Beau flinches. “It feels like I never really knew her.”
“She’s perfected being whoever that person wants from her,” I say sadly. “No fault of her own, my father made her that way.
My mom sighs. “Beau, I’m sorry you got caught up in our family drama. At the end of the day, only one person is truly hurt by this.”
All of our attention goes over to Theo. He’s laughing at something, and my nose tingles with the need to cry again. Beau wraps his arm around me, and I lean into his chest.
“Maybe this is the way it was supposed to be. I didn’t want to move on from you, but I knew I had to. She was the first one to draw my interest, and maybe that’s just what was meant to happen. She led me to you and Theo either way. I can hold resentment for the deceit, but I’d never take back this weekend. I’m thankful for the way it turned out, and now I believe this is how it should be. I want you, and I want Theo. I want to be a part of this family.”
My throat aches at his words and I nod, hugging him tighter.
“Perhaps we should let Kayla and Theo have their time together and you can help me prepare lunch, Beau?” my mom offers.
Beau kisses my forehead and lets go to follow her into the kitchen while I head to my son. He looks up as I sit on the couch by his feet. He pulls his headphones off with a smile.
“Hi, Mommy!”
It tugs at my heart and I grin at him. “Hi, baby. Did you have fun the last two nights with Grandma and Auntie Kendall?”
He nods. “We had lots of soda.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Did you? Huh. Well that’s exciting.”
Theo looks toward where we were standing with Beau, and frowns. “Who is that, Mommy?”
Patting the cushion next to me, he moves closer, snuggling into my side. I stroke his hair away from his forehead. “Remember how I said your daddy was super far away, and he couldn’t get home just yet?”
He nods, his eyes widening with earnest hope.
My stomach turns, knowing everything is going to change going forward, and while I can assume it will be for the best, we still don’t know. I must take too long to answer before he sits up.
“He’s my daddy!” Theo exclaims.
A laugh escapes my throat. “Yeah, buddy. He’s your daddy, and he’s been very excited to meet you. How do you feel about meeting him?”
Theo nods excitedly, then his little face crumbles a bit. “I don’t know.”
I pull him into my lap, hugging him tightly. “It’s okay to be a little scared. How about I stay with you the entire time? I’ll hold your hand.”
The tiny child that holds my heart gives me a weak “okay” before sliding off my lap to stand. I grab his hand, bringing him into the kitchen. Beau looks up from where he’s cutting tomatoes, swallowing harshly before looking down at Theo. He sets the knife down, wiping his hands on his pants and coming around the counter peninsula. He kneels in front of Theo, keeping his arm at his side.
“Hi, Theo. My name is Beau.”
Theo squeezes my hands, and I squeeze back before kneeling at his side.
“Can you tell Beau ‘hi’ back?”
He shakes his head, tucking his face into my neck. I give Beau a small smile, and he smiles back, watching me with our son.
“No worries, buddy. How about you go back to watching your videos, and then maybe we can sit next to each other at lunch? How does that sound?”
Theo looks up before giving him a small nod. My mom puts her hand to her chest before whirling around to get back to cooking. Beau grins wider.
“Awesome. I’ll save you a seat then.”
Theo rushes back to the couch, and I stand slowly, giving Beau a bruised look.
“Sorry that didn’t go better.”
