He pulled away from the rest area, and the rest of the day was just magical. Her heart felt lighter and happier, and suddenly it wasn’t like they were two single parents out with their kids. They were on a family outing. And when they got home, they were going to work on moving everyone into their cabin.
Theirs.
This was good. There wasn’t any doubt in her mind that this was going to be the greatest thing to ever happen. Everyone was happy and in love and ready to make a zillion plans for the future. The sky was the limit, and there wasn’t anything that could ruin her mood.
They rode the train, stopped for an early dinner, and when they pulled up to the resort, they decided not to let anyone know they were back.
“Why don’t we go and pack up just the essentials tonight, and work on the rest over the next few days?” he suggested as they climbed from the car.
“That sounds perfect,” she assured him.
They grabbed their luggage and got the kids to help with their own things before heading across the parking lot toward the cabins.
“How would you guys feel about all of us living in the same cabin?” Connor asked as they stepped onto the gravel path.
Annabeth turned to look at them, walking backwards, but smiling. “But I get to keep my own room, right? Jonah would get the small bedroom, right?”
Connor nodded, and Lexi didn’t take offense at her being a little territorial. After all, this was new to her too. “Your room is staying yours. Jonah will get the other bedroom, and tomorrow we’ll work on moving his bunk bed over and all his stuff. But for tonight, I thought we’d help them pack up a few things, and it will be like we’re extending our vacation. What do you say?”
“I love it!”
“Jonah? Buddy? What about you? Would you like to stay in the cabin with me and Annabeth?”
“Can I bring my toys?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay!”
It was so easy.
Almost too easy.
A tingle of unease niggled at her, but she brushed it off. It was just maybe that she was a little overwhelmed at having to move all their stuff again. She wanted to live with Connor, and if the resort wasn’t so busy, she would have jumped at the chance to move into someplace bigger. So…that’s all it was. It was just the move, and she was tired from their trip. Everything was fine.
“Dad, look! Grandma and Grandpa are here!” Annabeth called out as she ran toward the cabin.
Uh-oh…
She slowed her steps; thankful she was holding her son’s hand.
Connor walked ahead of her, unaware of her unease.
What she wanted to do was turn and walk to her own cabin and just disappear. She wasn’t ready for this, wasn’t ready to deal with facing them and seeing those phony smiles knowing how they really felt about her.
That was years ago…
Maybe. But somehow she doubted they were going to be thrilled with the woman she grew into—a broke single mother who had very little to her name.
Yeah, they weren’t going to be thrilled at all.
“Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?” Connor asked, though she could hear the warmth in his voice. He hugged them both and watched as they fussed over Annabeth.
She kept her distance, unsure of what she was supposed to do.
“We wanted to surprise you!” his mother said. “We got here yesterday, but Walker told us you were away with Annabeth and some friends. We’re going to stay for the grand opening!” She paused and spotted them, her smile firmly in place, but Lexi wasn’t buying it.
Oh, great. The Winslowes were here and they were staying.
