I have to admit, my heart sank.
“I’m going to make love to you, Skye,” Hayden said so sweetly, and anything that was holding me back suddenly evaporated.
“Hayden.”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“I love you too. I know I already said it, but I just wanted to make sure you knew…”
“I do,” he promised before kissing me.
It took us three hours before we were dressed and back in the car. We’d laid in bed, talking and kissing and talking some more. Hayden told me what he’d learnt and to say he left me speechless was an understatement. Never in a million years would I have guessed it’d end up the way it had. Now we just had to break the news to Marianne and Kellie.
Sitting in the front of the cab, I tried to tug my dress down my legs, but Hayden’s grip kept me from covering up.
“How do you think they’re going to take it?” I asked him.
“Honestly? I think their heads are going to spin.”
“Understandable. I’m not sure mine’s stopped yet,” I admitted.
We pulled up out the front of Marianne’s home and just like yesterday, the nerves were overwhelming me. How had it only been twenty-four hours since we’d first come here? So much had changed. So much had happened. It felt like a lifetime really.
“I feel like we should’ve brought something,” I told Hayden as I unbuckled my belt.
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. Whisky. Bourbon. Tequila.”
“Come on. It’s not going to be that bad,” Hayden tried again to convince me. “Okay. Maybe it will be, but hopefully it brings them some closure.”
“That’s the only silver lining in this whole shit show,” I mumbled as I gathered my bag.
Hayden knocked on the door and I stood behind him. Knowing what had to be done and doing it were two very, very different things. The truth was, I was afraid. Marianne had already been so patient, so kind, so accepting, I wondered if this would push her over the edge.
I guess I was about to find out.
“Come on in, you two. You don’t have to knock,” she scolded, holding open the screen and ushering us inside.
Letting go of Hayden’s hand, I moved automatically towards where Kellie sat, nursing Cassie. “Can I have a snuggle?” I asked hopefully.
Was I using the baby as a shield from what was about to go down? Absolutely. Was I ashamed of myself for doing it? No, but I probably should be.
“So, you guys going home tomorrow?” Kellie asked as she handed her daughter over.
Hayden was pacing on the other side of the room. Even though I’d been the one freaking out, seeing him anxious kinda made me feel better in a weird twisted way. I wasn’t the only one worried.
“Marianne. Kellie. Can I talk to you for a minute, please? I’ve got some news,” Hayden stated in a big, strong voice.
“Sure,” Kellie agreed, sounding anything but sure.
“What is it, Hayden?” Marianne replied, coming into the room and setting the tray with what I now recognized as sweet tea down in the center of the table before sitting on the couch next to Kellie.
“Shit! I don't know where to start,” Hayden muttered rubbing the back of his neck.
“Hayden honey, what’s going on?” Marianne encouraged.
He looked over at me and all I could do was nod. It didn’t matter how he told them, the outcome wouldn’t change.
