The Warrior (12 page)

“YOU ARE OK!” he says into her ear. He keeps
talking to her but calmer and softer. She seems to respond to him
as I can see her body relax into his arms. He starts to let her go
and she spins around grabbing him around his neck and crying hard.
He doesn’t move. He lets her cry as he rubs her hair down her back.
I sit back and watch this hard ass man that I have only known as a
fighter turn into something the complete opposite. If he can do
this why can’t I? I grab clothes that I packed up for the girls and
lay them on the bed.

“I brought you clean clothes. You can shower
and change.” I say as Melissa nods and Amber finally lets go of
Bentley.

“I'm sorry.” She says as she looks at me and
I shake my head.

“Sweetheart don’t be sorry. I lived through
hell. You have lived your own hell and there is nothing for you to
be sorry about.” I say as she gives me half smile. The girls grab
the clothes and head into the bathroom together.

“If this was any other circumstance that shit
right there would be hot as hell.” Bentley says smiling at the
door.

“You lost your damn mind.” I say as I laugh
at him.

“What is it about her?” I ask as he sits
down.

“Before I went in I had a girlfriend. She was
perfect. Small long red hair. She meant the world to me. When I was
in for almost 3 years I got a letter from her mom. She was in a car
accident and didn’t make it. When I saw that girl standing on that
damn stage my heart dropped. I couldn’t see anything but Jade
standing there.” He says as I shake my head.

“Damn Bentley I'm sorry man.” I say as he
nods.

“It’s ok. It was a long time ago but just
seeing that girl made my heart stop.” He says as I nod. That had to
be some kind of shit to see.

“I want to get a house set up before the
others come back. I know you don’t have anyone Bent and I want to
know if you’d like to stay with us.” I say as I watch his face.

“You always were a good man Cadence.” He says
as I stand and give him a hug.

***

“Who’s house is this?” Melissa asks as we
walk into a fully furnished 6 bedroom house. I made sure I got
something that had enough room for everyone. I know we may not live
together forever but for right now I can’t let anyone be away from
me. I need them. I can be man enough to admit that now. I need my
family.

“It’s ours.” I say as she looks at me
funny.

“Nina’s pregnant.” I say as her sister smiles
huge. She looks like she may explode.

“Oh my god!!” She says as a tear falls.

“My brother and his girlfriend have a little
boy. My nephew. You are obviously not going anywhere anytime soon
and I asked Bentley to stay with us too. I have another friend
that’s in a wheelchair that may stay too but the basement is
wheelchair accessible.” I say as I look over at a smiling Bentley.
Amber stands back away from us all. I turn and walk over to
her.

“I know you don’t trust us right now but I
hope in time you will. There’s a room for you here too. I don’t
know if you have family but I'm guessing if they picked you up that
you probably don’t. I want you to feel like you have a place but
I'm not forcing you to stay. I just want you to know that.” I say
as she starts to cry. I reach over and touch her shoulder.

“Thank you.” She says softly as I nod.

“Ok. I need to make a phone call. Bentley
show them their rooms.” I say as I walk outside and call
Bradon.

“You done?” Is the answer I get when he picks
up the phone. I laugh.

“Thanks for the hi how are you?” I say
laughing again.

“Hi, How are you? You done?” He says in a
rushed voice.

“It’s done.” I say and I can hear him sigh
through the phone.

“Bradon I need you to bring my family home.”
I say.

“What?” He says and I smile.

“I set some things up. Bring my family home.
That includes Jeremy.” I say as Bradon chuckles.

“Send me the address.” He says and I smile.
My family is coming home.

***

“You think this is enough food?” I say to
Bentley as he laughs at me. I texted Bra and they said they were
going to sleep and leaving in the morning. Well now it’s evening
and they should be here soon. I had a caterer bring in a shit ton
of food.

“Cadence that’s enough to feed all the
fucking troops man.” He says laughing at me.

“Do I look ok?” Melissa says as she walks
into the kitchen. She looks so much like her sister it’s amazing to
see.

“God you look just like her.” I say with a
smile and she smiles back.

“You look beautiful.” Bentley says as Amber
walks up behind her.

“You look amazing.” He says to Amber as she
half smiles and looks down. These two have a strange connection
between them and I can see it. I don’t understand it and I'm not
going to try to either. I can see it and it’s amazing.

“Thank you.” She says as she walks over
towards him and hugs him. Amber stayed with Bentley last night
since she couldn’t sleep and he was up pacing the house. Last night
was the first night in a long time that I slept without having any
dreams. It’s almost surreal to me. I hear a car pulling in and my
heart is pounding.

“Dude you are fucking sweating like crazy.”
Bentley says laughing as I cut my eyes at him. He just laughs
harder.

***

The door opens and Bradon walks in as I watch
his mouth turn into a huge smile.

“You’re home.” I say as I grab him into a hug
and then Josh. Josie walks in and drops everything as she jumps on
me hugging me.

“Glad you’re ok.” She says as I nod. Jeremy
rolls up next.

“This is nice man.” He says as I lean in and
hug him.

“I'm glad you’re here. Thank you man.” I say
as he smiles and nods. I look up and my eyes lock onto Nina as she
climbs out of the truck. I walk past everyone and straight towards
her.

“I have missed you.” I say as I move towards
her. She looks up and her eyes light up and she smiles that smile
that melts my heart. I reach her and grab her to me spinning her
around.

“I love you so much.” She says against my
neck before she kisses it.

“Keep that up and we won’t be eating
tonight.” I say as she laughs.

“Come on lets go see your sister.” I say as
she nods. She seems nervous.

“Everything is ok now.” I say as she squeezes
my hand. I open the door and usher Nina inside. The smile that
falls from my lips when I see her run to her sister is something I
can never forget. I walk around and stand at the back of the room
watching everyone interact. My brother and Josie. Bentley holding
onto scared Amber. Jeremy playing with Josh as Melissa and Nina hug
and cry. This is what life is supposed to be. It doesn’t matter how
you became family or why. This is a true family right here in this
room and I never want to let any of them go. Nina walks over to me
and grabs me into a hug.

“You are the best warrior I know.” She says
smiling up at me. I grab her around the waist and kiss her hard.
When I pull back I pull her to my side.

“Look around here at everyone. This is our
family. We are all warriors in some way. That’s what brought us
together.” I say as I hold my fiancé and watch my family. This is
my life.

###