I couldn’t be sure, but I thought I saw a face pressed against the window behind us, watching our every move, but right now I didn't have time to worry about that. I had to get Skye putting one foot in front of the other.
With her feet firmly on the ground, Skye wrapped her arms around my waist before burrowing her head against my chest. Without thinking about when or where or who might see us, I hugged her back tightly whispering in her ear that it would be okay. That no matter what happened, at the end of the day I’d still be standing here, right beside her, ready to catch her if she fell.
When she lifted her head, her eyes had softened and her breathing, the short sharp pants that had been escaping her beautiful lips, seemed to have steadied. Thank fuck. I was already freaking out but I couldn’t show her that. I had to be the strong one here for both of us.
Cupping her cheeks in my hands, I placed a soft kiss against her forehead. “You can do this, Skye. We can do this,” I attempted to reassure her.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yeah. Okay. Let’s do this.”
Skye pushed up on her tiptoes and placed a quick kiss on my lips before letting go and tangling her fingers with mine, possibly a little tighter than was needed but I wasn’t game enough to complain.
Turning around, we faced the house and for the first time, I saw Marianne standing on the porch with her dog at her feet.
Shit!
She’d just seen all of that.
Skye must’ve noticed her the same time I did, because she went to pull away but I wasn’t letting her. We weren’t doing anything wrong and I refused to let anyone tell us otherwise. If Marianne had a problem with it, then she could speak up. And what I knew of her, that’s something she wouldn’t back down from.
Squeezing Skye’s hand, I led her down the front path towards the door.
“Morning.” She smiled as we got closer.
“Hi, Marianne,” Skye replied, her voice higher than I’d ever heard it.
“Come give me a hug,” she insisted and Skye dropped my hand and moved towards her obediently.
Marianne hugged her in a way only a mother could, watching me over Skye’s shoulder. I buried my hands in the pockets of my jeans and rocked on the balls of my feet, completely unsure what to do.
When she eventually let Skye go, Skye bent down and ruffled the ears of the sleepy Labrador at Marianne’s feet. Inside I could hear the crying of a baby.
“Well, Hayden. Don’t be shy. Get up here.”
I followed Skye’s lead and hugged Marianne tightly, breathing in her baby powder scent. It hadn’t changed from the first moment I’d met her and thankfully, I don't think it ever would. Marianne was an amazing woman with her own peculiar sense of style. Every time I’d met her, she’d worn these gaudy earrings that dangled halfway down her neck making me wonder how she kept her head up.
When Marianne shuddered in my arms a wave of guilt washed over me and I regretted coming. I should’ve told Skye to come on her own. Seeing me must be bringing up all sorts of memories for Marianne, ’cause it sure as shit was bringing them up for me. Eventually she let me go and I stepped back, sitting my butt down on the porch railing.
It was a beautiful day in Texas and so completely different to Chicago. Above us was a bright blue cloudless sky. There wasn’t a breath of wind. Everything seemed still, peaceful almost. When I heard the sound of a dog barking in the distance, I couldn’t help but smile. I was so used to city living with the sounds of sirens and cars everywhere, space and peace weren’t luxuries I was used to. But strangely enough, I could see the appeal.
“So, how long have you two been…?” Marianne asked directly, pointing her finger between the two of us.
Skye tried to put distance between us, but fuck that. Snagging her wrist, I tugged her to my side and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, holding her against me.
“Not long,” I confirmed, offering her a smile, praying she didn’t hate us, especially Skye. Skye would be shattered if Marianne didn’t approve.
“Marianne, I would never have…”
I felt Skye tremble in my arms as she squeaked out the words.
Marianne took a step towards us and reached for Skye’s hand. “I know, sweetheart. I know,” she confirmed, patting Skye’s hands.
“Come on. Let’s go on inside. Kellie’s made some tea.”
“I need my baby Cassie cuddles,” Skye said with a huge smile on her face.
