Chapter 44 Greyson #2
She nods and smiles sadly. “I remember this day. It was one of the rare times my dad joined us on one of our adventures. My mom had promised me a big birthday party with all my friends. Every year I had one, but my friends were never allowed, only adults, because she claimed kids would ruin the house.” She shakes her head.
“That was the first time she told me I could invite them. I was so excited. I crafted homemade cards and delivered them to all my friends at school. The day of my birthday, I was expecting to wake up with the house fully decorated. I had gotten all dressed and pretty for the occasion.” She smiles again, like she’s remembering it all.
“But when I got downstairs, I found my mother on the phone with not a single decoration in sight. She was calling all my friends’ parents and telling them the party was canceled because she claimed to have a headache.” She laughs sarcastically.
“A headache that magically went away the minute she was off the phone. She got mad at me for inviting so many people because it meant she had to talk to a whole bunch of people that weren’t worthy of her time. Then she got up, took her purse, and left for the day.”
A tear rolls down her cheek and I quickly catch it, then bring my hand to her nape and gently stroke her skin.
“My dad had already left for the day, so it was just me and the staff. They felt so bad for me that they kept making me special treats. Cookies, cupcakes, they even made me a cake. Because no, my mother hadn’t even gotten me one. ” Emma lets out a breath.
“They tried hard to make me feel better, but nothing was working. I had just turned eight. Eight years old, and both my parents didn’t care enough about me to get me a cake.” Her voice cracks at the end as more tears spill. “A fucking cake.”
She looks at me with a small smile, but it’s not genuine.
I can see it in her eyes how much that day affected her, still affects her.
“Anyway, I ended up crying in my room the rest of the day. My dad came home earlier than usual, wanting to surprise me and show up for the party before everyone left.” A bit of light comes back to her eyes, and I know we’re heading to how this picture came to be.
“He was confused when he found me in my room. He didn’t even know my mom had canceled and left me alone.
I could tell he was furious, but he tried to keep a happy face for me.
He promised he would turn the day around and told me to get up and get dressed.
Next thing I knew, we were picking up my grandfather and heading to a fair a few towns over. ” Now her smile turns real.
“We did all the rides and ate all the junk food my mother would never let me have.” She laughs.
“I even threw up after eating too much sugar, but it was all worth it. The day had started off as the worst, but my dad turned it into the best. I know he wasn’t always present and was far from the greatest dad a child could have growing up, but I also know how hard he tried.
And every time I doubted his love for me, I remembered this day. It’s one of my happiest memories.”
Once she finishes her heartbreaking story, she moves on to the next and final frame. “Aww… Wolf.” She turns to face me, new tears in her eyes, but these are happy ones. “I didn’t even know you kept it.”
“There was no way I could get rid of it.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I love it. I love all of it. Thank you.” She lifts onto her toes and kisses me, hands cupping my cheeks.
When we pull apart, we notice everyone standing by the door, waiting for our moment to end before interrupting. And by the looks on their faces, they’ve been standing there for a while and heard what Emma’s childhood was like.
“Honey, add Elaine to my hit list. Right. Now,” Cecilia says through her teeth with raging anger.
“Minnie, your hit list is at home. I can’t exactly add to it right this moment,” Silas tells her, which earns him a glare from his wife.
“Then put a reminder in your phone!” she barks back at him, then turns to us with a smile like she didn’t just talk about planning on murdering people. I’m starting to think all women are a little crazy in some way.
“Can we move her to the top of that hit list? Because I’m feeling some pent-up energy after hearing that story, and I could really unleash it on someone just about now,” Ronnie adds, looking pissed off.
“We could help you with that pent-up energy if you’d like, Vixen,” Gabe says, throwing his arm over her shoulder with a wink.
“Pretty Boy, now is not the time,” is all she tells him but doesn’t shrug him off. Hmm, interesting. Maybe they’re finally wearing her down.
“She’s right, though. I kind of want to go punch that woman in the face and then spit in her tea.”
We all stare in shock at Mira’s comment. Cecilia giggles behind her hand while Silas looks like he’s about to have a heart attack.
“Mom!”
“What?" She shrugs. "It’s true!”
Silas shakes his head. “Okay, yes, but was the spitting part necessary?”
“Your wife just admitted to having a list full of people she wants to kill, but spitting in the old dirtbag’s tea is pushing it?!” Mira sighs exasperatedly. “Son, I think we need to reevaluate some stuff with you.”
~ The Next Day / June ~
“This is our year, boys. Make me proud and show us all what we’ve been working so hard to achieve.
We all know what Dallas is like, so expect it, see it coming.
I don’t need any more of my men with injuries.
Now go home to your families, rest up, and I’ll see you all on the plane tomorrow,” Coach tells us before we clear the locker room and head home.
Tomorrow we’re flying out to Dallas for our first game in round four that takes place the next day.
We’re all pretty excited to have made it this far, but we know this next round won’t be easy.
Dallas is known for their vicious players.
And so far, every game we’ve played against them has ended with one of our players in the hospital.
I’ve been on that receiving end more times than I dare count.
One of their defensemen, Eric Gale, has made it his mission to kick my ass at every game.
I’m not sure what I’ve done to earn his attention over the years, but I seem to be his target every time.
He’s huge and brutal and never quite follows the rules.
He’ll come at you out of nowhere and hit you in the back when you don’t see him coming.
I hate the fucker, and he thrives on that knowledge.
I wave bye to the guys and jump into my truck, making my way home to my girls. Today is a special day, because not only do I have the two women I love the most waiting for me, but also a new little lady who seems quite excited to spend the day with us.
Emma has been keeping in touch with Maddison’s dad all week and has been helping him out in every way that she can.
Even if it’s as simple as buying them groceries or sending them on a little outing to the movies.
I know she’s been looking into paying her medical bills as well, but Bryan has refused every time.
He’s a hard-working dad, but his job isn’t enough to pay for all the care his daughter needs. Knowing Emma, she’ll find a way around it. That woman has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. I’ve never met someone more generous than her.
We’ve never really discussed each other’s net worth, but I’m pretty positive Emma has enough money to last us a few lifetimes.
Just at the gala alone, she donated over $350,000.
She was our biggest donor, and there were billionaires attending.
By the end of the night, we had doubled our target goal, which is amazing.
I park my car beside a rundown sedan that looks like it’s standing on its last leg and about to give out any minute. That can’t be safe to drive. I exit my truck and find them all on the fenced-in front lawn. I open the gate, making sure it latches behind me, and stride over to them.
Gracie notices me first, exclaiming “DADA!” as she tries to walk faster with Emma’s help. She started taking little steps on her own but hasn’t made it very far yet, although with our help she loves it.
Emma walks Gracie closer to me as I meet them halfway, scooping her up in my arms once she’s in reach and throwing her in the air.
“How’s my Buttercup doing today? Did you have fun with Mommy and your new friend?
” She babbles in response and laughs. I put her back down after kissing her pudgy cheeks and let her crawl away over the freshly mowed grass, then wrap my arms around Em and bring her in for a kiss. “I missed you, Bunny.”
She giggles against my lips. “You were only gone for a few hours.”
“I miss you even when you’re right next to me.”
She shakes her head with an eye roll. “You’re ridiculous.”
I smile and let go, wandering over to Maddison’s father and shake his hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Bryan.”
“You as well, thank you for having us over,” he says back with a gratified smile.
“No need to thank me. You and Maddie are always welcome,” I tell him genuinely.
I then turn to the little girl who has wiggled her way into our lives in the last week.
“And there’s the beautiful Little Lotus I’ve been waiting all morning to see.
” I crouch down in front of her as she blushes and looks down at her feet with a nervous smile.
She reminds me of my sister with how shy she is. “How are you, sweet girl?”
She finally raises her big blue eyes and looks at me. “I’m good,” she says, but I don’t miss the extremely dark circles under her eyes and how her complexion looks much paler than it did last time.
“That’s good. Are you having a good time?” I keep the grin on my face, not showing her any signs of worry.