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“Good for you, Skylar. Holland had a hard time juggling school when she first had CC, but her husband Cole was super supportive, and she got the help of a nanny. There are ways to make things work.”
“I’m hoping I’ll find a way. It isn’t for sure. I need those scholarships to come through,” I admit.
“Things have a way of working out,” Rebel says. “If you only knew where I came from. My father was an addict, and my mom left my sister and me behind. That’s how I ended up with a prosthetic. And now I run my own business. I’m trying to convince this girl to come work in my clinic,” she says about Patty.
“We’ll see,” Patty replies. “I was thinking of doing sports therapy first. I don’t see why I should tie myself down, and I think it can be fun to work with athletes.”
“Don’t forget non-fraternizing policies. It wouldn’t be that much fun.” Rebel winks.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Patty denies.
“I’m just kidding,” Rebel says.
Feeling warm from the wine, I blurt to Rebel, “My mom was an addict too. I got a scholarship and made it into Brown.”
“I got a scholarship to Westfall, but I also had money from my insurance policy on my injury,” she explains.
That sounds intense.
“I actually wanted to apologize to you about the last time the boys had a playdate,” I begin. “I don’t want you to think I was panicking because I don’t trust you.”
“I was just worried about you,” Rebel says. “You seemed scared. I know Wolfe mentioned something to Liam, and I feel terrible about that. My husband needs to learn to keep quiet.”
“It’s honestly fine. I was in fact scared. Crew’s dad isn’t in the picture, but he plays in the NHL. He isn’t a good guy,” I share. “I didn’t know if you and Wolfe knew him, and the thought of my son being anywhere near a man like that. . .” I shiver.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize,” Rebel says.
“You couldn’t have,” I reply. “I just didn’t want you to think my reservations were about you.”
“Thanks for sharing with me. I know what it’s like to want to stay away from someone like that. Like I said, I live with the consequences daily.” She kicks up her leg with the prosthetic.
I blow out a breath. “Liam doesn’t know who his dad is,” I whisper. “I know one day he may ask, but I hope it will be when he’s much older. Right now, I worry being with Liam can expose us somehow, and my top priority is keeping my son safe.”
“I completely understand,” Rebel sympathizes. “When he is here in this house, you don’t need to worry. I swear we have bulletproof windows and a crazy security system. The boys will just be hanging out tonight.”
“Thanks for saying that. It makes me feel so much better. Even if it will be hard for me not to have Crew sleeping at home tonight,” I confess.
The doorbell rings.
Rebel checks on a television screen and sees it’s the food. “I better get that,” she says.
She leaves the kitchen.
“I’m proud of you,” Patty says.
“Why?” I snicker.
“Because you’ve come such a long way. You’re trying new things and confiding in new people. I know that wasn’t easy for you.”
“It wasn’t, but I feel like Rebel and me have more in common than I realized,” I say.
“You do, and she is a good person,” Patty reconfirms.
“I just hate you always living in fear of the man who should not be named,” she says of Crew’s father.
“I hate it too.” I sigh quietly just as Rebel walks in with lots of bags of food.
She calls the boys to eat, and we all dig in and have a good time.
