Bleeding Love(66)

When we turn to walk back to Lee’s truck, not once do any one of us let our hold slip.





“DON’T BE NERVOUS,” LEE TELLS me, tightening his hold on my clammy hand.

“What’s that mean?” Molly asks from her perch in Lee’s other arm.

“Your mommy has so many butterflies in her belly she’s about to squeeze off my fingers, her hand’s holding mine so tight. So many little ticklish butterflies in her belly,” Lee’s deep voice rumbles in response.

“Why did you put butterflies in there, Mommy?” her melodious voice chirps, easing some of my nerves.

I turn my head, looking away from the front door of Lee’s family home, and before looking at my beautiful daughter; I stare at the strong man holding her. His warm gaze bringing a deep breath to my lungs that washes over me like a calming touch.

“Lee,” my voice sounds in hushed tones.

“I asked you a while ago to just take my hand, darlin’, I wasn’t just asking you to do the action. It was my nonverbal promise to you that I wouldn’t let go. Each step forward, we do together. I’m here and I’m not letting go. You’ve got not one thing to be nervous about, but I understand why you are. They’re going to love you and they’re going to love Molly. Not just because I love you both, but also because if anyone knows what it feels like to overcome from pain to find beauty, it’s my parents. Trust me, okay?”

His hand gives me a squeeze and even though I still feel some of those nerves, he’s right. I’ve never been given a reason to question that.

“She’s got princess shoes,” Molly whispers in Lee’s ear loud enough that I move my eyes from his, up to hers and then follow them forward to see his mom standing in the doorway, wringing her own hands in front of her nervously.

Of course I know who his parents are. In the last two years of me being pulled into the fold, I’ve been to a few gatherings where all the parents were also in attendance. I also know that she’s Dani’s mom’s best friend and has been for years and years before they had Dani and Lee, thus the reason that Dani and Lee were destined to be best friends even before birth.

But besides the small smile in passing, I’ve never spoken to either of them.

Add to that the small fact that their son has fallen in love with a woman with baggage of a widowed mom.

A woman, that until about five months ago, hasn’t been able to see the beauty in life past her guilt filled grief.

A woman that they very well may see as someone not good enough for their son.

And that’s what’s been keeping me so full of nerves that I’ve been on the edge of puking all day.

“She always has princess shoes on, little lady. Even when she’s cleaning the house or doing laundry. My mom, she’s a silly girl.”

Lee’s voice pulls me back from my scared thoughts and I steady my breathing, give him a squeeze and when his feet start carrying us up the driveway, toward his waiting mother, I follow and pray that I don’t make a fool of myself.

And that his mother won’t see Molly and me as the wrong choice for her son’s future.

“Hey, Mom,” he greets when we reach the front porch. “Meet my girls, Molly and Megan.”

I gulp and give her what I hope is a welcoming smile. She looks at her son with love in her eyes before they turn to me.

“Megan,” she breathes. “It’s so good to finally, formally, meet you. We’ve been waiting for this.”

“Uh, hi,” I squeak and Molly laughs.

“Mommy has butterflies all inside her belly. Leelee told me so.”

I feel my face heat and my hand gets a gentle tug. I look up and meet Lee’s gaze. He gives me a wink and then his face washes with love and compassion. His expression filling my heart instantly with his love and effectively kicking the crap out of those butterflies.

Turning back to his mom, I reach out my hand, and blurt, “I did. They were crazy butterflies that fluttered their wings so much I couldn’t take a deep breath. So, hi, I’m Megan and I’m absolutely terrified that you won’t like me.”

I feel Lee shaking with his amusement, but my eyes are transfixed on his mom as I watch, with fascination, as her eyes, so much like Lee’s, fill with understanding before my hand is knocked to the side as her body moves forward. Her arms reach out and wrap around my middle and then she gives me a hug that knocks the wind out of my chest with her strength.

“Oh, honey. I was in love with you before I even knew who had stolen my son’s heart. Have no worries about that. You keep doing whatever has that smile on my boy’s face. I swear, it’s been like watching his father all over again these last few months.”