The doorbell chimed the next morning as I was refilling my coffee cup. Cal had already barked at me multiple times to lie down, but I wanted to be with the kids. It was the last week of school and for some reason packing Max’s lunch felt utterly crucial.
Cal emerged from his office to get the door.
“Emmie, sweetie, eat your eggs,” I coaxed as she and Max sat at the kitchen table with Mason in his high chair.
She made a face but pointed her fork toward her plate.
“Who was it?” I asked when I realized Cal was still standing in the doorway with no one on the other side. He turned to me and the rage in his eyes had me sucking in a breath. “No one.” He glowered as my eyes shot to the flowers in his hand.
“Ooh, pretty flowers!” Emmie chirped happily.
Ice slid down my spine as awareness hit me full force. “They’re not for us, sweetie,” I murmured, trying to keep my tone light, my eyes still on Cal. “Must have been the wrong address.”
“Oh, sad.” Emmie pouted.
Cal stalked toward the garage door, flowers in hand. When he returned without them a moment later he laid a gentle hand on Emmie’s head. “I’ll get you some flowers, baby.”
She grinned up at him. “Okay.” She dug back into her eggs and I used the kids’ preoccupation to move in close to Cal.
“They’re from him?” I asked quietly. I knew the answer but for some reason needed him to confirm.
He nodded once, his jaw clenched as he glared at the coffeepot. “Gonna go check the security footage. Don’t leave the house,” he added over his shoulder as he strode off to the office.
“Max has to get to school!” I called after him.
“I’ll take him,” Cal clipped before the office door shut.
My man was seriously pissed. I turned to the kids, pasting a smile on my face. “Well, what do you say we get dressed?”
Reality hit me hard. Tim knew where we were and probably had for quite some time. Why the flowers? Why now? Did he know I’d been injured?
“Aunt Jilly?” Max’s voice broke through my whirling thoughts. By his tone I could tell he’d called me more than once.
“Yes, honey,” I replied with a smile, determined not to let Tim take anything more from me—even a second of time with my kids.
“I can’t find my Darth Vader shirt.”
“Ah.” I nodded with a grin. “It’s in your top drawer. I just put it away.”
I watched as he strutted off to his room as Emmie whirled around in the living room in the tutu she was determined to wear every day. Mason toddled over to her and she reached out to steady him, giggling all the while.
This was what I needed more than anything. To watch as Max and Emmie embraced our lives together, as they embraced Mason as much more than a cousin. They’d settled in and it was as though they’d been there all along.
And I’d be damned if that ever changed.
****
Cal didn’t come back after dropping Max at school. He’d taken Emmie and Mason with him rather than sending them to day care. While I was grateful for his caution, it made me all the more concerned about what Tim may have threatened. I’d protested that I could take care of them; I was well guarded at the house. Axel and Tag had arrived as Cal was leaving. My arguments had been met with a growl that I needed to rest.
Now, I was lying in bed staring up at the ceiling with far too many thoughts to occupy the quiet space. I felt out of control and helpless.
When Sophie peeked her head in, I was relieved to see her. “Hi, Jilly.” She smiled gently. “Geez, feels pretty doomsday in here,” she quipped, crossing the room to open the curtains, inviting the sunlight in. She sat carefully on the edge of the bed. “How are you holding up?”
“Well, let’s see… I was kidnapped and shot and now my insane ex-husband is rearing his ugly head again,” I replied bitterly.
She cocked her head to the side. “Oh, is that all?”
I had to smile a bit at that. “Well, then there’s the whole my sister going to prison thing, but we don’t need to get into that.” I grumbled. “How was the wedding? It looked beautiful from the pictures.” I sighed wistfully.
