"Oh, Ethan," I say, not even bothering to hold back the tears now. It's a losing battle.
"Tera," he whispers. "Thank you."
"I'm sorry it took so long," I reply.
"You're here now. That's all that matters," Ethan tells me, standing up, wiping his eyes. He looks to Linc and smirks. "Linc."
Linc pulls him into a hug, but this one doesn't have any of the slapping he had with Jesse and Kennedy. This one is an eye-closing, heart-thumping hug. I sigh inwardly. I knew it.
"Ethan," Linc murmurs.
They step back and just look at one another. No one's saying much of anything, yet the room is full of so many people. I look to the left and there's my mom.
"Mama!" I shout, running to her.
"Mija," she replies through tears. Then she continues on in Spanish, telling me how much she's missed me. How beautiful I am. How much Xander needs me so he'll smile again.
The scent of fresh earth and flowers wafts over me and my smile widens, my heart happy. I feelhome.Content.
"Papa," I whisper, turning to hug him tight. He looks the same, just a little grayer hair around the edges. But this is my papa.
"Baby girl. It's about time," he tells me.
We step back and that's when I realize the room is full of people, but no Xander.
I turn to Mama and Papa. “I’m on a mission.”
“Go, go,” Mama urges with a smile and a tear in her eye. “It is time.”
"All right, boys," I say to Kennedy and Ethan. "Lead me to my husband."
I hear feminine gasps, and I cringe inwardly. That is not going to go over well. Xander is in so much trouble, and we’re going to have so much to explain.
But first, Xander.
"This way," Kennedy says, taking my hand and leading me up the stairs, Ethan trailing behind with Linc.
I look at the painting at the top of the stairs.
“That’s one of mine! When did you get this? This was from my first show.”
Kennedy shrugs. “You gotta ask Jesse.”
“Jesse,” I whisper and smile.They have some of my work hanging in their home. A piece of me was here all along.
Ethan chuckles. "This… we gotta get this on camera."
"All set," Kennedy tells him, holding his phone. "I started rolling when Mrs. M spotted Tera."
"Thank you," I tell him.
"Of course. Now, let's do it this way. You stay right here. His room is on the other side of this wall, the door just around the corner. Let me and Ethan fuck with him a bit, first?" Kennedy asks.
"Far be it from me to deny you your mischief," I tell him with a snicker. I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans again. I'm so nervous. I've never been here. Yes, I've gone to him before at hotels or places he asked me to go before the attack, but never here to his home. The agoraphobia prevented that from happening, and truth be told, I’d been waiting for him to ask me to be with him. I told Dr. Wilson, my therapist, about the waiting and when she asked me why. I told her the truth: I wasn't sure he wanted me the way he once did. I wasn’t sure he’d want me here now that he has a new family. I’m wasn’t and still am unsure if I’ll fit in.
Those are things I’m here to find out, as well.
"Dude, you up?" Ethan bellows and pounds on the door. I have to stifle my laugh. I hear stomping, and Ethan winks at me.
