Jessie dribbled the ball down the court, nudging out the other team, taking an elbow to the side as she skirted around the man covering her. But when she heard Big Finn’s cheer from the side of the court when she did a layup at the buzzer, the score didn’t matter. Having him there thrilled her and she smiled up at him pumping her fist in the air.
Her father hadn’t even cheered for her that loudly while she played growing up—and he’d always been a vocal fan. However, since they had released Finn from the hospital, he’d been right there every week cheering her on.
“You make all the other guys feel bad,” she told Finn as she hugged him after she shook hands with the members of the other team.
“Why?”
“You’re here for me. They think you should cheer them on too.”
Finn lifted a brow. “None of them are as adorable as you are.”
That made her laugh as Todd walked up to them.
“Is this guy giving you a hard time?” he joked looking up at the giant of the man standing next to him.
“You know. Says he wants to take me out for a beer,” she said and Finn laughed.
“I owe you beer for the rest of your life. Without you, I wouldn’t be cheering you on.”
“Eh, I fell to the ground faster than the rest to get to you. They all would have taken care of you. I don’t doubt it for a minute.”
Finn smiled and nodded, and Jessie knew he understood that was the truth. “I’ll head out then. But I’ll have a beer ready for you when you get there.”
“We’ll be right behind you.”
Jessie and Todd watched Finn walk out the door. “He looks good,” Todd said.
“He does. I guess you just never know when things will happen.”
Todd nodded slowly. “You’re right.”
“I’m going to be ten minutes getting a shower. I’ll meet you over at the bar.”
She closed her eyes as Todd leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek. “Do you want a plate of wings? Or should I order a pizza?”
“I’m hungry enough for both, but you choose one and I’ll be happy.”
“I’m going to drive by Lydia’s and just make sure everything looks okay.”
She nodded as she lifted her bag up over her shoulder and headed toward the locker room.
Todd had cleared out all his belongings from Lydia’s house the day before. And while he was sitting at the YMCA he’d received the text I am home.
There was no reason for him to keep the news from Jessie, but Lydia had asked that no one know she was coming home—not yet. He would keep that promise.
It would be no time at all before everyone knew, and he assumed Phillip would be the first. He could probably sense her in the state.
The thought made him chuckle. He’d be that way with Jessie. There was a sensation when she was near, or on her way home, or even just thinking of him. That was true love, and he couldn’t believe it fully emerged him.
As Todd drove down Lydia’s street, he could see the glow of her living room light. Her neighbors would be accustomed to seeing it. He’d set it up on a timer so that the house didn’t appear to be empty when he’d started staying at Jessie’s. But he knew the truth behind the light tonight.
There was a nervous surge that zipped through him as he parked in front of her house. He’d seen Lydia during their chats and talked to her nearly every day for the year she was gone. But there was something to knowing she was behind that door that had his nerves on fire.
As he parked and killed the engine, he wished he’d have stopped for flowers or something. Then again, that might just piss her off.
Yeah, this visit would do that too, but he couldn’t help it. She needed to know he was glad she was home. He’d have brought his whole family if he knew it would be a welcomed gesture.
Todd stepped out of the truck and started for the door when it opened. “I sent you that text an hour ago. I was certain you’d have a welcome party for me by now,” she joked, and it lit into her eyes.
At that moment the nerves turned into emotion and he thought he might cry at the sight of her.
“And you would have kicked my ass.”
“Oh, boy, wouldn’t I have?”
She stepped out onto the porch and he enveloped her in his arms. Until that moment he’d forgotten just how little she was. Her five-foot-three was tiny when he scooped her up and just held her.
There was a moment he thought she’d started to cry, but this was Lydia. That had been sucked up and hidden by the time he set her back on her feet.
Her moist eyes looked up at him. “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed all of you.” She turned and opened the door. “Come in for a minute.”
Todd followed her into the house which now felt different with her presence in it. He laughed when he noticed she’d moved the living room furniture around.
“I needed it to be different,” she admitted as she closed the door. “I think I’ll put it on the market and buy a new house. I didn’t think being back in here would be a big deal, but I think it will be.”
“Jessie and I are working with a real estate agent I think you’d like.”
The corners of her mouth turned up into a smile. “I can’t believe you’re getting married and buying a house. What has the world come to? The Walker men will all be married.”
“Doesn’t even seem possible.”
“I pegged you long ago to be in the middle of the herd, not the last one.”
He wasn’t sure how to take that, but it made him laugh. “And who did you peg to be last?”
“Originally, Eric. Who’d have thought he’d be the first? That man had a stick up his ass for so long.”
He thought of the feud between her family and his, and it had long ago snowballed when Eric’s mother and his uncle had gotten involved, and Eric was the product of that. And now, his own sister was married to Lydia’s brother. It was interesting how one generation could change everything.
Lydia walked back to the kitchen and Todd followed.
“You know, seriously, I thought Jake would never get married. And I didn’t expect he’d fall in love with the woman who caused him to lose races.”
“Now, that one makes more sense,” Todd said. “Though, I think deep inside the reason he and Missy hated each other was because of the attraction.”
He saw her flinch, and he wondered what he’d stumbled on.
Lydia picked up a cup of tea that had been steeping on the counter “Do you have time for some dinner? Someone stocked my fridge.”
Todd chuckled. “I’m headed to the bar with Jessie and her team. Big Finn owes her a beer or twelve.”
“She saved his life I hear.”
“I think in many ways.” At that moment he realized that. “You’re welcome to come.”
Lydia smiled from behind her mug as she took a sip of her tea. “Not yet. I won’t hide forever, but not yet.”
“I understand. Everyone will know you’re here. They’ll feel you.”
“I’m sure Phillip already knows. Does he just patrol this street now?”
Todd grinned down at her. “He misses you. Maybe throw him a bone for the first week.”
“I’m done hating, Todd. It takes too much effort. I’m ready to get back to work and get on with my life. I have to the tools to deal with everything that comes up, and I’m going to handle it.”
“I’m proud of you. You have no idea how proud.”
“I’m proud of me too.” She set the mug on the counter and moved in to hug him again. “Thank you for everything.”
“It is my pleasure. I’m here for you always. You’re like another sister to me.”
“And family, no matter the kind, is the most important thing.”