Chapter 13
Thirteen
Emma
Noah’s quiet when he comes back from getting Jason from school.
He disappears into his room, only emerging when I’m cooking dinner.
I turn over the chicken pieces, my mouth watering as I breathe in the aroma of the food.
“Mum?”
Despite knowing this was coming, my stomach pinches.
“Noah.”
“Can we talk about today?”
I turn toward him. God, he looks like Caleb—that’s even more clear now I’ve seen them together.
“Do you mind if we wait until the others are in bed?”
He holds up his palms. “I just wanted to check on you and make sure you’re okay.”
I nod. “I will be. Today was just a bit much, you know?”
“He seems like a nice guy. I keep thinking about how Malcolm would have reacted to the same news.”
My throat tightens. Noah’s right. Given the difference between the two men, I’d rather have Caleb be angry at me than Malcolm.
“I look so much like him. Do you think he’ll want to get to know me?”
I cup his cheek and smile. “I think he’ll love to get to know you.”
“What about you? He … He was so good with you. It was nice to see.”
“You don’t have to tiptoe around it, Noah. I know he’s a much better man than Malcolm ever was. He was when we were teenagers, and his family is loving and supportive of him. It’s not really a surprise to find out he’s a good man after all these years.”
Noah studies me closely. “What’s it like? Seeing him after all this time?”
For a moment, the words catch in my throat.
“It’s been wonderful, and scary. When he turned up on the doorstep, I was sure he’d turn around and leave when he realised it was me, but it turned out he already knew.”
“So, he’s been the one doing all the repairs around here?”
I nod. “Turns out Caleb owns a handyman business. I had no idea it was him when I called them.”
“That’s some crazy coincidence.”
Laughing, I lean back against the bench. “I should have known. It’s a close-knit community here. If you don’t know someone, you know someone who knows someone.”
His eyes dart toward the living room and back. “We should tell the others.”
“When do you want to do that?”
“Tonight.” He fixes his gaze on mine. “Please, Mum? I want them to know what’s going on.”
I’m still not ready for any of this, but it’s too late to stop it now.
Noah deserves this, and the others deserve to know what’s going on.
“Okay. After dinner.”
He smiles. It’s small, but it’s an acknowledgement that I’ve done the right thing.
I think.
Dinner is light years away from what it used to be.
Chatter about the day fills the air in between bites of food. It’s animated and noisy, and everything I ever wanted.
Not the silence we used to live under.
Bailey waves her hands in the air as she tells a story about the new group of friends she’s made. This time, she’ll be allowed to spend time with them, not hover on the outside like she’s not really part of the group who isn’t able to go out and have fun.
“So, Mel is having a party next Saturday and she invited me.”
I nod slowly. “What kind of party?”
“She’s turning sixteen, and her parents will be there. If Noah can take me, he can meet them. They said they’ll bring me home.”
I cock my head and shift my gaze to Noah. “Are you okay doing that?”
He shrugs. “I don’t mind.”
“Then it’s fine with me. But you’re home by eleven, and if you need a ride, you call home.”
She nods. I lucked out with my kids. There’s a part of me that worried that Bailey would rebel and act out, given how her life has changed.
But there’s no sign of that so far.
She’s always been a responsible girl. How Kiera might act is another story, but we’ll cross that bridge if we come to it.
“Thanks, Mum.”
“It’s good to see you making friends.”
Our gazes meet across the table and she smiles at me. With her long, blonde hair and blue eyes, she takes after me. I want her to have the future I never had—the chance to live.
I fully expect our road won’t be so smooth as it is right now. But I have to give her the chance to spread her wings.
And give her room to make her own mistakes.
One thing is for sure—no matter what, I’ll be here for her. I won’t push her into situations that make her uncomfortable or force her to live her life a certain way.
I’ll be there in the way that matters—unlike my own parents.
“Is there pudding?” Jason asks.
His plate’s already clean and his eyes are bright with excitement.
“I’ve got some ice cream. Do you want some?”
His nod’s so enthusiastic, it’s a wonder his head doesn’t fly off.
Once dinner and pudding are done, Noah clears the plates while the rest of us go and sit in the living room.
“What’s going on?” Kiera asks.
She’s the suspicious one. Always.
“Noah and I have some news to tell you.”
“Is he leaving?” Jason’s brows knit, and I use my thumb to smooth them out.
“No, honey. He’s staying right here.”
Noah’s hands are clasped together—a nervous look on his face. He always knew this is what set him apart from his siblings—or at least suspected, and he must be unsure of how they’ll take it.
But they love him, and there’s nothing to be afraid of.
“What is it?” Bailey asks.
I draw in a deep breath. “Well, Noah has a different father to the three of you. He met him today.”
Kiera’s eyes widen. “I knew he didn’t look like the rest of us, but whoa.”
“Can he be my dad too?” Jason burrows in against me.
I close my eyes. He’s the one who knew his father the least, but knew him at his worst. As Malcolm’s illness got worse, his temper did too, and his frustration bled into every interaction.
“No, Jase.” Bailey’s gentle voice makes me open my eyes again. She has a wary smile on her face as she drops to her knees and crawls toward him. “But we’ve all got Mum, and that’s what matters now.”
He sniffs, and I meet Noah’s gaze.
“Is Noah still our brother?” Jason asks.
Noah moves to sit beside us. “You bet I am. And you’re stuck with me forever.” He pokes Jason in the side and Jason giggles, the tension in the room easing.
“Can we meet him?” Kiera asks.
I exchange a glance with Noah. “I’m sure we can arrange something.”
Caleb said he wanted to meet my children. I’m not entirely comfortable—it’s come at me so fast, but I like the idea of him becoming a bigger part of my world.
I just want that world to slow down.
“I’ve got homework to do,” Kiera says as if she hasn’t just had a huge bombshell dropped on her. She flounces out of the room with a flick of her blonde hair.
Noah chuckles. “She’s the one you have to look out for, Mum.”
“Oh, believe me, I know.”
“Hey, Jase. Do you want to come and play Xbox with me? I got a new game today.” Noah beams at his little brother.
Jason looks at him with big eyes. “Yes!”
And then I’m left in the quiet with my eldest daughter whose brow is furrowed.
“Mum? Are you okay?” Bailey bounces across the room and drops into the seat Jason’s just left empty.
“I am. Look at you. You’re not a little girl anymore. I’m so proud of you.” I wrap my arms around her shoulders. “Thank you for reassuring Jason. He really needs it.”
She lets out a loud sigh. “Our lives are changing so much. I think he feels it the most.”
I nod. “I’m hoping he’ll get a more normal childhood than I could give you girls.”
“I feel like we missed out on a lot.” She shrugs. “I mean, I always had that feeling, but now Dad’s gone, I keep thinking about all the things other kids get to do that we never did.”
“Like what?”
“Having real friends. It wasn’t like we got to hang out with other kids after school—he kept you on such a tight leash.”
Tears prick my eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
She shakes her head. “No, don’t be. You did your best. We all know that. And we know you took the brunt of his anger.”
I’m not sure what to say. Of course I knew they saw it, despite me doing my best to shelter them.
“And, Mum? You deserve to be happy. You need to find someone who treats you like the Queen you are.”
Tears well in my eyes, and I hold my daughter close.
I don’t want to cry, but it’s hard not to when she just gets it.