Chapter 53
Chapter Fifty-Three
Leighton
I’m on a ladder, cutting in with paint in Sky and Patrick’s room, when Lake comes in and sits on the bed.
The kids took it well when I told them we needed to remember their parents, but we also need to work on moving forward, that it’s what their parents would have wanted for them.
I don’t think Monroe understood at all, and Lincoln only half.
I talked to their therapist though, so I’m hoping she’ll be able to help.
“What’s up?”
“You know he texts us… well, me,” she says.
I glance over my shoulder. “Uncle Art?”
Art better not be trying to swing her preference his way.
“No. Hayes.”
My paintbrush pauses on the wall. “Oh.”
“Just to say good night or ask us how the day was. He asks me to send him pictures of Monroe doing her National Days stuff. I hope you’re not mad.”
I put the paintbrush on the tray and climb down the ladder. “I’m not mad. I just wish someone had told me sooner.”
She shrugs. “That night of my party, he came up and apologized.”
I nod. Callie told me, but I never asked what happened.
“He felt bad and said he was really sorry. Explained the whole thing and…” She shrugs. “It made sense. I told him I was upset and how the girls from school said I was a liar.”
I pat her leg. “I think forgiveness is good.”
“Then why won’t you forgive him?”
God, kids can be so direct sometimes.
“It’s adult stuff.”
“That’s what Mom used to say, and it makes no sense. He hurt me too, and I could forgive him.”
I give her a small smile I hope isn’t patronizing. “You’re twelve, I’m thirty. We’ve experienced different things, and I—”
“That’s what Allison said.”
My forehead wrinkles. “You talked to your therapist about it?”
“Yeah, we’re supposed to talk about what’s bothering us. And we all really miss Hayes.”
I suck in a breath. This is why people don’t introduce their significant others to their kids.
“She said that Aunt Lily and Uncle Lenny’s divorce had a profound effect on you. And until you work through your trauma, this might continue to happen.”
I frown. “What?”
She shrugs. “I’m just telling you what she said.”
“Is she suggesting I’m going to keep bringing men into this house, getting you guys attached, and then break up with them?”
She shrugs again, and my anger sparks. Who is Allison to judge me or my reasons?
“She said people with your kind of trauma turn their backs on the people and things that cause them pain reminiscent of their past, instead of turning toward the person to fix it. And that until you learn that, you’ll be alone.” She delivers her words so matter-of-factly that I stare at her.
“She seriously told you that?”
“She just didn’t want me to think it was my fault that Hayes isn’t around anymore.”
I nod a bunch of times and purse my lips, my chest burning. I’m trying to hold it together and not pick up my phone and call Therapist Allison and tell her she can shove her advice up her ass. “Did she say anything else?”
“No. But I came in here to ask you a question.”
Sure, shred me to pieces with your therapist’s psychoanalysis of me, and now you want something.
“What is it?”
“I… we… Lincoln and Monroe were wondering if… um… we could spend a day with Hayes? He hasn’t asked, but we were all talking, and we miss him.”
I suck back all the tears pricking my eyes. “I’ll talk to him and see if we can work something out.”
She stands from the bed and blows out a long breath. “Okay. That doesn’t upset you? Us wanting to see him?”
I will not put them in the same position I was in growing up. “No.” I smack on a big smile. “Not at all. It’s understandable.”
She smiles. “Great. Jeez, I was so nervous to ask.” She starts to walk out of the room but stops. “Leighton?”
I look up from my lap. “Yeah?”
“Maybe you can go see Allison, you know, so you can be happy again.”
Knife in the heart. Lodged and twisted.
She leaves as I sit on the bed, everything she said running through my mind.
Have I really been this stupid? To allow this man who willingly stepped into this chaos with me and wrapped his arms around all of us go? Just because I’m scared of being hurt again? Newsflash, idiot—you’re already hurting. More and more with each day that passes.
“Oh god, I really am stupid,” I mumble.
I call my mom and ask her to come over to watch the kids, then I order myself an Uber. I don’t even bother to see what I look like, just pocket my phone and run down the stairs. I don’t even bother to skip the third step.
All three kids are standing in the kitchen, smiling a little creepily.
“Lake, can you watch your brother and sister? Aunt Lily is on her way over.”
“I can, yup. Go.”
They all smile even wider.
“Thanks.” I rush over to them, kiss their cheeks, and tell them I love them.
Then I open the door and rush down the porch steps. My Uber is already here, so I wind through the cars parked along the curb. As I approach, the back door opens, and I rear back.
Hayes steps out and pauses when he sees me.
I suck in a breath.
“Get out.” Callie’s voice comes from the back seat, and I lean around him, seeing not only Callie but his three teammates in the Uber XL.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, really hoping Hayes is here for the same reason I was running to him.
“I’m here for you. I’m sorry for all the shit I said. I love you. I can’t even function without you.” He takes my hand and leads me to the curb.
“He really can’t,” Easton says, getting out of the vehicle.
“It’s pathetic,” Foster adds.
“I’m the one who’s sorry.” Tears burn my eyes.
“I shouldn’t have pushed you out of our lives.
I was so scared that something had happened to you, and it dredged up all this shit, but I was wrong for shutting you out.
You were right, this life won’t be perfect, but it’s us, working through everything. Together.”
“I should’ve tried harder to call so you wouldn’t have to worry.” He puts his hand on my cheek. “And I should’ve just left Foster at the hospital.”
“Thanks,” Foster mutters.
“So…” I’m not sure what happens now.
“So, I’m going to kiss you,” he says, and I nod like a damn bobblehead.
His other hand comes up to my cheek so both of his palms cradle my face, and he presses his lips to mine. I sink into him, the feeling of home and rightness wrapping around me.
Then our friends and family are cheering, the kids are jumping up and down in the doorway.
“Okay, kiddos, in the house before it gets rated R.” Callie forces everyone toward the porch and ushers the kids inside.
The door shuts, and I wrap my arms around Hayes’s waist, burying my head in his chest. “I love you.”
He kisses the top of my head. “You’re the love of my life.”
I squeeze him tighter.
We stand there wrapped around each other for a long time.
Before we pull apart, I say, “I think we have to watch out for Lake. She just did some weird psychology thing to get me to see that I was wrong.”
He chuckles. “Probably learned it from Callie. We should ban her from spending time with the kids.”
He puts his arm around me, and we walk up the stairs, and it feels as if the puzzle pieces fit. Well, except for one.