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“No. I’ll find my own way home. I don’t want to be beholden to you any more than I already am.”
“Have it your way. I expect to see you at family breakfast on Sunday morning.”
My conversation with Curtis ends, leaving me unsettled. Not only because I am returning to the one place I really don’t want to be, but because I have to tell Theo I’m leaving, and my return is uncertain. He isn’t going to be happy.
To distract myself, I load up the kids and head into town to pay for the repairs. Then I surprise Piper with a trip to a local animal shelter so she can pet all the dogs she wants. She is in heaven as she sits in a room, playing with dog after dog, brushing them when they allow it, and feeding them treats.
“This is the best day of my life,” she squeals as an exuberant puppy climbs up her little body to lick her face.
Colton also seems happy playing with the dogs. He even helps the volunteers to clean some of the cages with only minimal complaints about the smells. I document every moment, sending the best pictures to Theo who replies with a series of heart emojis.
“Can we come back tomorrow,” Piper asks as we leave.
“Not tomorrow,” I tell her, which immediately makes her pout. “They’re closed. We’ll come back another day, okay?”
“Promise?”
I offer her my hand with my pinky finger extended. “Pinky promise.”
The visit to the animal shelter exhausted both kids, who eat a quiet dinner with me and then disappear to their bedrooms. When I check on them, they’re both sound asleep. Colton is in his bed, a book spread across his chest and Piper is passed out amid a stuffed animal tea party. I lift her into my arms and deposit her carefully into her bed.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as I tiptoe from Piper’s room. I don’t have to look at the screen to know it’s Theo. I hesitate to answer because I haven’t figured how to tell him I’m leaving on Saturday.
“Hey,” I answer, trying to keep my voice light.
“Hi.” The richness of his voice soothes me and the only thing I want to do is melt into his arms and cry. “Are the kids asleep?”
“Yeah. A day with the dogs really tired them out.”
He chuckles. “Piper looked like she was going to burst. Thanks for taking her there.”
As I slip inside the master bedroom, I close the door, the click of it shutting seeming to echo throughout the space. “I have something to tell you.”
“I don’t like the sound of this.”
“You’re going to hate it. I’m going back to Georgia on Saturday.”
“No.” His voice is firm. “Absolutely not.”
“I don’t have a choice, Theo. Gerard Fine Foods is being sold and if I don’t go and help with negotiations, then I don’t get what I want.”
“What about what I want? What about the kids? Did you even consider us before you agreed to go home?”
“Of course!” I insist. “I’m sorry I’m letting you and the kids down.”
“When are you coming back?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Fuck, Hadley. You are not going alone.”
“Who’s going to go with me? You? You can’t leave.”
There’s a sound of frustration on the other end. “Give me a day to figure things out. Have you booked your flight yet?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Don’t. If there’s a way for me and the kids to go with you, then I’ll find it.”
“Okay,” I relent, giving in to both him and the exhaustion softening my body. I lay back, letting myself sink into the plush duvet cover. “I love you,” I say, knowing it’s the first time I’ve said those words to him out loud.
“Those are the words I’ve been waiting to hear all day. I love you, too.”
