by Faye Byrd
“Knock, knock,” a voice calls from the door.
“Aunt Amy,” Cam exclaims as he picks up his fork. “I eatin’ pancakes wif Blake.”
My eyes fall to my best friend as the boys continue to talk amongst themselves, mostly Cam telling Blake about Amy, who is really Amelia. He’s the only one who calls her that. She’s paused in the doorway with her hands on her chest, her eyes watery as she stares at Blake.
Slowly, they pan to me. “Easy.” Her voice cracks and she rushes to me, throwing her arms around my neck. “He looks so much like you,” she mumbles into my hair.
I hold tight to my best friend and allow myself to be swept away by her heartfelt emotion. The reality of meeting Blake has been overwhelming in all aspects, not allowing me to ruminate on one single facet. But she’s right. I recognize myself in this little boy, and so for just a moment, I permit myself to get lost in that feeling.
And it’s glorious.
A spark of warmth originates in my heart and spreads through the rest of me, resulting in hot tears that leak down my cheeks. Happy tears. For the first time since this ordeal began, the hurt and betrayal are nowhere to be found. In their place is a sense of rightness that has been missing for many long days.
Amelia collects herself and pulls back, her thumbs reaching up to wipe away my own tears. “I didn’t realize … maybe I should’ve called first,” she whispers, her eyes trailing toward the bed where the two little voices are still yapping away.
I shake my head. “No. If you’d showed a little earlier, I might’ve kicked you out, but you have perfect timing as always. Do think you can entertain them while I grab a quick shower and dress?”
“Of course,” she replies, rolling her eyes. “Where’s the man meat?”
A giggle escapes before I can stop it. “He and his brother went to be tested. They’ll be back in a bit.”
“Brother?” She lifts a brow that’s half “is he cute” and half “is he married.” I know my best friend like the back of my hand.
“Yes, to both,” I respond with a head shake. “So be on your best behavior.” I lift my own brow and grab her elbow, leading her to the boys.
“Blake,” I say, gaining their attention. “This is Amelia. I hope it’s okay if she sits with you guys while I get cleaned up.”
“He can call her Amy, like me.” Cam nods his head and thumbs his chest.
Amelia uses this as her opening and perches on an available spot on the bed, giving them her patented bright smile. “He sure can.” She holds out her hand. “Hello, sweetie. It’s nice to meet you.”
Blake readily grabs her hand and shakes it vigorously. Having Cam’s encouragement seems to set him at ease almost immediately. It doesn’t hurt that Amelia has that personality that draws you in. I was in my new high school all of two periods before we met, and by the end of the day, I’d made a life-long friend.
Satisfied that the boys are fine, I collect my things and enter the small bathroom situated in the back corner of Cameron’s room. I start the shower and use the time while the water heats to center myself. A quiet moment to reflect.
The first week after learning of the switch was a ball of hurry up and wait, but since that meeting two days ago, life has been flying by so fast that I’ve barely had time to stop and consider it. From that moment to now is like night and day. I didn’t realize how much the missing puzzle piece would matter until it arrived. With Blake here, our commitment has solidified into something almost tangible. I felt it.
I still feel it.
I heave a satisfied sigh and step into the warm spray. Twenty minutes after I enter the bathroom, I’ve slipped into a pair of crisp white capris and a black, ruched tank top. My hair goes into a messy, still-damp bun, and I apply eyeliner and mascara, along with a pale pink gloss. I manage to finagle my way into a pair of strappy, black sandals before rejoining Amelia and the boys.
I’m not sure what I’m expecting, but I get no fanfare at all. The boys don’t even look up when I make as much noise as possible putting away my dirty clothes. I huff and turn with my hands on my hips, but I can’t even be upset. Amelia is very studiously trying to teach Blake to play Go Fish, since Cam already knows.
“Hey, boys,” I say interrupting their game.
“Oh, hey, Mama,” Cam says, surprised at my appearance.
“I playin’ Go Fish,” Blake adds, holding up his cards for the whole room to see.
Amelia takes a minute to explain how you can’t let anyone see your cards before cutting her eyes to mine. “Dr. Sen came by. He said to let you know he’ll probably have new test results by the time he stops back in.”
A little thrill shoots up my spine, and I smile. “Good. We’re hoping Cameron can go home soon.”
“Oh, thank God,” Amelia says, her shoulders slumping in relief. “I mean the hospital’s been great, but I can imagine you’re ready to go home.”
I open my mouth to reply, but another knock on the door halts me. This time, it’s my parents. My dad scopes the room like only a cop would, and my mom’s smile is blinding as she zeroes her focus on the children sitting in the bed. A split second of panic moves over me, as I’m unsure if this is what Trystan had in mind when he left Blake with me, but it subsides quickly. He left him in my care because he’s mine, and this is my family.
“Easy,” my mom says as she rushes to me, much like Amelia. “Oh, sweetie.” Her arms wrap me in an embrace so tight I can barely breathe, but I don’t care. I feel every single speck of emotion flowing through her body.
I catch my dad’s expression over her shoulder, and his eyes are centered on the boys. Even from here, the softening is evident. He’s a man of facts, and until this very second, Blake was abstract. He’s real now, and the adoration is already written on my father’s face.
When my mom releases me, he’s the first place she turns. She rushes to my dad and silently cries into his shirt, while he holds her tight against him, his eyes still focused on the bed. I step in his line of sight and tilt my head, beckoning them over once he has Mom calmed.
“Hey, sweeties,” I say as I go over to where they’re still relaxed on the bed, a few cards held tightly in their tiny hands.
“You gots a three?” Blake asks, and then leans over to check Cam’s hand.
I giggle as Cameron helps him look. “Did you make up a new game?”
“No, Mama, I helpin’ Blake learn,” Cam replies, barely sparing me a glance.
My dad clears his throat, and Cameron’s eyes snap to my parents who’re standing off to the side of the bed. “Nana, Papa,” he exclaims, shoving his cards in my direction. “Look, Blake’s here!” His voice is high-pitched and excited as he motions to his new friend.
For Blake’s part, his eyes are wide and round as they take in my father—an imposing figure in the small room, but as I glance between them, it stuns me a little. Blake has my eyes, in my heart I know this, but I have my father’s eyes, and seeing them both at the same time sends a jolt straight to my stomach.
Cameron nudges Blake, breaking the silence. “This is Nana and Papa.” He waves toward my parents. “They keepin’ Blue at they house while I sick.”
I have to cover my mouth to contain my giggle and my father’s mustache twitches, but my mom, she takes mock offense. “Well, I see how you are. My grandbaby only introduces me as a dog sitter.”
“No,” Cameron says, shaking his head. “You my nana.”
“But I not have a nana,” Blake says, his eyes flicking between Cameron and my mother. “I only gots a grandma.”
“S’okay. She’s Nana, so now you have one.” He holds up his hands and shrugs.
Blake’s eyes stop on my mother, studying her quietly, while she almost shakes in anticipation to touch him. Introducing them as Nana and Papa wasn’t exactly the plan, but I know my parents don’t mind, and somehow, I’m pretty sure Trystan will be okay with it, too.
Mom’s about to have a conniption, so I move closer and lean down. “Blake,” I say
, capturing his attention. “This is my mom and dad, but if you want, you can call them Nana and Papa like Cam does. They won’t mind.”
Mom moves closer and hesitantly brushes her fingers along his blond curls. “Hello, sweetie. It’s nice to meet you.”
Blake leans over and glances at my dad before lifting and whispering to Mom. “He scary man, Nana.”
Dad overhears this and moves past Mom to sit beside Blake on the bed. Mom clears out and lets Dad work his magic. He starts by kidding around with Cameron before he slowly drags Blake into the conversation. He may appear intimidating, but he’s a giant softy, and apparently, Blake realizes it relatively quickly. Within minutes, the three are engrossed in a deep conversation about the two trucks.
After the ice is broken, Mom and Dad take the boys for a walk while Amelia and I use the extra minutes to chat. Of course, the only thing she wants to talk about is Trystan, but that’s understandable. I’m dying to hear my best friend’s opinion on all that has happened in the past two days, though her imagination is probably better than reality.
“Wait!” she says, holding up a hand to stop my retelling of the stair incident. “You’re telling me that he tried to assault you in the staircase?”
“No!” I blurt, shaking my head rather quickly. “No. I’d call it seduce, maybe?” I blow out a breath, frustrated. “He went from being completely uninformed to let’s do it right here, right now, within like a minute.”
She stares at me. Hard. “How did you respond, Easy?”
A sudden heat creeps up my neck and moves over my face. “I told him off.” I glance away from her.
“Easy.” Her tone holds a warning. She knows I’m withholding information.
“What?”
“Tell me,” she says, her voice softer, sympathetic even.
“He’s hot. Okay?” I snap, embarrassed at myself for allowing those few precious seconds to bloom between us. “I did tell him off … after he almost kissed me.”
Her hands fly up to hold in her gasp. She leans closer. “You kissed him?” Her voice is low, as if this is the most scandalous thing she’s ever heard, and it’s not. I would know.
“He tried to kiss me, thank you very much,” I say, jabbing myself in the chest with my pointer finger. “I stopped it.”
She sits back and crosses her arms. Her shrewd eyes are boring into me so seriously that I feel as if she might reach in and take the information she wants. “How far did it go exactly?” she asks, her voice firm.
I shrug one shoulder, making it seem as if it isn’t a big deal. “Our lips barely touched.”
“And?” Her eyes haven’t moved, and she even adds a brow lift for good measure.
“And it was freaking hot.” I smirk and lift my chin, daring her to chastise me.
Her dark brown eyes go from serious to nosy-excited in the blink of an eye, and she almost shivers as she leans forward. “Tell me!” she demands. “I knew there was more.”
Just as I open my mouth, though, a throat clears in the doorway. Amelia and I both jump and snap our heads toward the intruder. Intruders. Trystan and Cooper have returned, and judging by the smirk Trystan’s sporting, I can’t be sure he didn’t overhear us.
I hide my shaking hands down by my side and offer them a smile. “Trystan, Cooper, we were just talking about you. Well, Trystan anyway.” I shake my head and stand to make introductions, but Trystan’s worried glance toward the empty bed prompts me to explain. “They’re with my parents. I hope that’s okay.”
“Um, sure,” Trystan says, but he seems unsure.
“They’ve just gone for a walk through the halls,” I explain further. “Like we did yesterday.”
“Oh,” he responds with one of his killer smiles. “Okay. That’s fine. I didn’t realize you were expecting company.”
I snort, the nervous feeling from when they arrived dissipating. “I wasn’t expecting anything. You’ll learn with my family.” I wave them over. “Come on in. Cooper Ashby, I’d like you to meet my best friend, Amelia Preston.”
While the two exchange a handshake, Trystan takes that opportunity to step closer to my side. His arm brushes against my shoulder, causing goosebumps to race across my exposed skin. I glance up, and he’s smirking right at me.
I bump him with my hip and roll my eyes. “How’d the tests go?”
His smile drops and he crosses his arms. “It was okay. Took them long enough, though.”
“Hey,” I say, touching his arm. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah.” He shrugs, blowing out an audible breath. “I just … all the batty lashes and sly smiles are starting to get to me, I guess.”
My brows furrow as I take in his beautiful yet annoyed face, but leave it to my best friend to butt in before I can respond. “The nurse hit on you?” she asks, followed by a girly giggle. “You should be used to that.” My lips twitch, trying to hold in my laughter as Trystan looks at her incredulously. She laughs away his concerns. “Oh, come on. There’s no way you don’t get hit on regularly.”
“Trust me, he does,” Cooper supplies, the two of them laughing it up at Trystan’s expense.
“All right, you two,” I say in a stern voice. “It’s obviously bothering him, so it’s not a laughing matter.”
Before either of them can reply, the sound of little voices meets my ears. The boys are chattering up a storm. “There are the boys,” I say to everyone. As the other two turn to greet them, I grab Trystan’s arm. “We’ll finish this discussion later.”
He shakes his head. “It’s nothing, Easton. I’m just glad to be done.” He offers his elbow just as the boys enter the room.
I take it, and we attempt to approach them, but they’re fast. As soon as they see us, they take off in our direction, both of them running to Trystan.
“Daddy!” Blake says as Trystan squats in front of them.
“Trystan,” Cam adds, clamoring for a hug.
“Holy hell,” Cooper mumbles—much to my chagrin.
Trystan just gives him a smirk and grabs Cam in a tight hug. “Told you.”
The moment fills my chest with warmth, but I can’t help but notice my father’s stern expression as he takes in the scene. His brows are drawn tight in the center of his forehead, and his bright blue eyes are squinted. One hand lifts slightly to rest near his gun. Even though you can’t actually see the weapon, I know it’s there.
I step forward and break up the greeting. “Come on, Cam. We need to get you back in bed. Either of you need to use the restroom first?”
Without responding, Cam takes off for the bathroom, Blake following closely behind. “I’ve got them,” Amelia says, tilting her head toward my parents. “Why don’t you make introductions?”
I offer her a thankful smile. “Mom, Dad,” I say, grabbing Trystan’s hand and stepping closer to them. “I’d like you to meet Trystan and Cooper Ashby. Trystan is Cameron’s biological father.”
Mom giggles. “Of course he is, Easy.” She steps forward and offers Trystan a warm, one-armed hug and a kiss to the cheek. “Nice to me you, too, Cooper.” She moves and gives him the same treatment.
“Thank you, Mrs. Wilder. It’s nice to meet the people who care so much for Cameron,” Trystan says, a gentlemanly smile on his lips.
“Oh, no. We aren’t having any of that. Call me Melissa,” she replies, shaking her head and pointing to my father. “And this is Harold.”
My father steps forward and holds out his hand to Cooper. “Hello, nice to meet you.” As he turns to Trystan, his polite smile drops as his lips form a thin line. “So you’re the man who’s suddenly a part of Easy and Cameron’s life.” Their handshake is tense; two strong grips and two sets of determined eyes.
“Hello, sir,” Trystan says. Their hands finally drop to their sides, but their eyes never waver. “I’d like to think of myself as more than that.”
“Is that so?” my father asks.
Trystan nods while holding his stare. “Of course. The situation we’ve fo
und ourselves in requires me to be more. Cameron is my son,” His voice cracks as his palm pats his chest. “There’s no way I can turn my back on that.”
My father takes a deep breath, and his stance loosens slightly. “I understand, so I hope you can understand me when I ask for all of your personal information.”
“Dad.” My voice is a warning, but the boys returning from the restroom captures my attention. “There you are! I thought you weren’t coming back.”
“We washed our hands,” Blake says, holding his up so I can see how clean they are.
“Oh, good!” I move toward the bed and motion them over. “Okay, let’s get Cam back into bed and figure out something for lunch.”
“Why don’t I take Cooper and we can pick up something for everyone?” Amelia suggests, looking between Cooper and me to see if that’s okay.
“Sounds good to me.” I shrug, glancing to Cooper. “Is that all right with you?”
“Sure,” he answers, his eyes flicking to Trystan and my dad, whose heads are together as they have an intense conversation in the far corner.
Everyone else must notice, also. Amelia grabs Cooper’s elbow and practically drags him from the room as Mom snatches up Candy Land and heads toward the boys, her voice super high pitched as she fakes more excitement than necessary.
As I make my way to the men, my father’s voice reaches my ears. “I can’t have some man I know nothing about inserting himself into their lives without making sure he isn’t some psycho.” It’s followed by a chuckle, but there’s nothing funny about his tone.
“While I find your standing valid, your tactics are lacking,” Trystan responds with his own fake chuckle before I can interrupt them. “I’m as much a victim in this scenario as Easton and Cam, so I expect you to recognize that and treat me as such. Especially when it comes to your position as an officer of the agency that’s overseeing this case.”
I clear my throat, breaking the tension slightly. “Daddy, please, this is not the time.”
“I’m sorry, Easy,” he says, his face softening. “But it’s my job to protect you and my grandbaby.”
