28. Chapter 28
Chapter twenty-eight
NOAH
I lean back in the passenger seat of Logan’s truck, staring out the window as Handelbrook’s quiet streets roll by. The scenery is wholly different from my little city, warmth and something like home spreading through the air.
And yet, I’m nervous and on edge even if this is just a break from Kurt’s chaos because it’s a step I’m not sure I’m ready for.
This week has proven that I want these men in my life but meeting the parents?
That’s a much bigger step than I had planned out in my head.
I was thinking more dates and weekend trips…
Not to mention that my body still shakes every now and then with the aftershocks of my brother unloading blanks right by my ear.
I’ve taken no less than three showers but the tang of whiskey is still in the air, threatening to suffocate me.
Only a heavy dose of Sebastian’s cologne is helping me keep my sanity.
I try not to think about my deployment in less than 48 hours, knowing that if we don’t find a way out of it, I’m going to be on the next plane overseas. I’ve heard my men discussing who would come with me but none of that’s going to work. I’d have to go alone.
There’s one ace up my sleeve, though, one that I’ll use if nothing else works.
Carl has my file and he at least had to log in my initial injuries.
Everything about the alcohol was absent but after I explained what happened to my ear, he documented it.
Which means, I could use the ringing that’s still lingering as a way to delay my departure to give us enough time to figure things out.
It’s not perfect but I’m grasping at straws at this point.
The car slows as we pull up to a modest brick house, the porch sagging slightly, flower boxes clinging to life with wilted blooms. It feels lived in, in a way that my parents’ house doesn’t.
It did at one point, boasting life and love when they were alive but after they were gone, it became just a place to rest my head.
The memories were gone and the happiness had withered away with whatever was left of me and my brother.
That home became a house… but this place feels like it’s always been a home. “You grew up here?” I ask as I slide from the front seat, Sebastian coming to stand behind me. I take in the pale colors swirling around the brick and the cute little Toyota in the driveway in front of us.
“Yeah, it’s not much but it was everything to me.”
I follow him, Sebastian on my heels as we step up on the porch, wood creaking beneath our shoes.
And that’s when the door swings open before we can reach it, Logan’s mother barreling out, her arms wide.
She’s shorter than I expected, her hair a wild tangle of gray curls, her apron dusted with flour.
“Logan! Oh, and you must be Noah!” she says, pulling me into a hug that smells of cinnamon and warmth before I can dodge it.
I stiffen, unused to this, my skin prickling as she steps back and beams at us.
“Come in, come in. I’ve got dinner almost ready.
” She ushers us inside, the house swallowing us with its creaking floors and faded wallpaper, a lived-in kind of worn that feels too cozy.
There’s no fucking way Logan grew up in this picture perfect kind of life.
Except he didn’t, did he? He mentioned something about Nevada and as far as I know, he never goes back there.
I let out a small sigh as we’re led into the living room, Logan’s mother starts babbling.
It’s unnerving and yet refreshing to see how proud she is of her son.
“Noah, I’m Maura. It’s so nice to see him bringing someone home.”
My face heats as I lean back into the cushions, Sebastian all but sitting on my side as Logan perches on the armrest. She doesn’t miss how close they both are to me but it doesn’t change the direction of her conversation.
She points to me and then her son. “So, you two together then? When’s the wedding? I could use some grandkids running around here.” Her eyes sparkle and my stomach drops, a cold sweat breaking out along my neck.
I open my mouth, fumbling for words as I fight a smile. “It’s not like that. That’s not how it works, Miss—”
“Maura. Don’t you dare put a Miss in front of my last name.” She glares at Logan, “And yes, I’m aware adoption is a thing.” Her gaze narrows as she surveys the three of us. “There’s one missing. Where’s the stealthy one? He always had his fingers in my pies. He isn’t here, is he?”
Logan bursts out laughing, reaching for his mother and pulling her to sit down in the seat beside us.
“Mom, take a breath. Declan should be here soon. And for the record, Noah is with the three of us.” His mother merely raises her brows but doesn’t say anything.
“I know it’s sudden but we needed a place to stay out of the way while some things boil over and I thought I’d multitask and come visit. ”
“You don’t need a reason to visit, Logan. No, I’m not complaining but I can see that this isn’t an entirely pleasurable visit.” She reaches forward to pat my knee. “I can see the pain in your eyes but know that you’re in good hands with these boys. And I still expect grandchildren.”
Then she just gets up and disappears into the kitchen, leaving me at a loss for words. Sebastian cuts into the silence with a hearty laugh, leaning over to kiss my cheek. “Babe, meet Logan’s mother.”
His words are soft as I turn to him, frowning when I realize that he’s not whispering.
I’m hoping that’s not a permanent thing.
Carl had said I’d be disoriented for a while, that the ringing in my ear would throw me off balance, make it a little more difficult to hear but it hadn’t actually been an issue until Sebastian started speaking from my left side.
He notices my confusion, tilting his head to the side. “Babe, what’s wrong?” He cups my cheek in his hand, waiting for me to speak.
“I can’t really hear you.” Tears gather in my eyes as my hands twist in my lap. “Carl said it should be temporary but also that it might not be. I just… Kurt has taken so much from me.”
Logan places a gentle hand on my back as I melt between them, hating that this little slice of peace we rolled up into is masked by my pain.
They hold me anyway, Sebastian pressing soft kisses to my forehead as Logan whispers in the other ear, telling me that whatever happens, they’ll be right here the entire time.
Silence wraps around us, enough time passing that I’m almost asleep against Sebastian’s chest when the front door opens and closes. Heavy footsteps ring out in the hallway and then Maura squealing followed by a slap. “Get out of my pies! Go wash those dirty hands and then say hello to Noah.”
“Sorry, mama. You knew I had to try. What flavor this time?”
“Strawberry rhubarb. Hands, now!”
There’s some chuckling as Declan’s voice disappears further into the kitchen and I untangle myself to stand up, receiving his hug when he enters the living room. “Hey, Bunny. How are you doing?”
“Been better,” I mutter. “But glad that I’m not looking over my shoulder.” My phone buzzes in my back pocket, threatening to undo this moment but I’m not going to be answering anything over the next two days.
As if Declan understands, he slowly slips the device out of my pocket. “I’ll hold onto this. If it’s important, I’ll let you know. Sound good?”
“Sounds excellent. What did you find out?”
Declan leads me back to the couch, sitting me between Logan and Sebastian again before taking up the armchair.
“Not much we didn’t really already know but there’s some evidence that dates back to the fact that Kurt’s been doing this since his parents were around.
It does seem like a twisted vendetta against his own brother that fueled this operation and then it spun out of control.
My old group is looking into it and hopefully they’ll get something out in the next few hours or tomorrow morning.
For now, we enjoy this little slice of heaven and I get to annoy Maura until she gives me pie. ”
The boyish grin that splits across his lips has me laughing because this isn’t a side I’ve seen of them. Logan is almost blushing, maybe somewhat embarrassed by his mother but still holding love for her. And while Sebastian is his ever stoic self, he seems more relaxed than usual.
This is a future I could see myself enjoying, working at the clinic and then coming home to banter and good food and a mother who prides herself in the family she’s built. The fantasy is halted when Maura yells from the kitchen.
“I need washed hands to help me set up the table. Noah, you protect the pie. If you’re good, I’ll let you have two slices!”
I burst out laughing, Declan shooting me a dirty look. “One of those slices better be for me.”
***
I’m not sure I could eat another bite, the spread of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and biscuits nearly devoured.
It’s a spread I’ve only seen in my childhood but this tastes ten times better than my memories.
And between bites of food, there’s laughter.
Sure, it’s strained by the reality we’re currently stuck in but it’s genuine.
There’s no fear that Kurt or Heath are going to waltz in here and ruin this moment.
I’m seeing into a window of their life, a beautiful past that I wish I had had access to before Heath, before Kurt ruined my life.
The conversation takes a sharp turn as Maura starts in on stories of Logan’s childhood.
“Remember when he tried to ride that old goat down the hill? Fell right into the mud!” she muses, and Sebastian snorts, Declan chuckling as Logan’s ears turn red, his head dipping.
“Or the time he got stuck in the treehouse because he swore he could fit through the window?” Declan adds, and I laugh, a real one, the sound startling me. “For your information, Noah, that was a few years ago.”
Logan groans, nudging me with his elbow, his face flushed. “You’re supposed to be on my side, Bunny,” he mutters, and I smirk, the teasing softening my thoughts.
However, it’s like a beacon—this happiness reminding me who’s missing.
Ronny. He would have loved this, the chaos, the stories, the way Logan’s mom treats us like we belong.
I stare at my plate, the food blurring, as I swallow back the sob in my throat.
Sebastian’s hand finds mine under the table, squeezing just enough to give me the comfort I so desperately need.
For the first time since Ronny’s death, it doesn’t hurt like it used to.
I miss him and I still feel guilty but he would want me to enjoy this.
He would have wanted me to take everything I was being given and then cherish it.
I make a mental note to visit his grave and detail everything that’s gone on because he’s still here in a way.
Maybe not physically but his presence lingers, his happiness still gives me a reason to stay strong, to push on.
The conversation wanes into a gentle hum of jokes and nips at each other before Maura leans back, surveying the four of us. “I wish you would visit more. You’re all always welcome here, you know that.”
Logan seems almost ashamed at his mother’s admission but I have an entirely different question. She hasn’t asked one thing since we arrived, hasn’t tried to pry, or demand anything. “Do you not even want to know what happened?”
“Doesn’t matter. I always want my son here and whoever he brings with him. Logan knows that I love him unconditionally. He also knows to own up to his actions if he needs to. He would never bring home trouble and that’s why I’m more than happy to have you here.”
I frown, pushing it. “Why’s that?”
She looks at me, her gaze softening, steady.
“Because he doesn’t always bring home people.
And when he does, they’re special to him.
He’s a good judge of character,” she says, and my chest clenches, a mix of warmth and dread pooling there.
“Except for that one asinine boy he brought here. Kurt, was it?”
I swallow nervously, gaze darting to Logan, unsure of how to proceed. He throws his mother a sheepish grin. “Yeah, Kurt is Noah’s older brother, Mom.”
Her face blanches as she looks between me and Logan several times. “There’s no fucking way those two are related. I refuse to believe it.”
“Well, we’re cousins actually and the sentiment is mutual. I’m not a big fan of him either.” I manage a tight smile, hoping I haven’t ruined everything we just gained in the last hour or two.
She chuckles, the sound turning into a full bellied laugh as she shakes her head. “Well, then, I think we’ll get along just fine, Noah. Now, who wants dessert?”
Declan’s hand immediately goes up and we all start laughing.