Harper’s eyes glassed over. He cleared his throat and refused to let the tears fall as he held the boys back. “Sure.”
The boys cheered, and then they were off again, squealing as they bolted down the hallway.
I reached for his hand, and he gave it to me, our fingers threading together as I led him further into the house.
Rachel was in the living room. “There he is.” She got up, storming over and yanking Harper into a hug. “Welcome home, idiot.”
Harper huffed but returned her hug.
“Is Ma in the kitchen?” I asked.
Rachel nodded. “Yeah, she’s bein’ gross with Matt, so I’m hidin’ in here.”
I gagged, but we both knew it was all for show. We were happy that Ma had Matthew now. She deserved to have love again, and Matthew was an amazing guy.
Sure enough, when I pulled Harper along to the kitchen, I saw exactly what Rachel had been talking about.
Ma’s wheelchair had been pushed to the side, and Matthew had lifted her onto the counter, a chopping board balanced on her lap with diced vegetables as she ordered him around her kitchen. He seemed quite pleased with the arrangement, and so did she.
Harper tucked himself further in behind me. I cleared my throat to catch their attention.
“You’re late,” Ma said as she turned to look at us. “Get over here.”
Harper tensed. I stepped to the side so he couldn’t hide from her anymore, and he sent me a brief look of betrayal before his eyes flicked back to Ma.
They tracked over her injuries. Most of the bruising was gone already, but both her legs were still in casts and would be for another couple of weeks before she could escape the wheelchair.
“Are you goin’ to come here, boy, or are you gonna make me come to you?” she asked, sounding stern.
Harper swallowed and took a few steps closer.
“Closer,” Ma demanded.
He took another few steps.
Ma put the chopping board to the side, then held her hand out to Harper.
He looked at it cautiously for a moment before he reached out to take it.
The moment she had a hold of him she was yanking him into her with surprising strength. Her arms closed around him.
A moment later, and he was trembling. “I’m sorry, Ma,” he sobbed.
“Shhh. It ain’t your fault, baby. You hear me?” Her hand rubbed circles over his back. “It ain’t your fault.” She placed a kiss to the top of his head. “I’m just happy to have you home with your family again, where you belong.”
He cried harder. Matthew pulled the saucepan off the stove so he could come and wrap his arms around the both of them.
“Group hug!” I yelled at the top of my voice. Then I joined them. A moment later Rachel was in the kitchen with us too, finding a spot she could fit into the hug. Then two tiny humans were crashing into the side of me as Lachlan and Harvey laughed hysterically.
The hug lasted a long time, and when we all pulled away, more eyes were damp than not.
“Right, now get outta my kitchen so we can finish cookin’,” Ma said, as she smacked Harper on the backside.
He huffed and turned into me instead. His body wasn’t as tense, and I knew without asking that he already felt lighter.
Dinner had passed the way it always did, with small talk, laughter, and teasing.
Harper was quiet for most of it, but it was a good type of quiet.
