Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
My fingers moved.
I miss you.
I hit send and a second later, I saw three dots. Rex was not asleep either. Elation filled me. The feeling of loneliness disappeared.
Rex: I miss you too. Kayden was asking about you today. He was worried you’d gone for good.
Me: Would never happen.
Rex: Shall I call you?
Me: No.
Rex: How was your day?
Me: I’m not sure.
Rex: Tell me what’s wrong, babe. Whatever it is, we’ll work it out together.
Me: Had too much to drink. Should go to sleep. Big kiss to Kayden. And you.
Rex: Goodnight. I’m here for you.
Me: I know.
I turned off the lights and pulled the covers over my head. God, I loved him so much it hurt. I must be like Jessica. I must put his and Kayden’s happiness before my own. No matter what, I’m not going to mess up that poor kid’s life.
The tears came then. I cried into my pillow until my head ached and eventually sleep overtook me.
I dreamed of my mother. I was an adult, but she looked exactly as she had been when I was a child. We were standing on a hill.
“Dad thinks you’re dead,” I told her.
“Clearly, I’m not,” she said, smiling. Then she reached into a suitcase that was lying on the ground and pulled out my blue blouse. It looked as new as the day she had given it to me.
“How is that possible? She ripped it in half, Mom,” I cried, surprised.
“A stitch in time saves nine. Nothing is torn forever, my darling,” my mother replied.
I woke up then.
I didn’t know what the dream meant, but there was a strange peace in my heart. I slid out of bed and walked over to the sliding doors. Opening them I went out onto the balcony. It was freezing cold and dark. The inky black sky was full of bright stars, and it felt as if I was the only person awake in the whole world.
I breathed in the cold air and let it fill my lungs.
So… Nicole hated me because I reminded her that my father still loved my mother. Well, Kayden didn’t remind me of Jessica. Not one bit. When I looked at him, I just saw an adorable kid, Rex’s kid. Also, I knew for certain Rex didn’t love Jessica. She was just a fling to him. I felt no jealousy, nothing, when I thought about her. If anything, I admired her selfless action of making sure her son was in good hands before she passed on.
I thought about little Kayden.
Could I really be a mother to him?
Maybe. Maybe I’ll give it a try. If I sucked as a stepmother, I could always walk away then, but at the very least, I should give it a try.
52
WILLOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0pdQU87dc8
“Willow, it’s us,” an overly excited little voice said. It sounded so terribly close that I clamped a hand to my mouth to stop myself from crying.
“Kayden?” I whispered.
“Yes,” he shouted.
He was close. But it couldn’t be.
Then Rex’s voice came on. “Willow, we’re in the lobby. Hope you’re decent because we’re coming up.”
I jumped out of bed so fast, my head spun. I ran to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Jesus, I looked like death warmed over. I pulled on the big fluffy robe hanging behind the door while I ran a brush through my hair and swished the hotel’s minty blue liquid in my mouth. No time for lip gloss. I pinched my pale cheeks, ran to the door, and flung it open. They were not waiting outside, so I put something to jar the door open and dashed over to the elevator.
Questions swam in my mind. What were they doing here? Why did they come?
Oh my God. I couldn’t believe I was going to see that face I dreamed of and longed for all night. I bounced from one foot to another.
The elevator pinged, then opened and they emerged. Kayden ran straight into me, almost knocking me down.
“Kayden,” I cried, bending to hug him. “You’ve grown taller.” He really felt as if he had too. I kissed his head over and over again while he twisted restlessly in my arms.
I let go of his squirming body and raised my gaze up to Rex. I swear, I stopped breathing when our gazes met. He had shadows under his eyes. Had he not slept? And yet he looked so ruggedly handsome.
“Hi,” I whispered.
Kayden freed himself of my loosening hold and confidently ran into the suite.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“I am now,” I said, standing up. “Come on in.”
“Are you sure?” Rex asked, his voice filled with emotion.
I didn’t understand what he was asking. “About entering the suite?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “If I enter, I won’t leave you. Saying yes means that you want us in your life as much as we want you. I was a fool not to insist on coming with you when I saw clearly you were hurting and shouldn’t be alone. I love you, Willow… with every fiber of my being, and I don’t want to go one more day without you.”