“Your dad said y’all were going out boot-stompin’ in Luckenbach again tonight. ”
Then, it happened. I went to talk, and instead, I lost it, which caused Ellie to laugh even more.
Gramps just stood there, looking between Ellie and me. He looked confused as hell as to why we were both laughing.
When we heard Alex crying through the baby monitor, Gramps’s face lit up. “I’ll go get her since you two can’t get seem to stop laughing about whatever in the hell it is you’re laughing about. ”
Once I heard him walk up the steps, I grabbed Ellie and pushed her against the wall. “I’m going to finish what I started later tonight. ”
She instantly stopped laughing as she grabbed behind my neck and pulled me to her mouth. I wasn’t even sure how long we were standing there, kissing, before I heard Gramps clear his throat.
I slowly pulled away from her lips. “I love you so much. ”
“I love you more. ”
When Alex let out a little cry, Ellie smiled and headed toward Gramps.
“I’ve already changed her, so she is fresh and ready to go!” Gramps smiled at Ellie.
The look on Ellie’s face was pure love.
God, just from watching her move around the kitchen, my heart swells up with so much love for her.
“Do you want to feed her?” Ellie asked.
Gramps laughed and started toward the living room to go sit down. “Hell yes, I want to feed my girl. ”
I leaned up against the doorjamb, watching my grandfather feeding my daughter in his arms. When Ellie came up and stood in front of me, I wrapped my arms around her.
Leaning down, I whispered in her ear, “Another one?”
She turned her head and smiled at me. “I thought you’d never ask!”
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Today is the day for company, I guess,” I said.
Gramps smiled and went back to humming to Alex.
I headed over to answer the door, and when I opened it, I almost fell over as I recognized the person standing there.
Oh holy motherfucking shit.
Ellie’s mom was smiling at me, holding a basket filled with…gifts.
I took a few steps back, turned to Ellie, and tried to smile. “Wait in the living room, okay, sweetheart?”
Her smile faded. “Why? Who is it, Gunner?”
“Ellie, please just stay inside. ”
I walked outside and shut the front door behind me. “What in the hell are you doing here? And how did you get on our property?”
Her smile faded for a quick second before she tried to smile again. “Um…your main gate was open, and the young man working on it brought me up here. I hope I didn’t get him into any trouble. ”
I looked around her and saw Dewey’s truck driving off. Fuck! I can’t be mad at him. I never told him about Ellie’s mother. “Why didn’t you call first?”
She shook her head. “I’ve been calling Ellie’s cell phone for months, but she hasn’t returned my calls. I’ve been sober for over a year now. I just wanted to talk to E