Page 16 of Together Is Where We Belong

“Now that I know about him, do you plan on staying in Haven Valley?”

My heart hammered in my chest as I waited with bated breath for her to respond.

I couldn’t handle getting to know my child and have him be ripped away from me because she decided to leave on a whim. I wouldn’t let her take him from me without a fight.

“I’m not planning on going anywhere, Leo,” she admitted before looking away.

That wasn’t a definite answer, but I’d take it. For now.

“Can you give me your number so I can message you about a day for dinner?”

I’d deleted her number right after I blocked her eight years ago because it was too tempting not to call her.

I handed her my phone, and she put her number in.

“You might need to unblock the number. I never changed mine just in case you ever decided to call about Luke.”

“I’ll do that and let you know a good day.”

She fiddled with her phone before she turned it to face me.

A little blond-haired blue-eyed miniature version of myself stared back at me.

Warily I reached for the phone, which she handed over. I stared at that photo of Luke on the monkey bars, his little legs on one rung, while his arms held onto the other, his head hanging upside down with a toothless smile. He was missing his two front teeth but seemed so happy. His blue eyes mirrored my own. He looked so much like me it was uncanny.

I reached in the back pocket of my jeans after I handed Carolina back her phone and researched how to unblock a number. Once I had it figured out and her number could go through, I asked her to text me that photo of Luke.

My phone pinged in my hand, and Carolina’s name appeared in the text box. I hadn’t seen her name on my phone screen in so long it was odd seeing it there now.

“I’ll let you get back to unpacking. Thank you for the photo of Luke,” I said as I stood.

“Have a good night, Leo,” she replied before she stood and walked me over to the steps.

I left with my head reeling and a frantic need to talk to my brothers now more than ever.

six

Leo

Iwalked back to my house in an angry haze.

Angry at Carolina for keeping Luke from me.

Mad at myself for never returning her messages.

Livid that I'd missed all this time getting to know my son. Time I would never be able to get back.

Nail prints were embedded into my palm by the time I opened the front door and entered the house, shutting the door harder than I meant to.

The loud sound caused Brooks and Holden’s heads to snap in my direction. Holden picked up the remote off the coffee table and muted the show they were watching.

“What happened? You were over there a lot longer than I thought you would be,” Holden said, his voice laced with concern, as he sat back on the love seat and waited for me to explain.

I looked over at Brooks, and he looked back at me, his sole attention on me as if he could sense that I needed him.

I paced the room, unable to even utter the words.

How did I tell them what I’d just discovered?