Chapter Nineteen

Noah pushed away the blanket Dale tucked around him. “Mom, I’m okay. Really.”

“You’re not. You have a concussion.” Dale raked a hand through her hair. “And stitches. Lay back and let me be mom.”

Noah sighed dramatically. “I’m bored. This no screens thing is awful.”

“Do you want to try some crackers and ginger ale?”

Noah pushed up to sitting. Dale’s heart hurt. Anger at Ethan swelled up inside her as she took in Noah’s face. Her beautiful boy. She clenched her fists.

“Just the ginger ale. My stomach is still rocky.”

“Ice?”

“A little.” Noah lay back on the couch.

Dale left him and went to the kitchen. As she was scooping ice from the freezer a sharp rap sounded at the back door. She left the glass on the counter. The knock sounded again before she could get there.

She snatched the door open, unable to hide her annoyance.

Chip stood on the step, with a bouquet of orange mums clenched in his fist. “Um, hi, Ms. Miller. Could I see Noah?”

Dale stepped back. “Of course. He’s in the living room.”

Chip toed off his trainers and lined them up by the door. “Thank you.” He charged around the corner to the living room. Dale took her time making Noah’s drink, giving them time alone. The fear and anger in her heart was replaced by wonder at how her son had managed to find a boy as sweet as Chip. She purposely knocked a book off the kitchen table and took her time picking it up on her way back to the living room to give them warning.

Chip sat on the end of the couch with Noah’s feet in his lap. He ducked his head. “Noah said he told you.”

Dale placed Noah’s glass on the coffee table. “He did.”

“And it’s okay?” Chip looked out from under his bangs. “Like really okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Dale sat back in her chair. “Are you out to your mom?”

Chip huffed out a breath. “My mom knows things about me I don’t even know myself. She knows. But my dad doesn’t. He’s been rabid anti-queer ever since my mom left him.”

Dale pressed her lips together. “It won’t be easy. But you already know that.” She inclined her head toward Noah. “Ethan is out on bond. He’s going to be ten times more aggressive because he’s stupid. I don’t want you, either of you going anywhere alone.”

Chip reached over and took Noah’s hand. “I’m not going anywhere without him.”

Dale turned away from the scene, her heart too full to say anything.

*

The whisper of Dale’s footsteps on the carpet startled Mai. She rolled to her back.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Dale sat on the edge of the bed.

“I wasn’t asleep. I’m tired but I can’t fall asleep.”

Dale frowned at her. “You were restless last night.”

“My jaw hurt, even with the drugs they gave me.” She curled on her side. “I’m glad you’re here. How’s Noah?”

“Snuggled up with Chip.”

Mai grinned. “Then you’re off nurse duty?”

“I am.”

Mai lifted the covers and Dale placed her phone on the nightstand, kicked off her slippers, and slid under the covers.

Mai scooted down and rested her head on Dale’s shoulder.

Dale wrapped both arms around Mai. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. I don’t want to think about it anymore. I can’t get the vision of Ethan hitting Noah out of my thoughts.”

“I made an appointment for all of us with our family therapist. She helped us a lot after my mom died.”

“I’m family?”

Dale kissed the top of Mai’s head. “Yep. If you engage in fisticuffs at a family wedding, you are. It’s the rules.” She squeezed Mai tightly. “I’m incredibly grateful you stayed after I hurt you. You would have been justified to leave after I doubted you.”

“No way was I leaving. That’s what Sidney wanted. And I’m not intimidated by her stupid ass. I don’t chase off easy.”

Dale stroked the fine hairs at the back of Mai’s neck. “You stepped in. You saved Noah’s life.”

“I don’t know about that.” Mai hugged Dale closer.

“I do. You’re one of the bravest people I know.”

Mai bit her lip. “Do you believe in second chances? Like the universe gives you opportunities to make things right after you’ve messed up?”

“I hadn’t thought about it, why?”

“Do you remember Karen Fairworth? She was your year.”

“I think. Tall girl. Played all the sports. Dropped out?”

“That’s her.”

“And?”

“I was the equipment manager for the basketball team my eighth-grade year. I was there prepping for the next day’s game. She was in the gym and had stayed late to practice her free throws. Some kids jumped her in the locker room. I stood by. I froze, didn’t jump in. I ran for help. They beat her so badly she lost vision in one eye.” Mai gripped the sheet tightly. “If I had stayed, done something, anything besides run for help, I could have made a difference.”

“You can’t know that. You did what you thought was right at the time. You were thirteen. You have to let it go. It’s a long way from thirteen to forty.” Dale rubbed her back in slow circles.

“You keep doing that and I’m going to fall back asleep.”

“A nap sounds good right now.”

“When do you need to check on Noah again?”

“At two. My phone will beep.”

The warmth of Dale’s body and her calming touch soothed her, and Mai let her eyes drift closed.