Page 125 of Alec’s Dream

“I love you, Alec.”

There it was, Aurora’s sweet, melodious voice. The one he’d desperately wanted to hear. Made better by the sweetest words he’d ever heard from her mouth.

“I love you, too, Rory.”

Aurora fell quiet and Alec silently willed Nixon to drive faster.

Too close, too damn fucking close.

Macy

I was out the door before Nixon came to a full stop. I yanked the back door open and Alec transferred Aurora into my arms.

Thank God.

I shoved my face in her neck and inhaled as deeply as I could.

Aurora was home.

“Let’s get in the house,” Alec suggested, and with his hand on my lower back, he started to guide me to the porch.

I vaguely noted that Nixon was driving away but didn’t ask why he wasn’t coming in. Truth be told, I just wanted to take my kids upstairs, crawl into Alec’s big bed, and cuddle them close. That was all I needed, and at this point, that was all I could handle.

“Rory,” my mom cried and my dad cleared his throat.

My daughter didn’t so much as lift her head and mom stopped her approach. Our eyes locked and she mouthed the words, she needs her mama.

“I’m taking the kids upstairs,” I announced.

My mom had rocked Joss to sleep not too long ago and I debated whether or not to get her from her crib for a family snuggle session but decided against it. She was safe and tucked into her bed. Tomorrow. We had tomorrow to cuddle on the couch all day. Me, Alec, and the kids.

My parents didn’t protest my departure.

Caleb and I silently walked up the stairs and into the bedroom I shared with Alec.

“Climb up, Caleb.”

I waited until he was situated and crawled in next to him with Rory still clinging to me.

Worry and anguish clawed at my insides as my daughter burrowed so close there wasn’t a nanometer of space between us.

“Is she gonna be okay?” Caleb muttered, his concern for his sister palpable.

“Yeah, son, she’ll be okay.”

“Daddy killed him.”

Flat. Lost. Devoid.

“I know, baby, I’m so sorry.”

The quiet stretched and Caleb leaned closer.

Where was Alec, dammit? I needed him.

Alec

“Thanks for—”