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“I love you, son.”
“Love you too, Mom,” I sigh into the phone.
* * *
Chloe
“All better,” I say as I look down at Chloe.
She gives me that gorgeous smile and nods. Her curls bounce around her head. She has her father’s strawberry-blonde hair.
For the millionth time, I try to breathe through staring at the resemblance. She’s such a sweet little girl. As hard as this has been for me to do, she alone has made it possible.
Chloe hasn’t left my side since finding me in the hallway earlier. She went from being my little helper to being my shadow. If I want to try something on, she is in the fitting room with me.
“Ice cream now? Please,” she asks softly. Her little voice hopeful and so polite.
“Let’s ask your grandma, sweetie,” I say with a smile.
“There you two are,” Eileen says as we return to her and our bags.
“There was a bit of a line. I wasn’t sure if we were going to make it,” I say and laugh.
Chloe danced at my side as we waited our turn. I felt bad for the poor little thing. I wondered how long she’s been potty trained and if she would revert to wetting her pants. A few nice ladies noticed her dancing and allowed us to skip the line.
“I think we may have just made it,” I breathe in relief.
“Oh my, I’m glad you did. How about we get that ice cream before we start back for the house?” Eileen says.
Chloe squeezes my hand and nods her head. I look down and she beams up at me as she nods. I return the smile, tickled by the joy I feel emitting from her.
Her arms go up for me to lift her and my heart tightens for the thousandth time. I scoop her up before claiming my bags. Eileen gives me a side-glance. She has warned me about spoiling Chloe more than once today.
“Something tells me you two are right on time for each other,” she says as Chloe places her head on my shoulder.
“I think you’re right. Thank you for allowing me to come along,” I reply.
“It has been a pleasure getting to know you. It has also been a few weeks since I’ve had this much adult interaction. I should be thanking you.”
“This must have been a shock for you,” I say, drawing my brows.
I was shocked when it set in that Brodi had been hiding his daughter from everyone. His mother being here to help him says a lot about a mother’s love. It makes me ache for my own.
“You have no idea. I wanted to strangle that Brodi,” she huffs.
I smile. I noticed that she calls him Brodi when she seems to think more affectionately toward him. She may be annoyed with him, but it’s clear she still loves her son.
“I know the feeling,” I reply.
“Ah, yes, I believe you may have tried to make good on that,” she says, side-glancing me.
My cheeks heat. I bow my head. I did feel bad about the bruises on Brodi’s face after the fact. Tears well as I think of all the emotions I felt in that moment.
“I don’t know what to do. A part of me… a part I’ve tried to bury away loves that man so much. Another part of me—” I cut the words off.
I probably shouldn’t be having this conversation with his mother. I just need to have it with someone before it consumes me. This isn’t something I want to dump on Sid from long distance over the phone.
“Love is an interesting thing. It can bind you to a soul without your permission. My husband and I went through something like what you and my son are going through.
