“You could have eaten,” I tell him.
He shakes his head. “You two first.”
I hate that he feels that way—that he is now acting like the man of the house. I don’t know where he learned it from, though. Lord knows his father would never wait for us. In fact, Evan always demanded to be fed first because he paid for it.
“Nope. You two eat first. I’m the mom, remember.” I give him a small smile.
He gives me one nod, waiting as I make Emily’s plate. Once I’m done, he takes one pancake and two pieces of bacon.
I roll my eyes, putting more on his plate before making my own.
“Can we play outside today, Mommy?” Emily asks.
I frown. “I don’t know. I’ll have to see what it’s like out there before I make any decisions.”
“We are safe here, right?” Tanner asks, suddenly looking worried.
“Of course. I don’t know much about the area, though, and need to check it out.” I try to appease him.
He doesn’t ask any other questions.
Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door.
Tanner and I both freeze, Emily oblivious to the possible danger.
“I’ll get it,” I tell Tanner.
He looks like he might argue, but he doesn’t.
When I get close to the door, there’s another knock.
“It’s Mac,” a deep voice calls through the door.
With a shaky hand, I open it slightly.
He stands there in his faded jeans, a T-shirt, and some leather vest with his name on it.
“Hi,” I whisper, my voice breaking a little.
I wish I weren’t so scared of him. Here he is helping me, and I can’t be sure about him. I can’t trust him.
“Can you step out here for a minute and chat? I don’t want the kids to hear,” he says low.
I clear my throat. “Sure.”
It takes me a moment to get up the nerve to open the door wider. When I do, I step out quickly and shut the door behind me. My entire body is shaking, but I pretend it’s not.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you,” he says softly.
I nod, taking a deep breath. He stays quiet as I slowly am able to get the tremors under control.
“Sorry. Guess I’m still on edge. Was there something you needed?” I ask.
He studies me for several long moments. I hate that it has me wondering what he sees.
Does he see the woman I once was? The beauty everyone once claimed I was? Or does he see the broken single mom struggling to survive?
The thought that it’s the second makes me steel my nerves. I can’t let my kids down again. They need a champion. I will be that for them.
