AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When he notices us waiting, his familiar smile lights up his face, and he jogs the rest of the way to us. Ma releases my hand and falls into his open arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
“My baby, my sweet boy,” she cries as he holds her to him, rocking her from side to side the same way she used to do for us as kids. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too, Ma,” Eli says, sniffling softly as he breathes her in.
Bodhi squeezes my shoulder, pulling me to his side. He knows how much this means to me and Ma. I’m so thankful he’s here with us today.
When Ma finally releases Eli from her hold, he lifts his head and meets my tearful gaze.
My bottom lip trembles as he reaches out for me, and I leap forward, wrapping my arms around his neck.
I have no words to explain how happy I am at this moment. Nothing I can say to my brother will explain how hard these last couple of years have been without him. How much it hurt to be away from him, and how hard I worked to try to keep everything afloat.
He smooths a hand over the back of my head, lifting until my feet no longer touch the ground.
“Hey, I’m right here, Keat. I’m not going anywhere. Not ever again,” he says, and I believe it.
“I missed you so much,” I tell him.
“I know, me too,” he whispers, squeezing a little tighter. “I’m so proud of you.”
A fresh wave of tears spills from my eyes hearing him say that. All I ever wanted was to make him proud of me. No matter how hard it was, I tried my best.
When he finally sets me down, he looks over my shoulder. Bodhi stands behind me, with his hands tucked in his pockets, quietly waiting, letting us have our moment.
Ma rejoins me, holding me to her side, and we share a look. Things are back to how they should be, and it’s only going to get better.
Eli approaches Bodhi, holding his gaze. Bodhi removes his hands from his pockets, thrusting one out to shake my brother’s hand.
“It’s good to see you again, man,” Bodhi says.
Eli looks down at Bodhi’s hand but doesn’t reach for it. Instead, coming as a complete shock to all of us, he steps forward and grasps him in a hug. They slap each other on the back before separating.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done. Not only to help me out, but to help my family. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you, but trust that I will,” Eli says, and I know that he means it.
Bodhi smiles, clapping Eli on the shoulder.
“You don’t owe me a thing. I’m glad I was able to help,” he says, and I can see in my brother’s eyes the respect he has gained for my boyfriend.
“Okay,” ma claps her hands, “Let’s go home.”
We all chuckle, and Eli smiles brightly.
“Home… home sounds great.”
Bodhi
With Mateo arrested and Eli back home, things have been so much better.
Keaton’s mood has lightened to a point that I questioned whether she had been abducted by aliens, because she was so not the girl I met that night under the elevated tracks.
She shoved my arm and told me that if I wanted to, she could make a comeback really fast. I just laughed and told her that I would take her any way she’d let me, and I meant it.
Living together was a new adventure, too. I may have already lived in the house for over two years now, but I think it goes without saying that we christened every inch of that house and then some.
Keaton made herself right at home, and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. That house is nothing more than framework and drywall without her in it. She’s what makes it a home. One I’m glad to come back to each and every day.
Rob and I have grown even closer over the last few months, and our new business, Innovative Racing, has taken off.
