They hadn’t noticed me yet and I took a moment to watch them together.
“Do you know who the most beautiful girl in all the land is?” Hayes asked her while he dumped ingredients in a bowl.
“Who? Who?” Mia asked eagerly. I noticed her hair was neatly braided down her back. Since Mia couldn’t braid, and her hair had been loose last night, I knew Hayes had taken the time to do it.
“You.” He tapped her nose, leaving behind a streak of flour.
“Me?” She beamed, pointing at herself. “What about momma?”
Hayes grinned, stirring whatever he’d put in the bowl. “She’s the prettiest woman in all the land.”
Mia nodded with a grin lifting her lips, clearly pleased with his answer.
She tilted her head, inspecting his exposed arm. “Why dids you draws on yosef?”
Hayes chuckled, scooping some of the mixture onto the hot griddle. “I didn’t draw on myself. They’re tattoos.”
“Wat are tat-tat-tatoooos?” She squished her nose, clearly confused by the new word.
“I guess you could say they’re permanent drawings.” He shrugged and his thin t-shirt pulled taut across his chest and shoulders.
He looked up then and spotted me in the doorway. “Morning.” He tipped his head in my direction, a grin splitting his face.
“Morning,” I whispered, leaning against the archway, content to continue watching him and Mia.
“We’re matking pantakes, momma!” Mia chimed, clapping her hands together in her excitement. “Ooh! Ooh!” She exclaimed suddenly. “Will you matke me Mickey Mouse ones?” She addressed Hayes, looking up at him like he was some sort of God.
“Sure thing, sweetheart.” He flipped the pancakes and a few minutes later removed that batch. “Wanna watch me make it?” He asked her.
She nodded and he picked her up, settling her onto his hip. With his free hand he poured the batter into the shape of Mickey Mouse and Mia squealed in delight. It obviously didn’t take much to make her happy.
While Hayes finished making the pancakes I finally got my feet working and grabbed the plates from the cabinet. I set them on the table along with forks, napkins, syrup, and drinks.
Hayes turned the griddle off and carried Mia and the plate piled with pancakes over to the table.
We all sat down together at the table, digging into our food, and I marveled at how normal it felt to sit around a table together and eat breakfast.
Yeah, we’d eaten meals together in New York, but for some reason I thought it’d be different here in my house.
And…I guess it was, but not in the way I expected.
It felt like—
“Are we a famalee?” Mia asked, looking from Hayes to me.
I smiled at her and my gaze rose to Hayes to find him smiling too. It had happened so fast, but Mia was right. The three of us were a family. An unconventional one, that was for sure, but what family was perfect?
Hayes had busted into my life this past summer, festering beneath my skin where I couldn’t rid myself of him, and now I didn’t want to.
“Yeah baby girl.” I kissed her sticky cheek. “We’re a family.”
I WAS A lovesick fool.
You know the person constantly walking around with a goofy smile and acting like they’re high? Yeah, that was totally me and I wasn’t ashamed of it. I was going to embrace this giddy feeling for as long as it lasted.
I danced around the store, straightening items of clothing and singing along to the radio.
Nothing could possibly dampen my mood.
The door leading into the store opened, the bell chiming with the new arrival.
“Welcome to Sew in Style.” I chimed happily as I turned around, beaming at the customer.
When my eyes connected with the man’s my smile bled away¸ as did my happy mood that only moments before I’d believed was impenetrable.
I felt like all the air had been sucked from the room and I was slowly beginning to suffocate.
I hadn’t seen him in over four years and yet he still looked the same.
His light brown hair was trimmed short and his dark blue eyes were as lifeless as I remembered. He wore a beard now, which made him appear older than what he was. He was tall—not as tall as Hayes—with wide shoulders that had once made me feel so protected but ended up only making me feel caged. His lips tugged into a smile but there was nothing nice about it. He looked like a robot. Fake and emotionless.
“Todd.” I whispered his name, hating to give life to it and show any sort of fear.
“Arden.” He sauntered forward, smirking at me as he tucked his sunglasses into the collar of his shirt. “Long time no see.”
I stood straight, squaring my shoulders. I refused to cower in his presence. He’d hurt me once but I wouldn’t let him hurt me again.
“Yes, well, that’s typically what happens when one up and leaves their pregnant wife.”
He rubbed his jaw, trying to appear unaffected. “You always did have a mouth on you.”
“And you never did like that, did you?”
He stepped closer and I clasped my hands together in the hope that he wouldn’t notice how badly they shook.
He picked up a bracelet; twisting it around in the light like it was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen. “A woman should listen to her husband.”
“And I guess you also believe it’s okay for a husband to hit his wife.” I stepped behind the counter, using it as a barrier between us.
He grinned, noticing the gesture.
“Yes, I do believe that’s okay, especially when his wife is a nagging, defying bitch.” He replaced the bracelet and stared at me, waiting for me to make some kind of response. It was a great effort not to roll my eyes.
“Why are you here?” I finally asked, lifting my arms in resignation. He was obviously here for a reason and I’d rather he get to the point instead of dragging it out with his stupidity.
“To see my daughter.”
I snorted. “Don’t be absurd.”
His thick brows furrowed together. “She’s my daughter. I have as much right as you to see her.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted my chin. “I’m pretty sure you gave up that right when you abandoned her before birth. Not that I’m complaining,” I hastened to add, “the best thing you ever did for me was leave.”
He snarled, his nostrils flaring. “You’re a real bitch.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Coming from you that means nothing.”
His eyes narrowed to thin slits and he snarled. Once upon a time that look on his face would’ve sent me running. Not anymore. I wasn’t his prisoner and I wouldn’t allow him to think he intimidated me—even if on the inside I was scared to death.
“You never knew when you should shut your mouth.”
“Get out,” I pointed over his shoulder at the door, “you have no right to come to my job and try to berate me.”
He shook his head, his lips lifting in a sneer. “Make me.”
“You’re such a child.” I huffed under my breath.
He stepped up to the counter, laying his hands flat on the surface.
“I will see my daughter.” He growled. “And if you don’t watch your fucking mouth you’ll never see her again.” He began to back away. “It was good seeing you.”
I scowled at him, my lips twisted as I held back the words I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to yell and tell him he’d never see or get close enough to lay his hands on her, but I knew he wanted a rise from me and I refused to give it to him. He could go fuck himself.
“Goodbye, Todd.” My voice was cold and detached.
He braced his body against the door and chuckled under his breath. “I’ll see you later.”
Ice slithered down my veins as he exited the store and disappeared around the corner.
The adrenaline that had been surging through my veins only moments before suddenly disappeared and I was left feeling cold and shaky. I couldn’t
believe that had just happened. I blinked my eyes and pinched my arm, wanting to believe it was a bad dream, but it was most definitely real.
Todd was back.
“Momma,” Mia called from the backseat, “turn up da song. I wike dis one.”
I did as she asked, wishing the music could drown out my racing thoughts. Somewhere in the back of my mind I registered that it was a Willow Creek song playing on the radio, but I couldn’t even take a moment to enjoy it because all I could think about was Todd.
It all made sense now.
The guy Mia saw staring at her in the grocery store.
Hayes saying it looked like someone had messed with my front door.
If Todd had gone that far before even speaking to me it scared me to consider what he might be capable of.
My eyes flickered to Mia smiling happily in the backseat and kicking her feet. Keeping her safe would always be my number one priority and there was no way in hell I was going to let Todd anywhere near her.
My knuckles turned white where I gripped the steering wheel and I pulled in a lungful of air, trying to calm myself. I was supposed to meet Hayes for dinner after he finished band practice—or whatever it was that the guys were up to. We wouldn’t be going out for dinner, instead we’d be having dinner with Ezra’s mom and dad—who were also Maddox and Mathias’ foster parents. I’d met Karen and Paul a few months ago at Maddox and Emma’s wedding. Karen had been kind and welcoming to me, despite the fact that she’d never met me before that day. Hayes was close with them though, they were almost like second parents, and he’d wanted me to get to know them better.
I turned into the neighborhood, glancing in awe at the large homes. They weren’t monstrous by any means, but they were certainly bigger than what I lived in, though smaller than Hayes’ home.
I pulled into the driveway of the beautiful white cape cod style home and smiled at Mia in the rearview mirror. “Ready, baby girl?”
She nodded, curly hair bouncing.
I helped her out of her car seat and then held her hand as we climbed the steps of the front porch.
“Do you want to ring the bell?” I asked her.
She nodded eagerly, beaming with a gaped toothed smile. I lifted her onto my hip and leaned forward so she could push the button. I quickly grabbed her hand and held it in mine before she could get too excited and push the bell ten more times.
Within seconds the door swung open, revealing Karen. Her smile was blinding—like she was absolutely thrilled to see us—and she stepped back, waving us inside.
I inhaled the homey scent of a roast baking and suppressed the urge to moan. I’d been too busy stressing over Todd to eat lunch and now I was starving.
“Hello, Arden.” She chimed. “It’s so nice to see you. And you,” she turned her smile to Mia, “must be Ms. Mia. Hayes has told us all about you.”
“He did?” She asked shyly, burying her face in the crook of my neck and peeking at Karen through the thick strands of my hair.
“He has,” Karen assured her, unfazed by her shyness. “I’m baking some cookies for dessert. Would you like to help me?”
She waited patiently, letting Mia ponder her words. Finally, a full minute later, Mia nodded and I set her down.
“You’re welcome to help too, Arden,” Karen lifted her gaze to me as she held her hand out to Mia, “but I figured you’d want to join everyone in the basement. The girls are here too.”
“Uh,” I hedged, unsure with whether or not I felt comfortable leaving Mia with a virtual stranger.
Karen smiled thoughtfully. “I’ve been in your position before. It’s hard to let go of our little ones. Especially when they’re not little for long.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “It’s been the two of us for so long that it’s hard for me to let someone else help.”
She nodded, staying quiet and letting me work through my inner turmoil.
“Mia, will you be okay with Mrs. Collins for a little while?”
If Mia wasn’t comfortable with me leaving, I wouldn’t—and frankly, after Todd showed up at the store it was a little unnerving to have her out of my sight for even a second.
Mia looked up at Karen with wide blue eyes, seeming to assess her in that quiet knowing way kids had about them, and then nodded at me.
“If you need me,” I told Karen, “just let me know.”
“We’ll be fine.” Karen assured me, leading Mia down the hall towards the kitchen. “They’re down there.” She pointed at a door and smiled at me over her shoulder before she disappeared.
Once they were in the kitchen I heard Mia ask her what kind of cookies they were making. I smiled to myself, pleased that she was getting better about speaking to people.
Before I could talk myself out of it I reached for the basement door and headed downstairs.
I could hear the twinkling sounds of the girls laughing and some of the tension began to leak from my body.
I rounded the corner and saw the three of them sitting in a nicely decorated living room space—complete with a massive flat screen TV and sectional.
“Hey!” Emma grinned when she saw me and waved me over to the couch. “You’re here for dinner?” She asked eagerly.
I nodded, tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear as I took a seat. “Yeah. Hayes invited me…that’s okay, right?” I was suddenly nervous as I eyed the three girls.
“Of course! I just can’t believe he didn’t tell us you were coming over. He was probably hoping he could manage to keep you all to himself.” Emma winked.
“What are the guys doing?” I wiggled around, trying to get comfortable, and ended up with my legs crossed beneath me. “All Hayes told me was that they were in the studio, but I don’t really know what that means.”
Emma hastened to explain. “They have a studio here in the basement so they don’t have to stay in L.A. all the time, so right now they’re putting the final touches on their album so it’ll be ready to release in a few months.”
“Ah, I see.” I turned my gaze to Remy where she bounced a fussy Liam. I couldn’t believe how big he was getting already, but that was the thing with kids, you blinked and suddenly they weren’t babies anymore. “Can I hold him?” I asked, a little uncertain. I remembered when Mia was born how I was terrified to let a stranger hold her. Heck, I even freaked out over letting my mom and dad hold her and they were my parents.
“Sure,” Remy held him out to me, “but be warned, he can scream like a banshee. He’s already moody like his dad.”
The baby squirmed in my arms, clearly not happy to leave his mom. I stroked his plump cheek and cooed softly to help calm him. He gazed up at me with wide blue eyes, his dark brown hair making them appear even bluer.
His lower lip trembled with the threat of tears and I began to rock him. He quickly settled and I smiled down at him.
“Sometimes I miss Mia being this little. I mean, it was hard taking care of a baby by myself, but when they’re this small…every little thing they do is so special.”
It was quiet around me and I looked up to see that the guys had appeared and Hayes was staring at me with such intensity I was surprised I didn’t combust on the spot.
“How’s the recording going?” I asked as I rubbed my fingers along the soft downy hair coating Liam’s head.
Hayes took a seat beside me, between Emma and I—well technically it was Maddox now, since he’d taken Emma’s spot and deposited her in his lap.
“Good. I think we’re all excited to release something new.”
“Does this mean you’ll be going on tour soon?” I inquired, staring at the baby so he wouldn’t know how curious I was about his answer.
“Nah,” I felt him shrug, “it’ll be a few more months before the new album is out—these things take time, and then it’ll probably be another six or so months after that before we’re ready for a tour, maybe longer since everyone keeps popping out babies.” He glanced towards Sadie and Ezra.
&nbs
p; Sadie held up her hands in defense. “Don’t look at me. He’s not getting any babies out of me until he puts a ring on it.”
Ezra laughed under his breath and leaned over to whisper something in her ear. Sadie batted at his shoulder and pushed him away, but couldn’t feign being mad for long as she leaned over to kiss him quickly.
Hayes reached for one of Liam’s sock covered feet and gave it a little tug. “He’s so small.”
“Do you want to hold him?” I asked.
His eyes widened and he frowned, unsure. “What if I break him?”
I laughed and Liam blinked his wide blue eyes up at me, clearly not happy with being disturbed. “You don’t worry about breaking Mia.”
Hayes wiggled uncomfortably where he sat. “Yeah, but Mia is like a tiny person. And she can talk. Babies just spit on themselves and poop their pants. It’s scary.”
Mathias and Remy laughed at his discomfort. “He’s yet to hold Liam,” Remy informed me.
“Oh, you’re definitely holding him then. Lift your arms like mine.”
“He’s going to fall through,” Hayes muttered, “I have long arms.”
“That’s why you cradle him.” I bit my lip to contain another bout of laughter at his expense.
Hayes looked like a deer caught in headlights. “I don’t want to drop him.”
“You’re not going to drop him.” I held Liam out and placed him in Hayes’ waiting arms.
Hayes’ eyes widened with panic.
“It’s okay,” I assured him, “he’s not as breakable as he looks. Just be sure to support his neck.”
Hayes gazed nervously down at the squirming baby. “Uh…”
“He’s a baby,” I giggled, “he’s going to move.”
“I’m afraid he’s going to roll out of my arms.”
Mathias cackled merrily somewhere to my left. “I never thought you’d be the one of us most afraid of a baby.”
“Dude, shut up,” Hayes groaned, staring at the baby so intensely it was like he was willing him not to move, “go iron one of your nerdigans like a dutiful little housewife.”
Mathias laughed even harder. “That’s the best comeback you have?” He shook his head. “You’re losing your touch.”
Take A Chance Page 14
