Page 121 of Alec’s Dream

In that moment, the only thing that could top Caleb’s trust would be to hear Aurora’s sweet voice. But he’d have that, too, soon enough.

35

Incomprehensible terror took over my every thought.

Doug had Aurora.

For three months, we’d lived free.

Three months my kids were carefree and happy.

Now that perfect bubble Alec and I had painstakingly cocooned them in had burst.

The beauty that Alec had insulated around us was gone and so was Aurora.

Goddamn, fucking, Doug.

The front door came open with a crash and I turned with a jump. I heard my mother gasp and my father grunt. They’d been at the house with me for the last thirty minutes but had barely spoken. Both of them looked horrible—I suspected I looked worse.

Everything fell away except Caleb running to me with his arms out in front of him. My little boy who wasn’t so little. Yet right then he looked the child he was.

“Caleb,” I murmured and wrapped my arms around him.

His body shook as he hugged me back but he didn’t speak.

Alec watched us. His eyes blazed with a fire I’d seen before and I knew Doug’s future was uncertain. “Babe. I gotta get out there and look for Aurora.” He lifted my chin and brushed his lips against mine. “I’ll be home soon.”

I nodded and tried to come up with the words to express my eternal gratitude. But there were no words to properly convey how thankful I was to have him in our lives.

My perfect, strong, handsome Alec.

“I love you,” I blurted out.

His face became infinitely gentle and his eyes calmed and turned soft.

“I love you, too, Macy. More than you’ll ever know.” He pressed another kiss to my lips and stepped away. “Gotta go get our Rory, baby. We’ll be home soon, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Then he did something so beautiful my heart constricted. “Promise, son. Rory will be home soon.”

“I know,” Caleb muttered.

“Love you, kid.”

“Love you, Alec.”

With a jerk of his chin, he turned to leave.

“Dada!”

Alec stopped, cleared his face, and turned to my mom who was holding Jocelyn.

“June.” He kissed my mom’s cheek then his daughter's head. “Love you, sweet girl. Stay here with Mommy and be good.”

“I’m coming with you,” my dad announced.

“Need you to stay here, Ron.”