Page 208 of Make Us Yours
“Have you ever thought of going back?” Noah asks softly.
“I’ve wanted to... many times. But I was always afraid they’d just shut their door in my face… They probably wouldn’t even recognize me.” I shrug, the sadness creeping slowly into my heart. Knowing my father will never be there to walk me down the aisle, or that my mother will never tell me how beautiful I look on my wedding day.
“Why don’t we go see them? It’s only like a five-hour flight to Arizona. We could leave tomorrow morning, be there before noon, and take a flight back at night. I don’t have practice or a game tomorrow,” Gabe tells me with a warm smile.
“You’d really do that for me?”
He twists in his seat, cupping my cheek. “I’d do anything for you, Vixen. Anything.”
When his hand drops and a new tear rolls down, Noah does the same, cupping my other side and swiping away my tear. “You’ve made us yours forever, Kitten. Facing your parents comes with that territory. We’ll forever do anything for you, Veronica.”
I swallow, my eyes soaking up and spilling over once more. “Anything,” I whisper, looking at Gabe, then turn my gaze to Noah. “Forever.”
By ten-thirty the next morning, we’re standing outside my childhood home, and nerves eat at me from the inside. I could have texted or called in advance, since I still have their number and am sure they haven’t changed it. But I was too afraid to face their rejection through a phone.
I needed to see them face-to-face. To tell them how much it hurt me when they banished me. How much I’ve been through since the last time they saw me. That I know I’m not the daughter they wanted, but I’m proud of who I am today.
“Whenever you’re ready, Kitten.” Noah rubs down the back of my coat.
“Or we can turn back around if that’s what you want. Whatever you choose, we’re here for you.” Gabe squeezes my hand in his.
I take a deep breath and slowly let it out, working through my anxiety. “I’m ready.” I nod, capturing both their hands in mine and taking a step forward toward the front door.
But before I can make it any closer, it flies open, and my mother stands in the doorway. “Oh, my lord! Stephan! She’s home! Our baby’s home!” She comes running down the steps in slippers and a robe and throws her arms around me, sobbing against my winter coat.
I’m frozen in shock as I stand there with my arms glued to my sides. Out of all the reactions I imagined coming from them, this one wasn’t one of them, and I have noidea how to deal with it.
She finally unwraps her arms from around me and grabs my face, looking me over. “Oh, look at you. My beautiful baby girl. You’ve grown so much,” she cries, touching every inch of me, from my hair to my piercings to my hands that are still being held by Noah and Gabe.
She gasps when she sees my ring. “Oh, sweet baby Jesus! She’s engaged, Stephan! Hurry up and come out here!”
My father suddenly emerges as well, wearing slippers and pulling on his winter jacket. He’s wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans underneath, and I’m extremely confused by the look. My father’s a pastor; I’ve never seen him dressed like this.
He comes in as well and takes me in his arms, similar to what my mother just did. “Oh, sweetheart, we’ve missed you immensely.” He then takes a step back and holds my mother as they both look at me with such joy radiating from their features.
Noah and Gabe squeeze my hands simultaneously, jolting me back to the moment. I clear my throat and force a smile onto my face. “Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.”
“Oh, where are our manners? Please, come in. Come in before someone catches a cold.” My father waves us in as he turns with my mother and heads back into the house.
I’m so baffled by what is going on that I don’t move from my spot, not until Noah releases my hand and places it on my back, guiding me forward. We shrug out of our coats and boots then head into the living room, where my mother tells us to sit down while she prepares coffee for us all.
I look around the room, noticing all the changes. There used to be religious artifacts all over the mantel and walls, but now every space is filled with random decorations and pictures of me. There’s even a Griffins’ jersey hanging up on the wall, and all I can do is stare at it, blinking.
What in the hell is going on?
“So, which one of you proposed to my daughter?” my dad asks from his spot in his favorite recliner. It’s still the same one he had before I left, only now it’s much more worn out and covered in patches.
“That would be me, sir.” Gabe grins at my father and reaches forward, shaking my dad’s hand. “Gabriel Ellis. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I know who you are.” Dad smiles back at him. “Stephan Masters.” He lets go of Gabe’s hand and offers his to Noah next. “And you must be Noah.”
Noah nods. “That’s right. Pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“Wait,” I lift my hands. “Just… wait a minute.” I shake my head and close my eyes, needing this to make sense for a minute. “You know who they are?”
My mother comes back carrying a tray with five coffee mugs. “Of course, we do. We’ve been watching all their games.” She hands out a coffee to each and introduces herself as Lucia to my boys.
