Page 62 of Shattered Dreams

“That’s adorable,” Paul says.

“It really is,” I agree.

My mother holds up another bag. “I also got her a bucket to hold her candy, and a few bags of candy for you to leave on the porch.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say.

“I just figured I’d grab it while I was out. You can leave it on the porch for the kids to grab while you’re out Trick-or-Treating.”

“Thank you, Mom. You’re the best,” I say.

“I know I am,” she winks. “Well, if you’re all set, I guess I’ll be going.”

I nudge Paul with my elbow, and he looks at me, confused. I gesture to her. It takes a moment, but his eyes light up.

“Oh, Mrs. Taylor. I, uh, had a question for you…”

She looks at him, raising a brow, before she looks at me. “Yes?” she says cautiously, as if she can’t imagine what he’s going to ask her.

“Me, Maddox, and Amelia would love it if you and Mr. Taylor would come with us to the pumpkin patch for Maddox’s birthday this year.”

My mother’s face softens. She pats Paul on the shoulder. “That would be wonderful. Thank you for thinking of us.”

“Thank you for treating him like family. It means a lot to all of us.”

“Oh, honey. You are family.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Paul

The whole ride to Jack’s Pumpkin Patch, I can’t help but feel nervous, even though I shouldn’t. I’m not sure if it’s because Amelia somehow figured things out, or if it’s because this is our first official family outing with our partners, but whatever it is, I can’t deny my stomach feels like a swarm of butterflies. But I tell myself that’s a good thing. At least, I hope it is.

“Daddy, look!” Rylee squeals excitedly as I pull the Jeep into the field lot. Amelia and I always come early to get better parking spots, and thankfully, I spot Sean’s car and an open space beside it in the second row to the front, so I take it. Just as I do, Amelia, Sean, and Maddox get out. My heart races a little, and I take a slow breath and let it out.

You can do this, Paul. Just relax.

It’s not that I don’t want to do this. Of course, I want to; I just… want everything to go well. Not just for me, but for Maddox. And Rylee, too.

Dre told me the other night that he and Victoria never got to do this as a family because he was always traveling or working, and there’s a part of me that feels guilty about that, even though he told me it’s fine. Like I’m robbing him and Rylee of a core memory, even though I know that’s not the case. I don’t know if it will ever get easier, hearing about those moments—the ones he never got to have with the love of his life. Not because I’m jealous, but because there is a part of me that knows how much he loved her, and how good his marriage was, even if he wasn’t always around, and I know how excited he was to do all those things, never thinking for a second he wouldn’t have the chance.

I let out a low breath as Dre gets out of the car to get Rylee from the backseat, and open my door to see Maddox grinning from ear to ear. A moment later, Rylee is running over to him, jumping up and down with excitement and he gives her the biggest hug, which melts my damn heart.

I feel Dre behind me, his presence making that swarm of butterflies go haywire. Amelia gives me a knowing smirk as she reaches out to hug me, and I hug her back. I made sure she knew that neither of the kids are aware about me and Dre, so she needs to watch what she says. She agreed, but then gave me a look and told me that the kids aren’t as stupid as I think they are. I don’t think our kids are stupid. I know they’re smart as hell, but they definitely aren’t thinking that Dre and I are anything but friends. They’re not even old enough to think about stuff like that yet.

Right?

“Relax,” she whispers in my ear.

“I’m trying,” I mutter under my breath as she chuckles and lets me go. Sean shakes my hand, and Amelia pulls Dre in for a hug, and I swear time stops.

“My parents should be here any minute,” he says, his voice crisp and matter of fact. He’s always so confident. “If you guys want to head in—”

Amelia shrugs. “We can wait. It’ll be a couple of minutes until the next truck comes for pickup.”

Maddox and Rylee both climb on the hay bales to try to get a look at the farm; the corn maze and the pumpkin patch in the distance, as well as the activity center and the themed attractions. This place always puts on a great event for the kids, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it too, a little.

“So, Andre, right?” Sean asks, clearing his throat.