish, but I still do, mom. I still do."
I opened my eyes and felt the stinging tears cloud my vision as my thoughts went to Bella.
"You always knew how to fix anything when we were kids, from a scratch to a broken heart. I know you're far away, but please- if you're up there listening- and I believe you are- please, mom- help me fix Bella's broken heart, and please- take care of what we lost until we make it to where you are someday. Bella would probably struggle with the very idea of this- but deep down- I'm believing- I'm hoping and praying that we'll get another blessing."
A/N: Short chapter update early this morning. Look for another this afternoon. Till then...