Love's Suicide(98)

I reached down under the covers, first touching his thigh and then what was waiting in between. He got ready to say something else, when we heard someone climbing off the bed next to us. Brooks noticed her first. He held out his arms for her to climb up and join us. “There’s my girl. Come up here. Let’s get Mama.”

She jumped up, already fueled with energy. I removed my hand and pulled the covers up over my body, so she wouldn’t see that we weren’t dressed. Brooks offering to tell his parents that he knew about B would definitely make me feel better. Then all I’d have to feel guilty for was leaving Branch at the alter after sleeping with Brooks.

They were still going to hate me anyway.

The most important thing was B’s safety. As long as we had a home to sleep in until I could figure things out, nothing else mattered. Even if they hated me, they’d love her.





Chapter 42

Pulling up in front of the house that I’d grown up in was bittersweet. My parent’s house next door was for sale again. Brooks got out and stretched before getting B out of the little back bench seat. Our eyes met before we walked up the sidewalk and he came around to take my hand. “We’re in this together, Kat.”

I was scared to death to see these people and even more concerned about life in general. With so much on my plate I worried if visiting them was even a good idea.

Brooks knocked on the door, and when I heard footsteps coming I began to freak out. I started to back up, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me back at his side.

The door opened and all eyes were on me. I couldn’t see what was happening, because Danica was already hugging me. “Katy, oh my God. I can’t believe it’s really you.” The tears were a given, and feeling her holding me made my worries all seem to begin to fade away.

Then I heard her gasp. I turned to see her looking at B. She was clinging to the strings of Brooks’ army hoodie and hiding her face.

Danica looked from me and then back to Brooks. He broke the silence. “Mom, I think you should let us in.”

She backed up, while staring at our daughter. Once we got into the foyer, B turned and started looking around. That’s when she knew, without a doubt, that the child was a Valentine. “I’d like you to meet my daughter, Brooklyn.”

The woman broke down, covering her mouth as she began to bawl. Brooks walked up and hugged his mother for the first time. When she pulled away, she just kept looking at her, crying. B swatted at her face. “No cry.”

Danica smiled and dried her eyes. “Hi. I’m your grandma, Brooklyn.”

“We call her B, so she doesn’t get confused when she hears my name,” Brooks explained.

Then Danica turned to me. I was a babbling mess, trying to manage the feelings of betraying them and also the lies that we were about to tell. “I’m so sorry,” was all I could come up with.

Then Walt walked into the room. He was looking down at his camera. “Sorry, I just needed to replace the batteries.” He looked up and saw us standing there, two women in tears, a son with a big smile, and a child completely confused.

“Hey, Dad. Long time no see.”

Brooks took my hand as he watched his dad look at B and then turn to me. Before he could ask, Brooks cleared his throat. “Look, we know we have a lot of explaining to do. Can we get settled for a while first? B needs a fresh diaper and I know she’s probably starving.”

Danica took over, going into complete parent mode. “I’ve already made a turkey, and Dad got those sweet rolls you both love.”

Brooks stopped her. “Mom. Breathe. I know it’s a lot to take in, but we’ll be here for a week, so how about we take a breather, go unpack and meet you in the dining room?”

She nodded. “Okay.”

B wanted to get down. She wriggled her way out of his arms and Brooks finally let her stand. She looked up at Danica and started swinging her body from side to side.

Danica bent down to her eye level. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Chocate mulk.” I laughed when I heard her respond.

Danica smiled while tears still ran down her cheeks. “Well, okay. Let’s go see if we can find some of that.” She looked up at me. “Is it okay? I can change her, if it helps?”

I handed her the bag. “Sure. Thank you.”

Walt walked over to me. It took him a second, but then he pulled me into his arms. “Welcome home, Katy.”

I clung to him, finally realizing that I never should have left. We were a family, after all, and we could have worked through things. “I missed you,” was all I could say. “I missed you so much.”

I was crying so hard that Walt couldn’t let go of me. Brooks finally came up and patted me on the back. “Let’s go up and get settled.”