“Alice told me what happened. I stayed inside so I’d be there when the appointment ended.”
“And?” Jamie asked.
“Paul hit on Madi, but I was there to remind him she was spoken for.”
“Is she okay?” John asked.
“A little shaken, but she powered through it like a champ.”
Three identical grins appeared on three very different faces.
“I take it from this porch meeting that you’re not camping on my couch tonight?”
“No, Madi thinks I should go home.”
“Will you?” Jamie asked.
I looked toward my truck. It wouldn’t be the worst place I’d slept.
“I haven’t decided.”
“You should go home. Madi’ll have our heads if she thinks we told you to camp out here,” John said.
“Nathan, Dad, Cate, and I will be here until they go to bed,” Jay added.
Knowing they’d protect her at all costs made me feel better about leaving Madi.
And I could use a good night’s sleep.
“Call me if you need anything.”
Jay laughed. “If I get spit up on again, I just may take you up on that.”
“Go home and get some rest,” John ordered.
Chapter 35
Madi
Caring for Emily and the twins after a long, Paul-induced stressful day drained me in a way working twenty-four-hour rotations in the Navy never had. The only thing that kept me going was my love for my family.
I should have accepted Matt’s offer to stay and help.Hindsight is twenty-twenty. While I’d recognized his contribution the night before and appreciated his help—he’d been so quiet,stealthy—I’d failed to comprehend just how much I needed him.
Emily was getting stronger, but hadn’t healed enough to hold the twins without help and it tore her to pieces.
As if they hadn’t suffered enough, Emily felt like a failure and needed constant reassurance from Jamie that she hadn’t disappointed him.Fucking Asshat Craig. Despite all her healing, the abuse he’d subjected her to still affected her.
People filled Jamie’s house until eleven, so I didn’t notice Matt’s absence until now.
Now, it’s just me. And the colicky babies always needed something.
I tapped my phone to see the time. One-twenty-six.
As I dragged my feet to the babies’ room, I chastised myself again for refusing Matt’s offer.
“Another set of hands would be useful right about now.”Stupid stubborn streak.
Emily was sitting on the hall bathroom floor crying, so I sent Jamie to comfort her.
