Chapter 28
ISLA
Hadley walks next to me as I lead an aimless path through the grocery store. She has Nora in the carrier against her chest.
“So, what are we doing here exactly?” she asks with caution.
“Diapers, bananas, hope,” I list with my voice, fatigued.
My energy is a little low since the other day when Vaughn and I had what I wouldn’t say was a fight but a discussion that caught me off guard and cracked a little bit of my heart.
Disappointment flooded me, and now I’m not sure what’s happening.
Hadley takes hold of the bar on the cart to stop our slow stroll. We’re alone in the cereal aisle, which is kind of off course for what I needed, but that’s beside the point.
“Isla, I think… you need to put yourself in his shoes.”
My face floods with disbelief at the audacity of my close friend taking Vaughn’s side. “What? How can you say that?”
“Because, well, given the circumstances, then maybe he deserves a little slack? Shock does a lot of things to people, and since then, he has only proven that he wants to be a dad and be there for you.” She’s delicate in tone but seems assertive with her theory.
“What is to say that he won’t change his mind? After all, he thought once that maybe he shouldn’t be involved.” My reasoning has to make sense to anyone who listens.
Hadley purses her lips out then rolls them in before she tips her head to the side slightly. “Isla, do you really believe that one day he will wake up and leave? You truly believe that?”
A few ticks go by while I search within me. “Most of me believes he is fully involved for our family. I just… can’t shake that tiny piece of fear.”
She examines a box of bran flakes, giving us a moment to let my admission float in the air between us.
“When is he back?”
I swallow due to the logistics of time. “Tonight.”
Hadley taps the cereal box with her nail. “You’re not the only human to have a wound inside of them.”
I sigh and look down at my daughter, feeling the crack in my throat as tears threaten to break out. “How could he even think…”
She touches my elbow to comfort me. “He doesn’t think it.
You know, my dad and I, we had our own issues,” she begins.
I’ve never known what they are, but I’m hoping Hadley can give insight.
“Things are not always clear, and you might discover something from a time now passed. But sometimes it makes us stronger, the bond between people stronger. We also have to remember that we won’t always do things the way our parents did.
You have to see that. I know you do because you are the proven fact. We can be better.”
Hot damn, she makes that tear fall. “I’m beginning to feel like I overreacted, and now I’m not sure what to do when I see him.”
Now a warm smile slants on her mouth. “Maybe you don’t need to say anything, just listen.”
I nod in understanding but still take a deep breath for courage. “Am I being unreasonable?” I need to double-check.
Hadley’s face turns crooked and her demeanor changes.
“Okay, Isla, real talk for a second. I’m not going to sugar coat this.
Yes.” She throws the box of cereal into the cart.
“Maybe you are overstretching, but I respect that everyone has a right to feel the way they do. I’m completely team Vaughn because he hasn’t done anything wrong.
He stepped up within minutes of finding out.
I mean, come on, the guy literally saw you nearly about to deliver a baby and still went into action mode…
one that gives you everything you’ve been waiting for.
You get everything if you just let go a little.
Now, enjoy your bran cereal,” she huffs, and my daughter just coos as if she is giving her input.
As much as I’m taken aback by Hadley’s abrupt disposition, I can’t help but soften inside. I’m not completely ignoring what she said. It’s food for thought.
I grab the box of cereal and place it back on the shelf. “Geez, Hadley, at least pick Cheerios if you’re going to go on a tangent.”
She scoffs a laugh and smiles at me with reassurance. For the first time in days, I feel a light beginning to brighten.
I’m sitting on the living room floor while Nora lies on her back, attempting to reach for the hanging wooden toys on her baby gym while I have a video call with my brother. Pointing the camera at his niece, of course.
“She’s smart.”
I have to chuckle. “She’s reaching for a bell, I’m not sure that’s rocket science.”
“And? Intelligence starts somewhere.”
I shake my head and switch to selfie mode so we talk.
“You called? I saw your game. You kind of annihilated the Spinners. I feel bad saying that, but Vaughn said I’m allowed to quietly cheer you on when you play against them.”
Briggs goes quiet, and it isn’t often that he doesn’t have anything to say. He licks his lips while he looks to his side then back at me.
“What’s going on? You don’t seem like a man who just won.”
“Uhm, I saw Vaughn.”
My shoulders slant up to my ears. “And? You were at the same game, it’s kind of bound to happen.”
His cheeks tighten and he scratches his chin, appearing to get comfortable with whatever he is about to say. “It wasn’t at the game.”
“Oh.” Now I understand why he called.
“We met at his hotel bar, man to man,” he explains.
I bite my bottom lip, curious yet scared about what he is about to say. A part of me is petrified that Vaughn sent my brother to deliver heartbreaking news. Even though it makes no sense.
“You should give him a chance.”
Immediately, I do a double take. “Wait, what?”
Briggs grins at the camera. “You heard me. Don’t make me utter the words again.”
“Are you seriously defending him right now? As in, did something happen last night, aliens landing perhaps?” I’m quite frankly astonished.
“Nah, we have to communicate since he is the father of my niece. Most of all, he’s the guy who is crazy about you.”
A smile tugs on my lips, as it feels extra sentimental that my brother confirms what I’ve been feeling the last weeks when Vaughn is around. “Yeah… I may have noticed.”
“He isn’t going anywhere. Don’t let tiny things prevent you from moving toward something better.”
Now my eyes bug out. “You’re giving me a pep talk? Really, is there something in the Seattle water?”
He laughs and leans back on his couch. “Isla, I’m stating the fucking obvious.”
I huff yet again today and drop my shoulders. “I’m hearing that a lot lately.”
“Listen, I may need to roast him in the wedding speeches if you ever get married. But Vaughn… I don’t know…
I hate him when it comes to hockey, but he is bearable when it comes to you and my niece.
This isn’t even about Nora, and you know it.
You were just looking for a crack to justify that everything is within your grasp, the whole nine yards.
” He rolls a shoulder back and dips his eyes as if he wants to downplay his confession.
“So yeah, maybe he is a little more bearable than I thought… he’ll fight for you. ”
“Yeah, I will.”
The sound of Vaughn’s voice from behind me catches me off guard, and my head whips in his direction. I didn’t hear him come in. But he’s now leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets and his feet crossed, his face stoic.
I quickly glance back at my phone.
“I guess that’s my cue to hang up. Didn’t plan this timing, but I don’t particularly want to watch this go down.” He drags out his words then speeds up. “Bye, Sis.” And my screen shows me that the call ended.
Which means that I need to turn back to the scene of Vaughn who has returned and is ready to pick up right where he left off. This time he is calmer, poised, and making my heart thump in a new sort of way.
“I wasn’t expecting you this early.” I slowly manage to form a sentence.
A glimmer of a faint smirk appears on his lips. “The element of surprise is something we have experience in.” Vaughn uncrosses his feet and strides toward us with a bit of swagger that just comes naturally to him.
The moment he enters my bubble, a ripple spreads across my skin. It’s anticipation for what is about to come.
He leans down to greet our daughter, an instant smile appearing on both their faces. “Hey there, kiddo, you’re growing a little too much for my liking. Slow it down, will ya? You’re rolling over and reaching for things. Next thing I know we’ll need to baby-proof the fu-… fudge out of this place.”
The view of them together thaws my mixed emotions slightly.
Vaughn glances at me. “Let’s get her down for a nap and then we can talk. I’ll do it.” He’s already swooping Nora up into his arms before I can answer.
It makes sense, as the revelations that are floating around us shouldn’t have little ears present, however, it doesn’t help my shooting nerves.
I pace a few times around the living room, debating if I should grab a glass of wine, because I need to feel a little more serene if I don’t want to be an emotional mess.
By the time Vaughn re-appears, we take a moment to get lost in a gaze.
I’m debating if sitting down is a good start to keep the next moments flowing.
He doesn’t let me decide as he walks straight to me and frames my face in the palms of his hands.
His eyes stare straight into mine, ensuring I can’t escape from the shackles of his fortitude in this moment.
“I’m not going anywhere, Isla,” he whispers. My mouth parts open but barely a sound escapes. “I understand. Really, I do. I can’t apologize for expressing the truth,” he informs me.
“You kind of threw it back in my face that I never told you,” I begin to rehash the other morning, but I keep my tone weak while I blink a few times.