Chapter Text
Chapter One
It was early evening, the sun was just setting as Blake and his brother Richie were sat at the kitchen table while Cleo, Richie’s wife, played with their ten-month-old and six-year-old on the floor. Blake’s dog watching, with affection clouding her eyes.
“I can’t believe how big Carter has gotten. He was only four last time I saw him. And Drake. Mom would be so proud of you.” Blake said looking over at his brother’s family.
“Thank you. I just wish she could be here to see them. She would have spoiled them rotten. I mean Carter got to meet her but Drake he wasn’t even conceived.”
“Yeah, she would have loved them. Seems all she wanted was grandkids. At least she met one of them. I’m going to her grave tomorrow, put some new flowers down, if you want to go?”
“I would love to. Blake… I’m sorry, I lost contact after she died. I… It just took its toll.”
“I understand. It’s not easy. I sometimes still think she’s making Sunday dinner for us, then I realise she’s not here anymore. I guess you never really get over the loss, you just learn to live with it.”
“That’s for sure.”
There was a small silence.
“Are you sure you’re okay to watch the boys?” Richie asked, glancing over at Cleo.
“Yes. I’ve missed my nephews. And you said Drake’s going to be asleep anyway?”
“Yeah he should be asleep in a few minutes with the look of him. We wanted to ask you something… We know you’re already Carter’s Godfather but would you like to be Drake’s?”
“Are you kidding?! I would love to!” Blake replied, excitement spreading through his body.
Cleo looked up at Richie and raised her eyebrow at him, insinuating that he should bring up the talk they had, had earlier.
“Hey so, Cleo and I were talking earlier, you know how Gwen, Cleo’s best friend, is coming to stay with us? We were thinking that, maybe, just maybe, you could take her on a date. You’ve both been single for so long and I’m sure she would love to get to know you. We told her to expect your text.”
“I’m not sure. I mean she’s not even from around here.”
“Just one date. Look, I wrote her number down. Just send her a text and arrange something.” Richie said sliding a piece of paper over to Blake.
Blake smiled and stood up, joining Cleo, Carter, and Drake on the floor. Richie smiled down at his family. His gut turning at the thought of leaving his younger brother all on his own, to go through their mom’s things. He’s glad Cleo suggested moving back to Oklahoma.
Blake stood at the door with Carter as they watched Richie and Cleo drive away. Drake was fast asleep upstairs and Carter was due to go to bed in a couple of hours. Blake followed Carter to the living room and sat next to him on the couch. He let Carter pick a movie, and went to find some popcorn. His eyes caught the sheet of paper Richie had left on the table.
Unable to fight the urge any longer, he picked up the paper and took it back into the living room, with the biscuit tin in one hand.
“Hey, I couldn’t find any popcorn but I do have Oreos.”
“Thank you, Uncle Blake.” Carter replied, his eyes landing briefly on Blake before going back to the movie.
Blake sat back down and grabbed his phone from the coffee table. He added Gwen’s contact information and opened the text screen. He stared at the cursor as it blinked in the empty box. Sighing he locked his phone and looked back up at the movie. Annoyance ate at him. The urge to get back out there and date again verse the need to protect his heart and not let anyone in.
He picked up his phone and unlocked it, the blank text box teasing him. Finally, he formulated a sentence and managed to send it.
Hi Gwen, it’s Blake. My brother Richie told me you were expecting my text. I was wondering if you would like to go out for dinner when you get here? It’s okay to say no, apparently, we’ve both been out of the dating game a while. Blake x
Blake let out a sigh and put his phone down. He got back into the film and forgot about the text. That was until his phone vibrated ten minutes later, causing him to jump and Carter to look at him slightly weird. With shaking hands, he unlocked his phone and opened the text message.
Hi Blake, I would love to go out to dinner with you. Meeting a real Cowboy seems fun too. Cleo and Richie haven’t stopped talking about you. I’m actually flying in tonight and meeting them at theirs so whenever you want to go let me know. Gx
Sorry that was dumb. Ignore the Cowboy bit and the over eagerness. Gx
It’s absolutely fine. Just means I have to make sure I’m up to Cowboy standards. How about Wednesday? Blake x
Wednesday is perfect. Gx
Blake locked his phone once again and looked over at Carter. He was fast asleep on the couch; the tin of biscuits open in his lap. Blake smiled at his innocence before he switched off the television and scooped the six-year-old up. He took him to one of his many spare rooms and made sure he was tucked in before pulling the door too.
Blake went back downstairs and started to clean up.
Richie and Cleo were in the car driving back home. Dinner was amazing and Richie hadn’t realised how much he missed been alone with his wife. Don’t get him wrong he loved his kids, and over dinner they talked about expanding their family even more. Cleo was talking to him about Gwen and whether or not he thought Blake had text her.
“Do you think he has?” Cleo asked, looking over at her husband, his eyes focused on the road.
“I think if he hasn’t already it won’t be long. Gwen will tell us anyway. She should be at ours by now.”
“It would be so good if they got together. Then Gwen would be the boys’ auntie by marriage too.” Cleo said, excitement racking her body.
“It would do Blake good too. Gwen would be perfect for him. She’s strong and witty, once you get to know her and break her out of her shyness.”
“Ever since we met we said we were going to marry Brothers. Be sisters-in-law.” Cleo replied giggling.
Richie turned the corner and continued driving down the street. Thoughts of happiness in his brother’s future made him smile. His eyes left the road for barely a second as he looked at Cleo, thanking his lucky stars that she was brought into his life. Her lips were turned up in a huge smile and her eyes were sparkling. When his eyes went back to the road ahead he noticed headlights swirling on the road going from one side of the road to the other. Richie tried to turn out of the way but it was too late.
The onlooker’s car swerved into Richie’s car killing him instantly. His hands became slack on the wheel, Cleo hit her head hard against the window. As she was coming too, the car went straight into a tree on the side of the road. The bumper was mangled and unrecognisable. Cleo heard sirens in the distance as her eyes shut and her body gave up.
A tall, blonde haired woman ran up to the reception desk, tears pouring down her face as she looked at the nurse on duty.
“I’m here to see Cleo Shelton. I – I got a call. I’m Gwen… Gwen Stefani”
The nurse looked at Gwen like she knew secrets that would destroy her as she led her down the corridor to an ICU room.
Gwen ran up to the bed holding her best friend, clasping her hand as tears fell harder at the sight of her friend. The tubes coming from her body and face. Her delicate face, bruised and broken. Gwen felt Cleo squeeze her hand ever so softly, Gwen almost missed it. Gwen’s gaze shot back up to Cleo’s face.
“Look after Blake and the boys” she barely whispered.
Gwen’s body shook as she watched Cleo close her eyes and the beeping of the heart rate monitor becoming one long beep. The doors rushed open and Gwen felt hands on her arms as someone pulled her away.
Gwen couldn’t control herself. She felt like she was suffocating as she walked down the hall. As she walked past the reception area, the nurse looked at her with sorrow in her eyes. Her shoulder banged into a tall man with grey peppered hair, he had tears down his face and his legs carried him down the corridor.
Gwen continued walked, allowing the numb feeling to take over her body.