One Day at a Time (Starting Over Series Book 4) (8 page)

“Yeah.” She watched him walk down to his truck, waving to her before he pulled out and drove away. Going back inside, she grabbed her bag, locked up the apartment, and headed to work.

***

Cash arrived at the Waffle House a few minutes before his sister was due. Stepping inside, he waved to Margie, the waitress who always took care of them. He grabbed a high chair, since Parker would probably be with his momma. As he slid into their booth, Margie brought him a carafe of coffee. He thanked her and poured himself a cup.

A loud squeal brought his attention to the front of the restaurant. JoJo and Parker just walked in, and his nephew was running toward him. Sliding out of the booth, he scooped him up in his arms.

“Hey, little man! Are you being a good boy for your momma?”

“Unca!” He then went on a two-year-old tirade about a car, maybe, and then wrapped his chubby little arms around Cash’s neck and kissed his cheek. It still melted his heart that he was able to be a part of their lives.

“Hey, big brother!” His sister came to him, and he wrapped his free arm around her, kissing her forehead.

“JoJo, you look beautiful.” He patted her swollen midsection. She was five months along and looked great. She was all belly. Now that she wasn’t getting sick anymore, she was glowing, but he could see she was tired, although she just kept smiling.

JoJo slid into the booth while Cash put Parker in his high chair. Margie brought his sister juice, and milk for his nephew. They quickly placed their order. Once that was done, he sat back and turned to his sister to see her watching him.

“What?”

“I don’t know what it is, but you seem different.” She studied some more until her face broke out into a huge smile. “You’ve met someone.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

He tried to school his features. “Why do you say that?” He was going to tell her, but he wanted to see why she immediately thought that.

“I don’t know. You just seem really happy, peaceful even. So who is she?” She leaned forward with her chin resting in the palm of her hand.

“Her name’s Tessa.” He rolled his eyes at Journey as she squealed and clapped her hands. “I met her a few weeks ago. She’s a manager at this bookstore-coffeehouse, called Java Drama. We’ve been seeing each other, and I really like her. I’m bringing her this weekend.”

His sister’s eyes looked bright like she was going to cry. “I’m so happy for you. Here are your tickets, and we’re also having a cookout at our place afterward. You’ll come, right?”

“Of course. Do you need us to bring anything?” He was nervous and excited to introduce Tessa to his sister and her family. He had a feeling he and Tessa could have something long-lasting and wanted her to like his family, and vice versa.

“You can bring whatever you want, or nothing. No big deal. I’m so excited to meet her.”

Once their breakfast arrived, conversation halted. He shook his head at his sister while she shoveled her food in like she hadn’t eaten in days. She was the same way when she was pregnant with Parker, but it was no wonder since so far each baby had been almost ten pounds at birth. How his sister carried babies that big he didn’t know, but she always bounced back into her skinny self afterward.

He filled up his coffee cup and started coloring with Parker while she finished eating. Parker was a combination of both of his parents. He had Dylan’s dark hair, but JoJo’s pale blue eyes. He was the little snuggle bug out of all of them. It was so sweet to watch Abby be the little momma bear to him and Joey, but Joey was now showing his independence more, and the kid was only five.

“How are you feeling? I know you said you weren’t getting sick anymore, but you had me worried there for a while.”

“I feel lots better, but I’m tired. Dylan helps out a lot with the kids.” Before he knew it, his sister started crying.

“Hey, hey, hey! What’s wrong?” He reached out, grabbing her hand.

“Cash, look at me. I’m a cow. I’m tired all the time. Dylan won’t even touch me. He thinks I’m fat and ugly!” She buried her face in her hands, but her shoulders were shaking. He got up and slid in next to her.

“Now, you know that’s not true. You’re beautiful, and I know Dylan thinks you’re beautiful. You’re carrying his baby. How could he not think you are the most beautiful woman ever? Why don’t you let me take Parker with me for a few hours? You go home and take a nap or a bath and relax. I’ll bring him back later.” Parker had finally noticed his momma getting upset, and his chin was wobbling.

He handed Journey a napkin to dry her face. “What about your work?” she sniffed.

“That’s the great thing about being my own boss. I can start my day a few hours later. Go relax, and I’ll bring little man back to you in a bit.”

“You must think I’m a terrible mom.” She hung her head.

“Are you freaking kidding me right now? Sweetheart, you’re the best momma I’ve ever met. Mom and Dad would be so proud of you. You’re just tired, nothing more.” He wasn’t stupid. He wasn’t going to tell her it was probably hormones because he didn’t have a death wish.

He paid their check and carried Parker outside to his truck. Journey brought Parker’s car seat and hooked it in for him. She kissed both of their cheeks, and he watched her climb back in her van and drive away. As soon as his nephew was settled into his seat, Cash pulled out his phone.

Cash: Hey, Dylan. Your wife just had a hormonal pregnancy meltdown. I’m taking Parker for a couple of hours. You may want to go home and show her you don’t think she’s a fat cow. Her words, not mine.

Dylan: I knew she seemed down the past couple of days, but swore she was fine. Thanks for taking him. I’ll go home and check on her.

Cash: I’ll text you when I’m bringing him home. Later.

He decided to take Parker with him to see Tessa. Sure, he just saw her this morning, but he missed her whenever they weren’t together. Pulling in to the parking lot of Java Drama, he and Parker made their way to the front door. As soon as they stepped inside, he found Tessa behind the counter going through a box of books.

A small smile played at her lips as she read the back of the book in her hand. Smiling, he watched her open the book and put her nose to it. She glanced up and did a double take when she noticed him standing there.

She came around the counter, “Oh my gosh. Is this Parker?” She got down on her haunches. “Hi, thweetheart. You are so cute.” She stood up and kissed Cash’s cheek. “Hey, you,” she whispered.

“Hey. Is this okay? Us dropping by so early? My sister kind of had a mini-meltdown at breakfast, so Parker and I decided we needed to come see my beautiful bookstore manager.”

Tessa reached out, rubbing a hand through Parker’s hair. It warmed his heart to see the tenderness she showed his nephew. “I’m glad you stopped by and brought this cutie pie with you.” She held her arms out to the little squirt, and he immediately reached up so she could pick him up.

He followed her as she walked over to the children’s section. She sat Parker down and pulled picture books out. She showed him different pictures and spoke to him in a soft, sweet voice that had him giggling and talking in his baby gibberish, and had Cash wanting to plant his babies inside of her. He watched them as she read parts of stories and pointed at the pictures. She looked beautifully ridiculous in the tiny chair with her long legs.

“Hunwey!” Parker shouted a few minutes later.

“Geez, kid, we just had breakfast.” Cash held out a hand to help Tessa up, and she grabbed Parker’s hand.

“Uncle Cash, he’s hungry!” She even thrust out her lower lip in a mock pout.

The three of them went over to the café where they watched Parker polish off a muffin and a banana. Drinking coffee while they watched him chatter to himself as he shoveled his food in was entertaining.

“Your sister had a meltdown? Is she okay?” Her eyes were shining bright with concern.

“She’s okay. I think she just hasn’t had a lot of alone time with Dylan, and maybe it was making her doubt the love he has for her. I’m sure he’s there now ‘showing’ her that he loves her.” She looked at him with confusion, and then her mouth formed an “O”.

When Parker was finished eating, Cash watched Tessa grab his hand and take him to the bathroom to clean him up. They came out a few minutes later happily chattering to each other. The ache forming in his chest grew more and more. He knew it was only a matter of time before he fell completely in love with her. Then he’d have to tell her everything, and that scared him.

“Well, boys, I wish I could visit a little longer, but I should get back to work.” She got down in front of Parker. “Bye, buddy. You be a good boy for your uncle.” Cash smiled when Parker grabbed her face and gave her a slobbery kiss on the corner of her mouth. Instead of acting put out, she wrapped him in a hug. When she stood up, Cash reached out, wiping the drool from the corner of her mouth before kissing her like his life depended on it. Parker started clapping at them, so they broke away.

“I should get him home. Sorry if we kept you too long.”

“No worries. I’m glad you came by.”

On the way out the door he texted his brother-in-law to let him know he’d be dropping their boy off in about forty minutes. He figured that would give them enough time for…whatever.

***

When he dropped Parker off earlier, his sister answered the door looking like the cat that ate the canary. He put Parker down, and the little rug rat ran right into the house to Dylan, who looked awfully proud of himself. Cash kissed JoJo on the head, flipped Dylan the bird, and took off to start his day.

He was glad he only had one job today, and it didn’t take him long. He usually tried to work his Mondays that way. Then he could head home and go through receipts and the supplies he kept in his storage shed and garage, which was what he was now doing. Digging through his shed, he realized he needed a bigger space. As he took stock of what he had, he cleared out supplies that were outdated and stuck them outside the shed.

While he worked he was able to think about how he was going to tell Tessa everything. Well, maybe not everything at first. How do you admit to someone who could be your future that you screwed up royally in the past? Tomorrow he had an appointment with Derek, and also his weekly NA meeting. So maybe he could talk to someone about it. He knew quite a few people from the program who were in healthy relationships with people who never had substance abuse problems. Dario and Betsy were a prime example that relationships could work. He knew Dario drank, but never around Betsy, and never in excess.

He knew she felt the same way. He didn’t know how he knew, but he did. He finished up a short while later and decided to call it an early night.

***

“So, Cash, how’s your week been going?” Derek sat in a chair across from Cash, who was sitting on the sofa. For four years he’d been seeing Derek. He was a good guy who had helped him deal with a lot of shit. He never minced words, and sometimes the truth hurt, but it was the only way to get past it, or at least what worked for him.

“It’s been good. Busy, but I like to be busy. Uh, I’ve met someone.” His palms were sweaty as he waited for Derek’s response.

“That’s great, Cash. I’m happy for you, man. How long have you been seeing each other, and why am I just now hearing about it?” he said as he leaned back in his chair.

“Tessa, that’s her name. Well, it’s been a couple of weeks, and I didn’t tell you before because I didn’t know what was going to happen between us, but I really like her. I think she could be the one. I’m not saying I love her or anything, but I could see myself loving her.” He knew he sounded like a sap, but for her, he was okay with that.

The smile on Derek’s face was a welcomed sight. “Well, that’s good news. It’s completely possible to have a healthy relationship, which you know because of some of your friends. Now I hate to shit on your parade, but have you talked to her about your addiction yet?”

He knew he’d be asked that. “No, I haven’t. I’m planning on it, but I’m thinking I want to tell her a little at a time. What if I tell her everything and she runs? I don’t think I could take it.”

He’d had that conversation with her in his mind over and over again, and each time it didn’t go well. At least in his mind it didn’t.

“Unfortunately, that’s a risk you’ll have to take. Do you think she’s strong enough to handle the truth?”

“I don’t know, but I think so. I was hoping to wait until she was in love with me. I know, I know, that wouldn’t be fair to her, and it could hurt us both more in the end.”

“I completely agree. The sooner you tell her, the better. I know it sounds cold, but you don’t want to invest her time or yours if she can’t handle the truth about your past addiction. If you want, bring her here after you talk to her. It might help.”

“I’ll think about it.”

They talked for a little while longer, but the impending discussion with Tessa was at the back of his mind. He already decided he at least wanted to make it through the weekend with her first. He had plans for them this weekend. His time was up, he scheduled his next visit, and he went to a sandwich shop to grab something to eat before his NA meeting. While he sat he sent Tessa a text.

Cash: What are you doing?

Tessa: Nothing, just helping my niece with her homework. How was your day? Everything okay with your sister?

That’s why he could see himself falling for her. She was just so sweet and caring.

Cash: She’s fine just hormonal at times. Don’t tell her I told you that.