The McEllis Boys

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Can I call Bethany now?" Andrew asked as he wandered into the kitchen while Nicole was busy cooking.

"Cavanaugh, could you come flip these burgers while I take Andrew upstairs and get Bethany on the phone for him?" Nicole asked.

Cavanaugh stood from the table and nodded as he walked to the stove. Nicole wiped her hands on a dish towel and led Andrew toward the stairs.

"Nicole!" Madeline exclaimed as she came running from the playroom.

Nicole smiled and scooped the girl into her arms. She kissed her cheek with a loud pop and squeezed her tight, "Maddy, I missed you," she told the girl.

"I missed you too. Where's the other cowboy? The policeman?"

"He went home," Nicole said sadly.

Madeline shrugged, "I like the one in the kitchen, can I go talk to him?"

Nicole looked back and saw Cavanaugh watching them with an odd look on his face, "You sure can," she replied and sat the girl down on her feet.

Madeline ran into the kitchen and threw her arms around Cavanaugh's long legs. Nicole saw the look on his face. It was a mixture of happiness and pain that made her own heart hurt for the man. What was going on in his head behind his crinkled smile and blue eyes. Was he thinking of the children he had lost?

Nicole turned away from him and led Andrew up the stairs to the bedroom he and Ian had been sharing, "I'll get her on the phone for you but I can't promise that she'll want to talk." Nicole warned and Andrew nodded as he bounced from foot to foot and rubbed his hands on his pants.

Nicole picked up the phone and dialed the number and waited three rings before Bethany's voice came over the other end, "Hello?" she said and it was clear she'd been crying.

"Bethany, are you okay?"

"Nicole? Oh no did Andrew tell you what happened?" Bethany moaned.

"He's very worried about you," Nicole replied. "And he wants to talk to you."

"No...." Bethany started.

Nicole cut her off, "Just talk to him, Bethany. You might be surprised by what he says."

Silence came over the line and then finally she heard Bethany sigh, "Okay."

Nicole handed the phone to Andrew and then left the room. Andrew put the phone to his ear and tapped his fingers on the bedside table as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Bethany?" he asked quietly.

"What?" Bethany's soft voice came back to him. Suddenly Andrew didn't know what to say. He wanted to look at her when he spoke so he could actually see her reaction to his words.

"I want to see you," he replied.

"No," Bethany responded quickly, her voice very sad.

Andrew felt panic and desperation threatening to set in, "Why?" he asked.

Bethany sniffed, "Andrew, last night wasn't me... I'm not sure what happened to me, whether it was a mixture of the alcohol and the fresh air or something else but I'm not that type of girl. I don't run off with men I barely know and do that."

Andrew nodded, "I know you don't," he assured her. "I could tell I was your first," he added. "Bethany, I should have told you no last night, I can see that now, but you don't' realize what you do to me. Please, I want to say this to your face, can I come see you? Or you can come see me?"