Whiskey Lullaby

Chapter 11-Izzy

Chapter 11

Izzy

Waking up the next morning, I slip out of bed without waking Ashton. As I walk by Jason’s room, putting my hand on the door and say a silent prayer before walking to the kitchen to start breakfast. It’s Saturday so I don’t have to work. I start the coffee before pulling out the things I need to make biscuits, gravy, bacon and eggs. I make a cup of coffee before starting to fry the bacon. I move to the counter and start making the dough for the biscuits. I’m rolling dough when I feel a pair of arms wrap around me. “Good morning baby.” He says softly before kissing my shoulder. “Morning. Coffee’s fresh.” I tell him.

Turning my face to kiss him, he places a soft kiss to my lips before pouring his coffee. “Can I help?” he asks. “Can you flip the bacon please?” I ask as I’m putting the last of the dough on the baking sheet. I move to set the oven to preheat and scoot him out of the way while I finish the bacon. “Want me to start the eggs?” he asks as I put the biscuits in the oven. “Scrambled please.” I say and he starts them. I move next to him and start the gravy while the biscuits are baking. “How did you sleep?” he asks. “Okay I think. Still don’t sleep all night.” I tell him. “It gets better.” He tells me. “I still hear him cry.” I tell him. He cups my face and says, “It will get better.” I just nod.

After we eat and clean up, he says “Get dressed baby. I want to meet our boy.” I nod before moving to the bedroom to get dressed and he heads to the bathroom to change. When I walk out to the living room, he’s there waiting for me. “Are you ready?” he asks. I nod and he cups my face and kisses me softly. “It’s going to be fine.” I nod again and we walk outside. I see his car there and look at him. “Nick will drive us.” I nod and we walk to the car. “Good morning boss, Ms. James.” He says. “Good morning Nick.” Ashton says. “Morning.” I say softly. We get into the car and Nick asks, “Where to boss?” Ashton laces his fingers with mine and says, “To the cemetery.” He nods and heads towards the cemetery.

Pulling through the gates, Nick opens the back door and Ashton steps out, then helps me out. Lacing his fingers with mine, he asks “Which one do you want to go to first?” I take a deep breath and say “Karen.” He nods and leads me to the bench beside Karen’s grave. “Hey honey.” He says as he touches her name on the headstone. I release his hand, and he looks at me before taking it back. “Izzy, this is Karen.” He says. “Hi Karen.” I say. He helps me sit before sitting next to me. “Karen, this is the woman I want to spend my life with.” He says before smiling softly at me. “Ashton…” I start and he stops me with a soft kiss. “Don’t. She would want me to be happy and you make me happy.” He tells me and I nod. He looks back at the headstone and says “Izzy has a little boy up there with you. Jason. Take care of him so Izzy knows he’s not alone.” I feel the tears start rolling down my face and he cups my face and puts his forehead to mine and says, “You’re mine.” And all I can do is nod.

After sitting a little longer at Karen’s grave, he touches her name again and helps me to stand. “You ready?” he asks and I just nod. He places his hand on the small of my back and says, “Lead the way baby.” I take a breath and start walking towards my son’s grave. We walk up to grave, and he stays back a minute and lets me have a minute with my son. I kneel next to the grave and brush a couple of leaves off of the bottom of the stone and say, “Hey sweet boy. You enjoying the sun?” I brush my fingers over his name and say, “There’s someone I want you to meet.” Before turning to look at Ashton. He walks over and kneels next to me. “This is Ashton. My boyfriend.” I say and look at him, seeing him smiling softly. I look back at the stone and say “His wife, Karen, is not far from you. She’s going to watch over you since Mommy can’t be there. She’ll be a better mommy for you.” He wraps his arms around me and holds me close. “Baby you’re an amazing mother. Don’t doubt that.” He says softly into my ear as he holds me closer. “I couldn’t protect him. I let him take Jason. I let him kill my baby.” I sob. He cups my face and makes me look at him. “Stop it. You didn’t let him do anything. You let him take Jason because you thought it was the right thing to do. You’re an amazing mother. You love your son.” He says. “Look at his stone.” He tells me and I look over at my son’s stone. “Look at all the others around it.” He tells me and I look around. “Jason’s stone is the only one here that looks like it’s being taken care of. You’re still taking care of him even after he’s gone. You are an amazing mother.” He tells me before pulling me back into his chest and we just sit there, looking at Jason’s stone.

After sitting for a couple of hours, neither of us saying anything, I kiss the stone, and Ashton leads me to the car. Getting in, he asks Nick to take us to his house and I look at him. “Just for a while. If you want to stay at your place, we can but I need another change of clothes.” He tells me. I just nod and look back out the window. He laces his fingers with mine and kisses my hand. I close my eyes and lay my head on his shoulder.