To Be Loved By You - A Bradley Bradshaw Story

Phone Calls

Author's Note: Guys! Just two more chapters after this one! Brad and Thea's first story is almost over! BUT there is another story coming your way after this one is over! How exciting is that?!

This chapter feels a little fluffy, but these are scenes that I wanted to write for you guys. So I did! 

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The breeze that fluttered through the french doors of her parent's deck was cool against her skin as she sat in the dining room with her pop. She loved this time of year; the weather was starting to warm up but evenings were cool and breezy and she could smell the salt of the ocean on the air.

Normally, she would be enjoying herself, sitting in the salty breeze and talking with her pop, but she couldn't stop herself from checking her phone again.

He put his glass down and chuckled. "It'll ring when he calls, ya know?"

She sighed and placed the phone back on the table. At her father's pointed look, she turned it face down. "I just wanted to see what time it is." She shrugged but they both knew that wasn't true. She didn't want to miss Brad's call and if he hadn't insisted that she go to dinner she would have stayed home to make sure she could answer.

Her mother came in with a dish of food and sat next to her father. "Leave her alone, Bill." She spooned some food for herself and passed the dish to Thea. "She misses him."

"She checked that phone constantly before he left." He pouted playfully at her mother. "He may as well just come to dinner with her."

Thea knew that wouldn't be happening. The only time someone outside of the family had been invited to their monthly dinner they had been rude to Pop, insulted her Mama's cooking, and been dumped by her brother that night. Her mother deemed that very night that no one was invited to their monthly family dinner and they had stuck to that ruling ever since.

"You know what, Bill?" Her mother took a sip of her drink before continuing. "He should."

"He should," Thea questioned, unable to help herself. "You never invite anyone to dinner."

"Well, that's not true," the older woman answered gloomily, no doubt remembering Charlie's one-time girlfriend. She cheered up as she said, "But Bradley is family and it's a family dinner!"

She turned her unbelieving eyes to her father, but his proud smirk let her know he had planned this. He gave her a wink and she laughed.

"As a matter of fact," her mother spoke again. "He'll be home next month. Bring him with you." Her mother beamed over the table at her and Thea was filled with gratitude. She was thankful, not only because her family had so completely accepted the man she loved, but also because she knew how much it would mean to Brad.

It had been a long time since he had felt like he was part of a family and every time her parents did something to include him, he felt more and more like he had a family again. He would try to argue that he didn't want to intrude on her time with her parents, but she knew he would be beyond touched and would eventually give in and join her. "Thank you, Mama."

Her mother didn't have a chance to respond as her phone started vibrating against the wooden table. Smiling, she picked it up quickly to see that it was indeed Brad calling.

"Told you it would ring," her father grumped from beside her.

She heard mother chastise him as she answered Brad's call. "Hi, darlin'."

"Hey, sweetheart." His smile was bright as he greeted her. He wore his regular black T-shirt under the shirt she had gotten him for Christmas.

She still couldn't believe he managed to wear the shirt around the carrier. He was supposed to be in some semblance of uniform at all times, yet there he was sporting brightly colored flowers. When she had first asked if he was worried he would get in trouble, he had said that didn't matter to him; he wanted to feel close to her and his shirt made that happen.