42. Ada
“He was being evicted when we showed up to get your things, honey.” Mom leaned across the table and whispered the rest at me but it was the loudest whisper I’d ever heard and I knew everyone was listening. “The sheriff was there and everything. It was kind of sad. He’d boxed your stuff up so neatly and kept asking us if we knew where you were. It was all very dramatic.”
I frowned. “He never did anything neatly while we were together. It figures he waited until I left him to start.”
“That’s not all, though. We got front row seats to the woman upstairs kicking him out, too. I guess he thought he was going to move in with her, or something, but she corrected that idea so fast his head spun.” Mom leaned in even closer. “We had to give him a ride to his parents’. It was super embarrassing for him, I’m sure. He was in the backseat, sniffling, asking if we thought you would forgive him.”
“Why didn’t you tell me all that happened?” I didn’t feel bad for Camden because he’d made his own mess, but I couldn’t believe my parents, who never met a secret they couldn’t share, had stayed silent about it all.
“You had your own things happening here. We didn’t want you to lose time with the bosses you made sound so attractive over worrying about Camden.” She rolled her eyes. “Besides, his parents’ house was a massive place inside a gated community. Something tells me he’ll land on his feet.”
“You made us sound attractive?” Collin leaned into my space and smirked. “Good to know.”
“You should’ve heard your father, Ada. The entire drive to Camden’s parents’ house, he was lecturing him and telling him off. It was hot.” Mom met Dad’s gaze from across the table and winked.
I leaned back in my chair and stared up at the elaborate chandelier that hung over the dining table. It was rustic and matched the rest of the cabin feel but it was clear that it probably cost more than I’d make in a lifetime. The kids had already gone to bed and we were sitting around, supposedly enjoying a nice glass of relaxing wine. Only, I was about as relaxed as a tightly wound spring.
“I just couldn’t believe that idiot cheated on you. You’re amazing, Ada. You’re smart, you’re kind, you’re pretty. You’re the whole package and you’d better not forget that.” Dad’s voice was doing the thing it did after he drank wine. It was getting watery with emotion that he was too tipsy to control. “Maybe this situation makes so much sense to me because I believe it will take three men to be good enough for you. My sweet baby.”
I stood up and clapped my hands together. “And on that note, I think it’s getting late. Do you remember where your room is?”
Mom ignored me and leaned over to Jud. “I hear you’re an artist. I’d love to see your work.”
Dad, refocusing on Jud, nodded. “Yeah, son, that would be amazing. We’ve always been big supporters of the arts.”
Jud’s quiet mood had vanished with my parents’ appearance. With them, he was faster to smile and faster to open up, I’d noticed. He pulled out his phone and tapped away at it. “These are a few of my latest pieces. They were commissioned.”
Mom gasped and dragged Jud’s phone and his arm closer so Dad could look. “Honey, you are brilliant! These are beautiful. Have you seen these, Ada? Come over here and look at these.”
It was Jud’s laughing eyes that made me walk over to them. Standing between my mom and Jud, I looked down at his phone and felt my heart beat faster. He was good. I hadn’t seen anything he’d done, other than the paintings of me, but he was better than good. The painting I was staring at was a busy city street with a man stopped on the sidewalk, disrupting traffic. The expressions on the faces of the people around the men were so alive that I could feel their frustration.
“Jud…” I looked at him and had to swallow down a strange rise of emotion. “This is… You’re… Wow.”
His cheeks went pink as he shoved the phone back in his pocket and cleared his throat. “Thanks.”
“Jud is wildly talented. Ever since he was a kid he had something in his hand that he could make art with.” Joe smiled at his little brother with so much love shining in his eyes. “Our dad used to scream about the drawings on the walls. But when we moved out, I bought a house with all white walls and had Jud go crazy. There’s no telling how much the walls of that house would be worth now. The famous Jud Carrington’s early works.”
Jud stiffened beside me. “I hardly remember the shouting. I was young. What I do remember is walking into that house and finding paint and brushes just for me. It was better than Christmas.”
“Is it okay if I ask where your parents are now?” Mom had reached out and taken Jud’s hand in hers. She looked between the three of them and I could see she was already crazy about them.
Joe sat up straighter and finished his glass of whiskey. “Our mom left when I was sixteen and we left my dad two years later, as soon as we could. I hired a PI a few years ago and found out they’re both dead now.”
My heart broke for the little boys they must’ve been. I leaned into Jud and tried to keep my feet on solid ground where they were concerned. It wasn’t easy, especially with my parents opening them up.
“Oh, sweet babies. I’m so sorry.” Mom got up and made her way around the table squeezing them in tight hugs. “You know what? Maybe this is early, but you can claim us as extra parents, if you’d like. Any of the big questions that you might need a parent for? Call us. Night or day.”
Collin hugged Mom back as tightly as she hugged him. “I appreciate that. Ada is lucky to have parents like you two.”
Despite the dozens of times they’d embarrassed me already that day, I agreed. “I really am.”
“I’m so glad our Ada found you three.” Dad smiled and followed Mom in hugging the guys.
“Dad…” I sighed. “I didn’t find them. I’m their nanny.”
Jud rested his palm in the small of my back. “Just give it up, sweet girl. You found us.”
I met his gaze and lost myself for a moment. His eyes dug into me and left me feeling completely exposed. I felt like he could see everything I’d ever been and ever wanted. My heart raced and I had to force my eyes away from his as a sense of panic washed over me at the idea of what he might see.
“Well… These two golden oldies are headed to bed. That doesn’t mean the party has to end, though.” Mom winked at all of us and giggled. “I know ours won’t. Isn’t that right, Ken?”
“Mom!” I sank into the chair next to Jud and dropped my head onto the table. The only thing keeping me from banging it down a few times was Jud’s hand resting on the back of my neck.
“What? You should be glad that we’re still active. It’s a good sign for your future! You’re still going to have it well into your sixties!” Mom stood on her tiptoes and kissed Dad. “Okay. Nighty night.”
Dad grinned as Mom tugged him from the room. “Oh! Ada, will you get Kitten from the twin’s room and walk him? I’m sure one of your handsome men will help. Or maybe all three. No judgment here.”
“Not. My. Men.” I groaned. “I’ll walk the dog. Although, I’m pretty sure he’s going to walk me.”
Joe sighed. “I’ll do it.”