Page 122 of Marcus

He still wasn’t sure what she wanted from him. So, whether or not she had called during their time apart didn’t really make a difference to the fact everything about them at the moment was still hanging up in the air.

Unsteady.

Completely uncertain.

The conversation between his mother and Cella drew Marcus’s attention back to them for the moment, and thankfully away from the thoughts filling his mind. He didn’t want to feel that doubt—for her, he wanted to be sure of everything.

Even if right now, he knew nothing.

“And what gave you the idea for this room?” Cara asked. “It’s a bit unconventional, as everyone has said to me tonight at least once. Not that I care what they think because I love it. Gives the babies something to do with me when we’re here.”

Cella grinned. “Well, exactly that—your grandkids. How much you love them, I guess. Marcus took Tiff and me to an indoor playground in the city while we were here, and I thought something like that might be just right for a room this size with as many grandkids as you have. Not to mention, whatever other babies might come along.”

Cara laughed. “I’ve been told to stop asking for more because it might be off-putting.”

“Oh?”

“Apparently, I ask too much. Speaking of your daughter, why didn’t you bring her?”

At that question, Cella hesitated.

Not for long, though.

“I had some other things to handle here, and I wasn’t sure that it was the right situation for her to be around, that’s all. She’s young … adult issues aren’t meant for children.”

That felt like a punch to the gut.

Not that Marcus hadn’t thought about Tiffany or considered her since the maple farm incident because he did. All the time. A lot like her mother. Thing was, he wasn’t her father. He had no say in what happened in her life. There was nothing he could do about the fact that even though he’d fallen in love with that little girl and her beautiful soul, her mother took her away, too.

That was Cella’s choice to make. It still fucking hurt, but he understood.

Like his mother just knew he was standing in the doorway, Cara peeked over her shoulder to glance his way. Cella followed, looking his way as well.

Instead of just standing there seeming more foolish than he already felt, Marcus turned on his heel and headed into the hallway.

So, maybe Cella wasn’t the only one who liked to run sometimes.

Cella’s heart seemed to drop into her stomach as she watched Marcus turn on his heel and leave after hearing her say that she chose to leave her daughter behind because of unfinished business here. Of course, she understood that probably hadn’t been what he wanted—or even expected—to hear, but it was the truth.

Sometimes, that was a hard pill to swallow.

That didn’t mean she wanted for him to hear it like that. It would have been far better had she been able to take Marcus aside, have the conversation that had been weeks in the making for them, and then explain why she hadn’t brought her child along for this.

Nothing could be easy, though.

Before Marcus could disappear out of Cella’s sight, his father stepped in his path with another man at his side. Just like that, Marcus’s disposition changed from an expression of sadness to one that held no emotion at all. He nodded at whatever the man said while the guy waved between Gian, and himself.

It looked like business as usual.

She was reminded all over again how no matter where Marcus was—as long as he wasn’t alone, or just with her where no one could see—he still had a part to play. A man who constantly wore a mask, and didn’t allow anyone to know there were things happening in his life that they had no idea about.

He didn’t allow them to know.

It didn’t matter.

Not if he hurt.

Not if he wanted to go.