He must sense why my mood has shifted because he slowly rises and gives me enough room to get up and slide from the bed.
“Faith,” Henry’s husky voice warns, breaking through the silence. “Don’t let that photo freak you out. If this was going anywhere, then we have to work through this.”
My shoulders slump as I turn back toward him. “What if it wasn’t going anywhere, Henry?”
“Don’t do that. Don’t act like last night meant nothing when it meant so much to me.” I hear him sigh and can imagine him shaking his head back and forth. “You can’t do that to me.”
So many thoughts run through my head: Jeremy, my kids, the lump, what people will think. “I can’t do this right now. I’m sorry. I’ve got so much on my plate, Henry. That’s why I was never going to tell you. It’s too complicated. Everything is so messed up.”
He pulls me in for a hug, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “But you did, and I told you how I felt. You can’t discount that just because you saw the picture of you and Jeremy. It’s not a sign, Faith.”
Breaking away from his embrace, I step away and slip my pajama bottoms up and over my hips. “Please go. I need some time.”
“Faith, look at me.”
“I can’t.” I sniffle a cry. “Please. Just go. We’ll talk later.”
Chapter 5
The kitchen feels empty without the girls’ presence this morning. Right about now, there would be the aromas of bacon, eggs, and waffles being made like we do every Sunday. Their giggles would permeate the air, reminding me of the reasons why I need to live my best life and give them all of me. There is no time for anything else, especially when I could possibly be dealing with health issues. What I did last night was selfish, and I only hope that after Henry gets dressed, he leaves without putting up a fight.
“Faith?”
I guess not.
My eyes gaze up to the ceiling. I need to be strong; however, I begin to weaken when his hands slide around me from behind again, and his chin comes to rest atop my shoulder. The shaking in my knees begins as he whispers into my ear.
“Do you feel this?” he asks breathlessly. “Do you feel the pull between the two of us because I do, Faith. I feel it so strongly that I immediately gravitate toward you. I’m desperate for you. Desperate to touch you. Desperate to hear your voice. I’m desperate to take all of your worries and make them mine. God, Faith. Please turn around because I’m so desperate to kiss you.”
His words pierce through me, and I understand exactly how he feels because everything he is saying, everything he feels, I feel it, too. Without thinking, I spin around in his unrelenting arms and stare up into his eyes. I see it. I see the adoration, and I can’t help except to smile. His tongue wets his lips as they begin to descend onto mine. Just a brief second more, and everything changes. Every. Single. Thing.
“Faith!” a woman calls from the entryway. Henry jumps up back quickly while my hand flies to my chest, trying to calm my racing heart.
“Lida!” I whisper yell. Henry and I both freeze. “Oh my God.”
“Jeremy’s mom?” he asks, creating more space between us.
I wrap my robe around me tighter, waiting for the pitter-patter of my girls’ feet to start heading this way. “Yes, Jeremy’s mom! You need to go. Sneak out the back.”
Hurt. It’s written all over his face. I can sympathize. Less than thirty seconds ago, I was about to give everything to him, and now…now, I’m pushing him away once again.
He stops me in my tracks and grips my shoulders with his strong hands. “Faith, stay with me here. She was going to have to find out anyways.”
“Please go, Hen—” I begin.
“Henry!” Lida’s gentle voice fills the kitchen.
A half-hearted smile plasters itself atop of his disappointed face. “Mrs. Jensen.” He meets her halfway, bringing her into an embrace. “It’s nice to see you.”
Leaning back, she slaps Henry in the chest. “I’ve asked you to call me mom for years!” she corrects. “Or at least Lida like Faith calls me.”
Uncomfortable, I turn toward the fridge to grab the ingredients needed to make breakfast. I didn’t think she would bring the girls back before lunch. “You’re early.”
She takes a seat at my kitchen table and watches me as I prepare to cook. Her short brown hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, and one leg is crossed one over the other. “I figured you’d miss the girls. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
The quietness alerts me, and I look around, searching for my daughters, slightly afraid the two little minions will pop up at any moment. “Wherearethe girls?’” I ask, avoiding Henry’s piercing gaze. I can feel it on me, attempting to root me in place, but I push back and glance at Lida.
She’s looking at Henry, and I risk a peek.
