Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Fuck,” Chandler mutters.
“Come on. It can’t be that bad.”
“You can say no. There are other options, but my mom, well, she thinks this is the best way. You see, she’s worried about Cope falling back into civilian life. She’s worried he’ll feel too caged living with her, seeing her illness. Not that he’s not going to see what this fucking disease is going to do to her and the medicine that hopefully kills it,” he says, his voice cracking.
“What does she need, Chandler?” My voice is calm, but his explanation already told me what he wants.
“She thinks it would be best if Cope stayed at the Manor for a while. Not forever. She’s just worried that if he doesn’t have his own space to process the changes in his life, in all our lives, that he’ll—honestly, I don’t know. I know that my mom is sick, Ellison. She’s sick, and this fucking disease might kill her. I have two small kids that I need to figure out how to explain this to, and she asked me to ask you if he could stay at the inn. I know that’s asking a lot from you, and seeing your reaction when I walked in, well, this is a terrible idea,” he rambles, running his hands through his hair.
“I have to agree,” Macklin speaks up.
Everyone starts talking all at once. They all have opinions on whether Copeland staying at the Manor is a good idea. Tensions are running high, and for the first time since they knocked on our front door, I’m the calm one.
“Stop!” I yell, and the room falls silent. “Mary’s sick. She’s got the fight of her life—for her life ahead of her, and this is a small ask. Copeland can stay. I’ll reserve a room in his name. It’ll be ready the day after tomorrow. We’re fully booked until then. I’ll mark it off the books. He can stay as long as he likes.”
“Ellie,” Baylor says.
“No. We’re not debating this. Mary has been there for us through the years, and this is our chance to be there for her. Copeland and I were a long time ago. Yes, I was upset, because for me, a world without Copeland—” My voice cracks. “It’s not right. He’s a part of my childhood. Of course, I would be upset if something were to happen to him. It’s fine. Chandler, I’m here for whatever you need. I’ll call your mom and Macie tomorrow to tell them the same.”
“Ellie?” Dixon says, from his seat next to me.
“It’s done. A very small ask that I can easily grant.” Standing from the couch, I move toward Chandler and open my arms for a hug. He hesitates briefly before stepping into my embrace. “Anything,” I say softly.
When he pulls back, his eyes are glassy with emotion. “Thank you, Ellison. I know this is hard on you, and I don’t know if Mom is right about Cope needing space, but I don’t have the heart to fight her on it. Not now. Not with this.”
“You don’t have to. It’s done. He can check in whenever he’s ready.” My heart pounds erratically inside my chest, but I ignore it. Life is hard. It sucks a lot of the time, and this is one of those times, both from the cancer and my ex being thrust back into my life, but I’ll handle it just as I have every other crisis that’s been tossed my way. I’m going to try not to love him anymore.
How hard could it be?
Four
Copeland
* * *
It only took me a few hours to pack up everything I own and load it into the bed of my truck. I'm a simple guy who lives alone. I don't need much, but it's also sad that seventeen years is reduced to a few boxes. I donated all the furniture, which was minimal at best.
My commanding officer was understanding and helped me file all the necessary paperwork for my dependency discharge. Everything was approved, and I was granted early retirement. I'm glad my seventeen years of service weren't for nothing, but at the end of the day, I was going home, no matter what the outcome was. My mom needs me, and so does my brother and his family.
It's a little before three in the afternoon when I hit the corporation limit for Magnolia Ridge. I left North Carolina at five this morning, and with minimal stops along the way, I've made great time.
Sitting up straighter in my seat, I take in the small town where I grew up. I visited at least once per year when I wasn’t deployed, but I never spent any time in town. There've been some updates to the buildings, including a fresh coat of paint on the hardware store and a new, fancy lighted sign for the pharmacy. However, all in all, it's the same, and it feels like home.