Noah’s Journey(9)

Stacey had called multiple times, asking when she could expect Austin home. I finally told her that he would be home when I decided to bring him. She hung up, mumbling something about me being an asshole. But my family had been denied Austin’s presence for his entire life, and I had no intention of cutting my visit short to appease her. It was time she got used to sharing him.





Chapter Five





Alena



“This is gorgeous.” Bailey held up the dress I had stayed up late sewing. I couldn’t sleep because my self-doubt had been playing a mean game with me.

Last night I waited for Noah to call after he dropped off Austin. I’d talked to him for about five minutes when he was leaving Ryan’s to take Austin back to Stacey. From our conversation, I’d assumed he would either call me back or stop by, but I hadn’t heard anything from him since then. So, of course, all my doubts resurfaced once again. Visions of Stacey and him rekindling their relationship over the joy of having a son together were roaming around in my head. To ignore them, I dove in to some of the patterns I had created, and Bailey was now drooling all over the results.

“I love the fitted top on this one. Seriously, Alena, you need to get this out there. The ladies in this town would be placing orders.”

“Thanks,” I replied, though even Bailey’s praise was doing nothing for my mood. “I was actually thinking of renting the former craft store across the street to open my own store. Thought I may give the fashion idea a go.”

Her eyes lit up with the news, and I forced a smile. I had to find something to occupy my mind, or I would drive myself crazy.

I guess the truth was I didn’t want to share Noah. Oh, I didn’t mind sharing when it came to Austin, but I knew Stacey came with him. And I had a feeling her intentions were anything but honest. Why I wanted to claw her eyes out when I barely knew her was a mystery to me. I am not a hateful person, but she pissed me off with just one flick of her hair.

“Jackson met Austin last night,” Bailey said as she continued to look through the patterns I had stretched out all over my room. “He said that he looks a lot like Noah.”

I nodded as I remembered thinking the same thing the first night I saw Austin and his big blue eyes. “From what little I saw of him, I’d have to agree. He’s adorable.”

“He stayed at his mom’s last night.”

I looked up from the sewing machine in front of me and waited for her to explain.

“Maybe I shouldn’t be the one to tell you,” Bailey said, trying to backtrack, but there was no way I was letting her off that easily.

“Well, you already started, so maybe you need to keep going.” I didn’t take my eyes from hers.

“Okay, damn, stop with the evil eye.” She rolled her eyes as she sat on the end of the bed. “Tammy told us this morning that Stacey really laid it on thick last night. Apparently, when Noah showed up to drop Austin off, she broke down.”

“Broke down?” I asked.

“Cried, hysterically. She got Austin all upset. Her parents took him inside and got him ready for bed so Noah and Stacey could talk.” Bailey shrugged. My stomach knotted as her words confirmed my fears of Stacey playing Noah. “Noah was a mess after that crazy scene. He showed up at Tammy’s place, and she called Jackson and Ryan to come over. They all sat up for hours talking. I don’t even know what time it was when Jackson finally made it back home.”

I couldn’t keep looking at Bailey, not when she was giving me that pitying look. So I turned back toward the sewing machine and began pushing the silk material through the feeder, focusing completely on each stitch and the sound of the needle as it punctured the cloth as if I was moving in slow motion. A large lump of insecurity settled in my throat, making me feel like the room was closing in around me.

“Lena,” Bailey whispered, but I kept my back to her. I couldn’t face her right now. In fact, I couldn’t face anyone. I just wanted to be alone.

When her hand came to rest on my shoulder, I jumped in surprise. “She may be trying to wiggle her way back in, but I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Don’t doubt it, just give him time to figure this all out. I can’t even attempt to imagine what’s going on in his mind. I’m sure he’s terrified that if he says or does the wrong thing around Stacey that she’ll take Austin from him. That can’t be an easy feeling to deal with.”

I knew she was right. I just had to trust that what he said was true. That he had feelings for me, and Stacey being here couldn’t change that.



***



“Mr. West, that’s really kind of you, but I just don’t feel right about not paying rent,” I said as I stood in the doorway of the small commercial space. It was the perfect size for a boutique. There was a small office in the back along with storage space and a work area. Out front I would have room to display my clothing and even stock it with ordered-in items as well, from purses to shoes, and of course my favorite line of lingerie.