“Yes,” he breathes out.
I close my eyes and take a breath of relief.
“Rachel, I want you home. And I want you to bring back our boys.”
Chapter 42
Karan
I’m pacing back and forth in our hallway, rubbing my beard almost obsessively, when the sounds of footsteps up the outside stairs finally make it to my ears.
They’rehere.
The door bursts open, and in a few long strides, I meet my family with wide open arms. I close my eyes as we embrace like this, and the boys somehow detect that I need this moment and decide to keep still instead of squiggling their way out of my arms.
In a deep inhale, I bask in the sweet strawberry scent of Rachel’s hair and in the familiar smell of both my boys, mingled with the fresh scent of snow and cool air.
“I love you,” I whisper to them.
“I love you too, Daddy,” Cayce says first.
“Me too,” Corey follows.
“I love you,” Rachel says, “and I’m here.”
I pull away from the family hug and grab Rachel’s face with both hands, pressing a deep kiss on her lips.
“I shouldn’t have sent you away, Rach. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Her hand strokes mine over her face.
“No, it’s not.” I kneel and pick up Cayce and Corey—one boy with each arm—to kiss the tops of their heads. “I’m going to do my best to be better from now on.”
“Karan,” Rachel gasps, looking at Cayce and Corey, then back at me while lowering her voice. “It’s okay if you’re… not okay.”
She ruffles the boys’ hair with a forced smile. “Boys, take off your winter stuff and go play, won’t you?”
“Okay, Mom!” both twins cry out in tandem.
They both shrug out of their jackets, boots, and hats in record speed before sprinting towards their bedroom.
Rachel and I are left alone. I stand, and as soon as I’ve got a solid footing, I reach my arms around Rachel and bring her in close.
I’m completely blind to what the future holds. That sinking terror still has its claws in me at the thought of how I’m going to provide for my boys in the way they deserve now that I’ve burned the bridge at True Keys.
And I don’t know if I have the capacity to do it.
I can’t claim responsibility for any of my best achievements. Not when I wasn’t truly in the driver’s seat.
Now that the drivers themselves are disappointed in me and no longer on speaking terms with us, what do I do?
I hold on to the best thing that’s ever happened to me. That’s all I can do.
“Karan.” Rachel pulls away from our embrace to look up at me, her green eyes glittering with unshed tears. “I’ve been so, so hard on you over the last year, and although I’m glad we’re okay now, I’m realizing I might have hurt you more than I thought.”
“You could never hurt me.” I sweep a long strand of silky chestnut hair behind her ear. “You were hard on me, but it was deserved. You were right about it all.”
“Not about everything.” She sinks her face into my chest and sighs. “Karan, I swear to you, I wil—”
