Mine To Honor (Southern Wedding Series Book 7) (Southern Weddings)

“Cabin crew, please take your seats for landing.” I hear the pilot say and look out the window at the city below us. The flight attendant comes on and tells us we will be landing in a matter of minutes. I lean back in my seat with my hands crossed on my stomach, my eyes looking at the black ring on my wedding finger.

It’s been over a week since we’ve gotten married, and it’s been exactly one week since I left Eva at her house with Cici. I didn’t think anything about leaving, but the day after, I was itching to return home. I’ve been on the West Coast and I never thought those three hours mattered, but they really mattered when you woke up at seven and it was ten her time and she was working. Then when you finish work at eight but then it’s eleven her time. So it’s been quick phone calls during the week. Texts also have been few and far between.

The wheels hit the runway, and I turn the Airplane Mode off. My finger nervously taps the phone, waiting for it to start beeping with alerts. I look down when it vibrates in my hand showing me emails are coming in. I pull up my text thread with Eva.

Me: Just landed.

I look down to see if the gray bubble pops up, showing she’s texting me, but nothing comes up. I wait for the ding of the seat belt before I reach under my seat to grab my backpack, then open the overhead bin and grabbing my black carry-on bag. I slide it over my shoulder, while I hold the bag in front of me, waiting for the plane door to open before I walk out. I make my way toward the baggage claim and exit. Passing the baggage claim, I head straight to the parking garage. Fetching the keys out of my bag, I press the unlock button, pulling open the back door and tossing the bag in there, along with my backpack, before sliding into the driver’s seat.

I pull out of the parking lot and head straight to my place. In a matter of twenty minutes, I’m walking into my place and tossing my keys at the table by the door, right next to the stack of mail my cleaning lady put there this morning. I dump my bag on the bed, unzipping it as I take out my dirty clothes and toss them in the laundry basket in the closet. The phone rings from inside my suit jacket pocket, pulling it out I see that it’s Eva.

“Hello,” I greet, putting the phone to my ear and leaning it against my shoulder.

“Hey.” She sounds breathless. “Where are you?”

“I’m home grabbing some clothes.” I walk over to the shelf and grab two pairs of jeans along with two jogging shorts. Going back to the bag, I fill it with the clothes in my hands before going back to get some T-shirts.

“Okay, well, Josephine is going to be here in like fifteen minutes,” she says, and I hear her running around. “It’s their first visit since I got Cici and I’m about to freak the F out.” She hisses the last word.

“Okay, I’ll be there in ten minutes,” I assure her. “Do you need anything?”

“No,” she replies, “just get here.” She disconnects, and I rush to get to her house.

I pull into her driveway and park next to her car at the same time as a car pulls up to the curb. I get out of the driver’s seat and grab my bag from the back of the car. Walking up the front steps, I look over my shoulder to see Josephine coming up the walkway. “Hello,” I greet her, opening the front door. Luckily, I know the code to the door. “Come in,” I say to her as Eva walks out of the kitchen, baby Cici on her hip. She’s dressed in yoga pants and a white shirt that is almost a crop top. Her hair is piled on the top of her head. I can’t help the smile that fills my face, and it’s strange how nervous I am standing in front of her. She isn’t sure what to say to me, but her eyes look behind me at Josephine. “Hi.” I smile at her as I walk to her, bending down and kissing her lips. She looks at me shocked, especially when I lean over and kiss Cici’s soft cheek. “I’m going to put away my bag in the room,” I tell Eva, who just nods. I then turn to Josephine. “Sorry, I was traveling for work and my plane was delayed,” I lie to her. “I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time,” Josephine assures me. I nod at her as I take a couple of steps toward the stairs and see the changes that have happened in one week. On top of the mantel is a picture of us from our wedding. I want to walk over to it and pick it up to look at it, but instead I just walk up the steps toward Eva’s room.

I place the bag on the floor inside the room. I take off my suit jacket, tossing it on the bed before turning to walk back downstairs. I hear Cici fussing when I get down to the last step. “How have things been going?” Josephine sits with a pen in her hand and a pad, where she is writing notes. She is at the table in front of Eva, with Cici on her lap, but turned toward her.

“It’s been good,” she states and I know she’s lying. The few times I did talk to her, she sounded like she was hanging on by a thread. “Definitely a little bit of a learning curve.” She gets up now as Cici lays her head on her shoulder as Eva moves side to side. “I think she misses Lisa.”

Josephine just nods at her. I walk into the kitchen and see she has a high chair in the corner. I walk to her. “Do you want some water?” I ask Eva, putting my hand on her lower back.

“Yes,” she replies, looking up at me, her look is something from exhausted to scared all in one. “Would you like something?” she asks Josephine, who just shakes her head.

I walk into the kitchen toward the fridge and see bottles in the sink. There is what looks like a coffee machine on the counter next to the real coffee machine, except a bottle is under it. There is also a rack of bottles right beside it. I open the fridge, grabbing her a water bottle before returning to the table. Eva is still standing rocking, but now Cici is lying on her chest. I open the bottle for her and hand it to her. She takes a couple of sips before handing it back to me.

“Well, I think I got everything I need,” Josephine says to us. I look over at the living room and see there is now a rocking chair in the corner. Right beside it is a white basket with colorful toys inside it. On the floor is a square carpet thing with toys scattered around it. “I will let you know if we have any other questions.” She puts away her pad. I move with Eva toward the door as Josephine leaves. I put my arm around her shoulders as we wave goodbye before walking back into the house.

She steps toward the couch as she sits down. “Where did you get all this?” I ask as I reach down and pick up a toy.

“Lisa’s apartment.” She grabs one of the little blankets from the side and places it over Cici. “I spent the week going through everything.”

I gasp. “Why didn’t you wait for me?” I’m pissed I wasn’t there for her. “You should have waited for me,” I finally say, sitting down on the couch in front of her.

“You weren’t here,” she responds softly, her voice low. “I worked on it at night.” She looks down at Cici. “I got everything done, and finally, this morning, they brought over Cici’s things.” She rubs Cici’s cheek with her finger. “I have to go back and get all the rest of the furniture.”

“I’ll get a couple of guys from the office,” I tell her. “We’ll get it all settled next week.”

She just nods at me. “I bought beer.” She motions with her chin toward the fridge. I get up knowing that was my hint to get her a beer.

I walk over to the fridge, grabbing two bottles of beer. I twist off the two caps, looking over at her. “Do you want a glass?” She just shakes her head.

I hand her one beer before taking a pull of my own. “You look exhausted, by the way.” I try to hide the smirk on my face when she glares at me as she takes her own pull of her beer.

“Good,” she huffs as she takes another pull. “I feel worse than I look,” she admits.

“How are you doing?” I finally ask her, looking at her.

“I’ve been better. I think Cici is missing Lisa.” She looks down at Cici in her arms. “I know they said she wouldn’t remember but she misses her. She gets up at night and calls for her.” I don’t say anything to her. I just listen, happy I’m home. “Even when I get her, she is happy but keeps looking around for her.”

“I think I read something that said kids see dead people,” I share and she gasps. Cici stirs on her chest.

“Why would you say that?” she hisses at me. “Do you think Lisa is here?” She looks around and I can’t help but laugh at her.

“I don’t know if she’s here now,” I say, taking a pull of my beer. “I’m not really versed in how it works. But from what I read online, people usually cross over.”

She looks at me, her mouth hanging open. “What the hell are you reading online?”

I shake my head. “It was something I read a while ago. They did a study.”

She’s about to tell me something else when Cici stirs in her arms. She looks down at her and smiles as Cici’s head bounces up. “Hi, Princess V,” she coos to her as she leans forward and puts the bottle of beer on the table in front of her. Cici smiles at her as she rubs her eyes with her hands that are balled up. “Did you have a nice nap?” She kisses her head and Cici buries her face in her chest, rubbing side to side.

“That was a nap?” I look at her strange.

“It was a catnap.” She picks her up as she stands. “Did you see any ghosts?” she asks her and I laugh.

“A catnap,” I repeat. “It was four minutes.”

“You would be surprised what a four-minute catnap will do.” She rubs Cici’s back. “I’m going to go and start dinner.” She walks to me. “Can you hold her?”

I put the bottle of beer down on the table. “Yeah,” I say, nervous about this whole thing. If we are being honest, I think I’ve spent maybe sixty whole minutes in my entire life with a baby. Give or take, and that was when one of the parents would want to take a picture and have me hold them. I get up and rub my hands down the front of my pants, but my hands still stay clammy. “I should wash my hands.”

She stands there looking up at me with a tired face, yet looking more beautiful than I think she’s ever looked. A baby with the same eyes as her looks at me, unsure what is going on. Her cheeks looking a bit rosy. “I’m going to wash my hands,” I tell Cici, “and then I’ll take you.”

“Are you nervous?” Eva asks me, her tone sounding like this is entertaining to her. “The big bad Levi who is kick-ass in the boardroom.” She looks down at Cici. “The Levi who never lets anyone see him sweat.” I roll my eyes. “The same Levi who can skydive by himself?” I exhale. “The same Levi who—”

“Yeah,” I cut her off, turning to walk to the kitchen, but not before turning and looking over my shoulder, “that Levi.”