Before I could even breathe, Shiloh saw his opening and launched himself into my arms.
“Heyyy, Mommy’s handsome face.” I laughed, catching him easily. I smothered him in kisses, his little giggles melting straight into my chest. Moments like this right here made everything worth it. When he finally settled against me, I bent down, eyes meeting S3’s.
“There’s my big guy,” I said softly, giving him my full attention, my heart overflowing.
He’d been with us consistently ever since Imani vanished like she never existed. I asked Seth about it once, maybe twice, and he swore he didn’t know what happened to her. I believed him. Truly. So, I let it go and never pressed the issue again.
Still, I noticed the quiet moments. The way S3 would ask about her sometimes. Not often but enough to have my mind wonder. On those days, and even on the days he didn’t say a word, I made sure to love him a little harder. Wrap him up a little tighter. Just in case.
“Hey, my big boy,” I said softly, crouching down to his level. “Everything okay?”
Those innocent eyes, the same copy and paste face he shared with Seth, looked up at me before he spoke.
“Daddy wouldn’t wait while I found my Hulk,” S3 snitched...
I bit back a smile and looked up at Seth. He just shook his head. “I told him we were gonna be late.”
“Well,” I said, straightening up, “guess who got a Hulk and a Spider-Man sitting in her truck?”
S3’s whole face lit up like Christmas morning. “You do?” he asked, excitement bubbling over now.
“I do.” I smiled. “Come on. Let’s go get ’em.”
I grabbed his hand, and before we could take more than two steps, Seth spoke up.
“Stormi, they waiting on you,” he said, nodding toward RJ, who was already waving me over.
I didn’t even slow down. “Let ’em wait,” I said firmly. “My son wants his action figures.”
I headed toward the back parking lot, S3’s hand in mine, Shiloh resting comfortably in my arms, my heart full in a way only moments like this could make it. Business could wait; family always came first. We left Seth standing there, looking a little lost.
I didn’t care about the cameras, the reporters, or the family and friends waiting out front. Let them wait. The grand opening wasn’t going anywhere. But if my boys needed me for anything, I showed up every time. That was a promise I made to myself. I wanted the businesses, I wanted a career, but I also wanted my family. I wanted to be a wife. Balance was the only way this life worked.
Grabbing S3 his action figures would take less than five minutes. Five minutes now was better than dealing with a pouting attitude throughout the entire grand opening.
As we got closer to my truck, my steps slowed. Someone was standing by the driver’s door wearing an all-black hoodie pulled low. Body turned just enough to block their face while they leaned against the window, leaving something behind.
My instincts kicked in instantly. I pulled my boys closer, my heart slamming, and started backing up.
“Come here,” I whispered sharply.
Before I could react, S3 yanked his hand free and took off running.
“Noah!” he screamed, full speed toward the truck.
Everything in me froze. Then I saw him straighten up. I exhaled the breath I’d been holding once I recognized my brother.
“Dammit, Noah,” I muttered, my body finally unlocking as I walked closer, still cautious, still alert. Because out here, even family could show up wrapped in evil shadows.
“What are you doing back here?” I asked immediately, my voice low.
Noah glanced at me before peeling an envelope off my driver’s side window and holding it out. “Wanted to leave you something.”
I took it, eyes narrowing. “What’s this?”
“Just read it tonight,” he said. “After your grand opening.”
I studied his face. He looked different.
