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“He knows you’re here.”
Vada glanced up, wide-eyed. “I turned my notifications off.”
Gage smirked, arching his brow. “I know. And he was not happy about that when he called looking for you. That was about an hour before you showed up.”
“Then how does he know I’m here?”
“I called him the second you pulled in the driveway.” Gage smiled and rounded her chair, grasping her shoulder in a tight squeeze. “You’re staying.”
The corner of her mouth curled. I’m staying. Gage walked across the yard and up the back stairs. And Vada watched him. Not all family was bound by blood. Some went a little deeper.
****
Hades had been standing in his dark kitchen for the last two hours. After Gage had texted him that Vada was at his place, he could finally breathe. As long as she was safe, he’d give her the space she needed. Gage had sent another message fifteen minutes ago informing him that Vada was on her way home.
I fucked up. That phrase had been replaying in his head since he’d gotten her message. He could make every excuse, and some might be plausible. He was acting out and protecting his daughter. He was angry because Allie was hurt. Any parent would’ve done the same thing. But Hades took it out on the wrong person.
Fuck.
When he saw her headlights shine through the window, he dropped his phone to the counter, took a sip of his whiskey, and waited.
Her headlights dimmed, the engine shut down, and the door closed. He drew his gaze to the doorknob, but it never moved. After a minute, he pushed off the counter and walked to the opposite end of the kitchen.
Hades looked through the back door window and listened for her steps. Vada was a creature of habit. Or? Maybe he just memorized her every move. He leaned against the kitchen doorway, waiting for her to come to the back door. He counted the seconds. One, Two. Three. It shouldn’t have taken so long. As the seconds passed he kept his eyes trained on the door.
No Vada. But she was there.
Hades pushed off the frame and glanced through the window. Vada was sitting on the back steps. Hands clasped, elbows resting on her knees. He couldn’t see her face. He didn’t need to. He knew her every mannerism. Her tight shoulders, her head hanging low. Vada was struggling.
This right here. Her. Hades would never find a better one. For him, none existed. Vada embodied everything he’d ever wanted and didn’t think he needed. She was his jackpot, his unicorn, his everything. I don’t fucking deserve her. If he’d ever doubted it, this moment right here proved it. Hades gripped the handle, slowly opening the door. If Vada heard it, she didn’t acknowledge him. She was still staring across the yard, seemingly lost in thought.
Hades walked out and stepped onto the stairs behind her. One leg and then the other, caging her in. He was like a shield protecting Vada. From who? Herself. Parental guilt was like no other. Second-guessing, mistakes, and undeniable doubt weighed heavily on those who walked the path. Parenting wasn’t for the weak or faint of heart. It was hard, gut-wrenching, defeating, yet still the most fulfilling experience life had to offer. It was a love like no other. The phrase “I’d do anything for you” was most definitely coined by a parent. It had to be.
Hades sat with her between his legs in silence. He slid his hands over her knees. Vada remained silent, and Hades would wait. This wasn’t about him. It was about Vada. And Allie. My girls. There were many memories worth remembering, but those two introductions were forever ingrained in his mind.
Allie was small. Tinier than most. The first time he’d seen her, she’d been in an incubator. Six weeks early and on a breathing machine. Her skin had been almost translucent. She’d had a tube through her nose and mouth and a small pink cap that was almost bigger than her head. Her biological mother refused to hold her. She’d said it was too hard. Not Hades. He donned the yellow gown, a blue plastic cap covering his hair, and plastic gloves. He would’ve done anything just to hold her. My girl. That changed him. His heart changed. His purpose changed. His life had no longer been about him. It became about her.
But the sins of his past had caught up to him. He could’ve fled, hid out. It would have been risky, but Hades could have escaped. He’d chosen not to. Hades faced his past, his mistakes—for Allie. He’d done his time to come back to her. My girl. Allie wouldn’t erase his past, but she did represent his future. She gave Hades purpose.
And then there was Vada.
She didn’t owe Allie anything. Vada gained nothing. There wasn’t a biological obligation. She’d been a stranger on the street, yet she’d changed Allie with one conversation. And Hades. Kindness had always been a form of currency in his life. Never a gift. It always had strings attached. Until Vada.
He lowered his head, brushed his lips against her ear, and whispered, “I fucked up.”
Vada immediately shook her head and pressed her back closer to his chest. She was willing to let him off the hook. He wouldn’t allow it.
“Yeah, I did. Shouldn’t have said that ’cause it’s not true.”
“I think of her as mine. I can’t imagine loving anyone the way I love her,” Vada whispered, and Hades closed his eyes. If ever he had a regret, this was it. If he could’ve gone back in time and chosen one thing to do over, it would be that comment. It had been harsh and came from a place of anger and desperate need to protect his baby. This woman was a gift to not only him but to his daughter. They would forever feel the depth of her love, and he’d been careless with her heart.
Hades curled his arms around her and pulled Vada against his chest.
“Allie is as much your daughter as she is mine. I fucked up, and I got no excuse.” And he wouldn’t make any. He’d messed up; he’d own it and seek forgiveness. It’s what a real man would do.
Hades didn’t deserve immediate forgiveness. Vada should’ve made him beg and grovel for it. He’d hurt her to her core. But that wasn’t who Vada was. She reached out, threaded her fingers through his, and squeezed tightly.
“But I didn’t protect her.” Vada’s breath caught in her throat.
