Bellamy

 

When the doorbell rang, I glanced up from my bowl of cereal.

Raisin Bran, of course.

Beside me, Liam set down his coffee and looked at me.

“Maybe we should just give Tom a bedroom here,” I quipped, shoveling more of the crunchy flakes into my mouth.

“And why’s that?” Liam wondered.

“Because if he’s going to be coming over before I’m even finished with breakfast, he should just sleep here.”

Liam chuckled. “It’s not Joiner.”

A fissure of alarm shot through me, and my spoon lowered to the bowl. Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself that people rang doorbells all the time. It was a common occurrence and didn’t mean someone was about to try to kill me.

A warm, sure palm settled over my bare thigh. “Everything is fine. You’re safe,” he vowed, reading me without even trying. “It’s for me. I have a delivery coming.”

I perked up. “A delivery?” Then I remembered. “Snowboarding equipment? I know you’re like a snowboard god, but that was fast, even for you.”

Laughter filled the room, and the doorbell rang again.

On his way to answer, Liam called out over his shoulder, “It’s not boarding shit. It’s something for you.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so?” I exclaimed and jumped up to follow along behind him.

At the door, Liam winked. “That would just ruin the surprise.”

He pulled open the door and smiled. Before he could say anything, Alex’s dark head poked inside. “What’s going on up in here? What took you so long to open the door?”

“Alex!” I called, giving him a wave.

“Hey there, baby girl. Long time no see.”

“Feels like forever.” I agreed.

“Baby girl,” Liam intoned, staring between us. He pivoted toward Alex. “What the fuck did you just say?”

“Touchy.” Alex grimaced.

“Do not call her that. Ever. Again.” Liam fumed.

Alex glanced at me and winked. I giggled.

“If you hadn’t just done me a solid, I would throw you the fuck out.”

“You better watch your mouth,” Alex said, pointing dramatically to something behind him.

I leaned around, trying to see, but the door and two large men standing there blocked my view.

Liam’s shoulders relaxed. “You know I appreciate this. And so will Bellamy.” He enunciated my name as if Alex might not know what it was.

It made Alex snicker.

“Appreciate what?” I asked, curious. “What are you doing here so early, and why haven’t you come inside yet?”

“I got a special package,” he replied, glancing at Liam.

Liam looked at me and smiled.

“What is going on?”

“Step aside, boys.” A voice floated through the door.

I froze. I knew that voice. It had been a while, but I knew it well.

“Mom?” I called, thinking I was surely hearing things.

Liam grabbed the side of the door and pushed it wide.

“So much for ladies first,” she said again and stepped around Alex.

I gasped, putting a hand up to my mouth as my vision turned wavy and unfocused. “Mom!”

“Bellamy!” she said. Her voice was exactly as I remembered it. And so was her face.

I went forward at the same time she did. We met in the middle, nearly colliding in an embrace. A sob broke out of me, and I buried my face against her shoulder and cried.

Oh my God, she smells the same.

She patted my back, running her hand down the length of my hair. “It’s so good to see you. I’ve worried so much and missed you.”

I clutched her tighter, hardly believing it was real that she was here and we were actually allowed to be in the same room.

“Mom,” I said again. It sounded more like a sob. It was like my brain was broken and that was the only word I knew.

“Yes, honey,” she crooned, hugging me a little tighter. “I hope you don’t mind, but I brought my things. Thought I might stay.”

I cried even harder as I nodded vigorously against her.

“I really hope that’s the hormones,” Alex said rather loudly to Liam. “Otherwise, you gonna need to buy some stock in Kleenex.”

Mom pulled back a little to look at me. “Hormones?”

“I’m pregnant,” I wailed.

Mom started crying, too.

Once the tears subsided just a little, I looked up over her shoulder at Liam, who was watching with a bemused expression on his face.

I pulled away from Mom and went to him. He opened his arms instantly. Fitting my face into the crook of his neck, I sniffled. “Thank you,” I whispered. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“I think I might,” he murmured, brushing the hair away that was sticking to my tears.

I kissed the side of his neck and pulled back. “I love you.”

He chuckled. “I love you, too.”

“What about me?” Alex cut in. “I’m the one that went and picked her up.”

I pulled away from Liam to hug him. “Thank you, Alex,” I said. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

“I gave you a baby, but whatever,” Liam muttered under his breath.

I laughed.

“Some people be so greedy. Can’t share the spotlight.” Alex tsked.

“You hugged my girl long enough,” Liam deadpanned. “Time’s up.”

I stepped back from Alex and smiled. “I’m going to make you breakfast.”

Alex’s light-blue eyes lit up. “For reals? You got any biscuits and gravy? I could go for some of that.”

“You can have Raisin Bran,” Liam intoned.

Alex made a face. “That’s just mean.”

“You’ve been with these two these last few months?” Mom asked.

I turned around and nodded dramatically.

“You poor girl. Come tell me all about it.”

“But you making them biscuits, right?” Alex called behind us as we went to the kitchen.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I exclaimed as we went.

“I could hardly believe it when your beau called me and invited me to come to BearPaw. He even sent that nice young man to make sure I made it here safe.”

I stopped partway to the coffee maker and turned. Liam was just stepping into the kitchen. “You did all that for me?” I whispered.

“You missed her, and there’s no reason she can’t be here with you.”

When I rushed him, he rocked back on his heels but managed to hold us both steady.

“There they go again,” Alex cracked. “They do this kinda thing a lot. It makes everyone uncomfortable,” he told my mom.

She laughed.

Stepping back from Liam, I took his hand and led him over to where my mom was standing. “Mom, this is Liam. He’s…” I didn’t know what to say. I mean, how did I sum up in a single sentence how much he meant to me? “He’s the one.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Liam.”

“Ma’am,” Liam said. “I appreciate you coming all this way.”

“There’s nowhere I’d rather be,” Mom said, linking her arm with mine.

I still couldn’t believe she was here. I could see her and talk to her, all without having to be afraid.

“So is breakfast still happening?” Alex wondered, hopeful.

“There’s cereal on the table.” Liam pointed.

Alex grimaced. “You were serious? What is happening here, Liam?” His eyes widened. “Are you constipated?”

Liam put a hand to his chest. “That is a very personal question.”

Alex dropped a hand on Liam’s shoulder. “You can tell me anything, bro.”

“Maybe we should let them catch up.” Mom offered, steering me farther into the kitchen while I giggled. “I’ll help you make breakfast. We have catching up of our own to do. Lots of it.”

“We definitely do.” I agreed, sweeping my eyes over her face one more time. “I missed you.”

“Oh, honey. Me, too.”

Behind us, Liam and Alex were still bantering as I pulled out all the ingredients for the breakfast Alex requested.

“I want to hear everything, Bellamy. Starting with the baby.” Mom encouraged.

“Everything.” I promised, feeling so full inside I could burst.

I glanced over my shoulder at the same time Liam did.

We did that thing where we had a conversation without any words.

He was happy.

I was happy.

It was a good day.