Chapter 17
Rain
I thought I didn’t care. I never expected to see him standing here on the pavement.
The moment my focus locks onto his face, every single emotion I tried so hard to bury rushes to the surface, breaking through the fragile walls I built.
“Rain,” he calls out.
His voice. The simple sound of my name from his lips makes me shiver.
“Hey,” my voice squeaks, the greeting catching in my throat.
Before I can form another syllable, Samuel untangles his fingers from mine and bolts forward, throwing his weight against his father’s good leg.
Rose instantly begins to scramble out of Mario’s arms, sliding down until her small shoes hit the gravel to run toward him, too.
I stand frozen, unsure of what to say or do.
Cody ignores the children jumping against his knees; his dark eyes lock onto mine, staring straight into my soul as if the rest of the crowded sidewalk doesn't exist.
“How are you here?” I manage to ask, my hands tightening into fists.
“Jared,” he says simply.
A flash of resentment tries to surface, but the feeling falls flat. The truth is too heavy to ignore: I miss him.
I give a tight nod, my eyes darting away from his intense stare. “Okay. Your kids are here, then. We’ll wait for you in the car.”
I turn on my heel, intending to walk briskly away from the intensity pulsing between us, but his hand shoots forward.
His fingers clamp around my wrist. The point of contact burns against my skin, lighting a familiar fire straight up my arm.
He drops his gaze to the curve of my belly, his hand shifting to rest against the fabric of my jacket sleeve.
I look down at his fingers, then up at his face. Sensing the boundary, he slowly pulls his hand back, giving a single, tight nod. His jaw works as he bites his lower lip, then he shifts his posture, pushing a bunch of fresh flowers toward me.
“I got you this,” he says, his voice losing its steady edge.
I nod, extending my hands to accept the stems. The cool leaves brush my palms. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mario walk past the two of us, his stride even as he heads toward his parked vehicle.
I can’t even bring myself to look at him or try to stop him; the presence of the man standing in front of me consumes every bit of air in my lungs, leaving room for nothing else.
I cradle the bouquet against my shirt, the sudden rush of pregnancy hormones making my throat feel tight and dry. I remain silent, unable to force a coherent sentence past my lips.
“Do you like the flowers?” he asks.
A slight tremor touches his voice. The realization that he is nervous softens the initial shock of his presence, calming the frantic pacing of my heart.
I look down at the colorful petals, offering a small nod. “They are fair,” I say softly.
“What do you like, Rain?”
The question catches me off guard. I tilt my head, my brow furrowing. “What do you mean?”
He shifts his gaze toward my stomach, pointing a finger toward the hidden curve. “I mean... what are you craving?”
I study his expression, a defensive shield rising in my chest. “Why do you ask?”
“I could get it for you,” he says, taking a step closer.
A bitter taste floods my mouth, and the words slip out before I can stop them. “Why would you want to get it for me? Has Toria approved that yet?”
He winces, his shoulders tensing as if he had taken a physical blow.
He lets out a rough breath. “Yeah. I deserved that one.” He licks his upper lip, his eyes turning vulnerable in the bright sunlight.
“Ever since the time I traveled to meet her, we haven’t spoken.
But... yeah. Do you want anything? Anytime you need someone to get you something you crave—anytime, even in the middle of the night—please let me know. I’ll get it.”
He looks down at Rose, who has curled her small body into his shoulder, her eyelids fluttering shut against his neck. A low, breathless laugh escapes him. “She’s already asleep.”
He turns his dark eyes back to me, the intensity returning. “Should I take her to the car?”
The question loosens something in me. He is their father; he has the right to simply lift her and walk away. He could choose to pack them into his own car and drive off, but instead, he stands here, searching my face and waiting for permission to move our daughter a few feet down the path.
I give a slow nod, and we begin walking side-by-side toward Mario’s vehicle.
Samuel remains glued to Cody’s side, a wide, proud smile breaking across his face as he grips his father’s hand, swinging it back and forth as we walk.
He looks like a little boy trying to show off his dad to the entire sidewalk.
A small, involuntary smile touches my lips as I watch them.
“I drove by your house yesterday,” Cody confesses, breaking the quiet.
I keep my eyes trained on the path ahead, nodding. “I know you did. I saw you, and I know you did, too.”
A small chuckle escapes him, the sound low and rough. “Yeah. Yeah, I did.”
We fall back into silence as we close the distance to Mario’s car. The fading noise of schoolchildren yammering and laughing in the background fills the empty space between us. Cody handles the doors, carefully settling the children into the backseat.
I reach for the passenger handle, intending to climb inside, but his fingers wrap around my wrist once more, halting my movement. I turn to face him. A raw, painful yearning shadows his features.
“Rain,” he murmurs.
“Mmm,” I respond, my back pressing against the car door.
“I’m sorry for lying to you.” His voice trembles slightly. “I am sorry for keeping you waiting. I am sorry for not telling you I love you.”
The last word forces a huff from me. I look away. “Oh. Now you love me?”
“I’ve always loved you,” he pushes, his grip tightening just a fraction. “Since the time you gave birth to our child.”
“And how do I know that is true?”
He looks down at the gravel, nodding slowly.
“That is fair.” He lifts his head, his focus pinning me to the spot.
“I love you, and I miss you. It is fine that you aren’t sure.
I mean... I wasn’t exactly the best husband.
” He licks his dry lips, his chest rising and falling in a ragged breath.
“Will you give me the chance to show you that I love you?”
I stare at the line of his jaw, the lingering hurt warring with the desperation in his eyes. “Do what you want, Cody.”
He pauses, digesting the answer. “Okay. Samuel said on Saturdays you go for prenatal classes.”
A sudden laugh bursts from my lips. I shake my head in disbelief. Just what details haven’t my parents and children shared with him already?
I swallow the amusement, forcing my expression to smooth out as I give a tight nod. “Yes.”
“Could I maybe come?”
The question hits a nerve. “Mario does that already,” I say, watching his reaction closely.
A dark flash of anger ripples across his features. His jaw tightens, and the muscle along his cheek twitches as his teeth grind together. He forces the irritation down, his voice dropping into a rough, breaking whisper.
“Please, Rain. I want to be present for the entire thing if I can. Please... I want to see you.”
His fragile tone makes my own chest tighten. I press my lips tightly together, holding back the sudden surge of emotion, and offer a single, decisive nod.
“We leave on Saturday afternoons,” I tell him, my voice steady. “Twelve o’clock sharp.”
His fingers slowly uncurl, releasing his hold on my hand. Relief flits across his face. “Thank you, Rain.”
I climb into the passenger seat and pull the door shut, the latch clicking into place. Through the glass, I watch him stand on the pavement, lifting his hand to wave as Mario shifts the car into gear.
The vehicle pulls away from the curb, merging into the traffic.
“I think he loves you, Rain,” Mario says from the driver’s seat.
I turn my head toward him. His profile is rigid, his jaw tightening until the bone stands out against his skin.
“Why do you say that?”
Mario lets out a dry, hollow chuckle, his eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead. “It’s plain as day when he looks at you, Rain.”