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“Let’s go home where you belong. With me. With us all together as a family.”
As we pulledup in front of the familiar mansion, I had mixed feelings. Would the girls forgive me? Something had definitely changed, but I didn’t know what or if it was a good or bad kinda change. My fears were calmed when the door swung open, and Aurora and Rose raced to me. Hair flailing in the wind, eyes sparkling in excitement, arms outstretched. I crumbled to my knees and caught them both in my arms. I couldn’t stop the torrent of tears that flooded down my face as I covered them both in kisses.
“We missed you, Mommy.”
“I did too. I really missed you girls.” I didn’t realize how much until they were back in my arms.
“I love the reunion, but it’s chilly out here, folks. Shall we continue inside?” Adrian asked as he grabbed the groceries that we got on our way home. Home—I didn’t know when it happened, but that was where I wanted to be. With the insufferable billionaire doctor and his beautiful girls and, of course, handsome son.
“Don’t I get any hugs?” Jason asked in mock hurt, and both girls ran to him. Ted was not left out as he took the warm hugs as an invitation to wiggle himself in, thrilled at the prospect of a squabble. When the kids paid Ted no heed, he tugged at Rose's dress.
"Bad dog. Bad Teddy," Jason said, pulling it away from his sister.
“I mean it, kids, inside now.”
The three trailed up the stony path to the front doors with their hands joined, each girl on either side of Jason. “Don’t they all look happy?” Adrian crooned as I caught a proud look settling over his face.
“Welcome back, ma’am,” Eva greeted just as I crossed the threshold. “Sir, Miss Claire had to leave due to an emergency. She said to tell you not to ‘eff it up.’ That you’d understand,” she said in a near-whisper, glancing nervously at the kids who were a few feet away, no doubt showing Jason their new acquisitions.
“Thank you, Eva.” I burst into rancorous laughter as a blush crept up his face. He dismissed the poor girl with a curt nod after handing her the grocery bag.
“Eff what up?” I quizzed, going along with Eva’s clever censoring.
“Nothing to bother you with,” he said and hurriedly walked off in the direction of his room. Weird.
“Okay. Tell me, kids. What do you want for dinner?”
“Pancakes,” Rose and Rory echoed.
“How about I make you guys a special pasta recipe my mom taught me?”
“Yay!”
“Alright. Put away your toys while I change into more comfortable clothes. Then we can all make dinner together, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy.”
In my room, I jumped into the soft, comfortable bed. I was content and… happy. It had been a long time since I had felt genuine happiness, and the feeling had almost become foreign to me. I brought my hand to my lips that still tingled from the kiss. It wasn’t exactly a love confession, but he had come back for his son and me and melted my heart with that sweet kiss. It was something.
A start.
19
- THE CONFESSION
ADRIAN BLACK
Whatever it was with Zoey Carter, I needed more. I had to tell her. She had woven herself into my subconscious, and she had become a part of my waking thoughts and every moment of my day. But I wanted to take things slow. I was afraid I’d scare her away if I acted too fast. I was in a somewhat foul mood. I wanted her in my arms. My bed. She was addicting, and I needed to have her, or I would lose my mind. I wanted to wake up to her beautiful face.
“Aaaaahh!”
I stumbled out of bed and fell as my legs got tangled with the sheets. “Shit.” The scream came from the direction of her room. I hurried to my feet and raced to her room. Luckily, the door was unlocked and gave way easily when I pushed it. She sat in the middle of the bed, covered in sweat. The sheer night dress she had on clung to her skin. I looked around the room for any sign of an intruder.
“What happened, are you okay?” she turned to me, and she was pale as a sheet.
“It was a nightmare. Something was pulling Jason away from me. I didn’t see whoever or whatever it was. It was shrouded in darkness, but it pulled him away, and I just stood there.”
“Gimme a sec,” I said and hurried downstairs to Jason’s room. He was curled up in a ball and deeply asleep. A soft snore escaped as he turned in his sleep. I reached out and touched his hair. I pulled the duvet to cover him and retrieved an open book from beside him. Quietly, I left the room and locked the door behind me. I also slipped into the girl’s room, and like their brother, they were also deeply asleep. After placing a gentle kiss on their foreheads and pulling the duvet up to cover them, I snuck out as silently as I had snuck in.
