It's Not That Easy

Chapter 26 - Advice

Advice is like snow - the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. --Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Chapter 26 - Advice

Edward's POV:

----Flashback----

After church Jim and Hannah encourages us to go to Addyson's parents for dinner. We stop by Jim's house and Hannah gives us some time to change clothes, if we want, and to grab a quick snack.

"I haven't had time to talk to you, son, since you started dating my granddaughter." Jim says to me, as he pulls up a chair near me. He's an older man nearing eighty but hardly feeble. He says quite often that the only thing that slows him down is Sunday and his cardiologists. His dry wit and no nonsense attitude make him hard to read, unless you know him. I don't know him all that much, but I can tell something is on his mind. "Do you know what kind of jewel you have, in her?"

"Yes, sir." He stares at me reading my honesty. He tightens his lips and nods at me. It is a very unsettling look to be on the receiving end.

"I haven't seen her this happy in a long time. I'm going to assume you have something to do with it." I wanted to smile, but I'm not sure if I should. "I've been married fifty-six years this past February, and there's not a day goes by that I don't remember my Hannah is jewel. Right now, it's easy to remember that Addy is special. You probably don't even have to think about; you feel it every time she walks into the room. There are going to be days that you will have to remind yourself."

He leaves the conversation hanging right there, and then he switches gears to talk about football and our new head coach.

---

We barely make it into the foyer of her parents' house and Addyson already has Chloe in her arms. She was busy chasing Nate around the living room, until she saw us come through the door, and she made a beeline for Addyson.

I look around to the crowd of people in the house, knowing that there are others in the woodworks. Watching Addyson interact as she makes her way to her mother, I consider this could be my life. This whole weekend has brought my future into focus. Addyson needs her family, and I need her. She makes time for us to be alone, to connect, but she shines when she's surrounded by love.

I feel my heart skip a beat as I watch from the table as she does what she always does...lend a hand. She's not even asked to help. She just sees the need and she fills it. She pulls up a stepstool for Chloe, and asks her, "You want to help me make cookies?" She had seen the ingredients out on the counter ready to start, but with so much commotion no one had begun making them.

Chloe helps her crack an egg and measure the sugar. I hear Gavin getting a kick out the conversation between Chloe and Addyson. The chair next to me is pulled back, but I don't move to find out who has joined me. Watching Addyson, I can't help but wonder how good of a mother she will be.

"You can't hide that look, son. She's got you tied up in knots." I hear Jim's words buzz in my ear. My gaze drops from my girl to Jim.

"You have no idea."

"I'm sure I do," he says and his eyes travel to the kitchen toward Ms. Hannah.

I stand and make my way into the kitchen inquiring about Cooper, and I make my way out of the room just as Jim pats me on the back.

Cooper is downstairs with my dad, CJ, Coach, and Michael. I sit with them as they yell at the television about an interception. For a while, it is just football, until Cooper's alarm went off. He stands and makes his way to the door to the back yard. He must be manning the grill. I follow him out and up the stairs to the deck. He gathers his mitts and tongs and begins checking the wellness of dinner.