After what felt like hours, her sobs turned to hiccups and she pulled back from me slightly, her face streaked with tears and her eyes red and swollen.
“You left Grand Haven. Left Daddy. Left me even after you promised. I was so mad at you,” Noelle admitted, her breathing heavy. “Everything’s so … hard. School sucks. Everybody hates me.”
Her words sliced the maternal parts of me. I wanted nothing more than to take away her pain.
“I know. I’m sorry I left. I didn’t leave you though. It had nothing to do with you. I would never want to leave you. Sometimes grown-ups mess up. And I messed up, but I still love you and your dad,” I admitted for the first time in our month-long separation.
Her lip quivered as I heard footsteps coming from behind us. I peered around my shoulder to find none other than Caleb standing a few feet away, looking as handsome and as worried as ever. His usual calm demeanor was frantic and tense. His blue eyes darted from me to Noelle.
Noelle broke free from my grasp and ran into her father’s arms. I couldn’t help but smile at the exchange. I knew I’d do whatever was necessary to be a part of their lives again.
CHAPTER 40
Grace
“She must be exhausted,”I whispered as Caleb shifted to balance carrying Noelle’s sleeping frame on the train platform.
The train pulled up to the station. Hordes of people moved around us, but I couldn’t look away from the blue eyes that I missed so much over the past month.
There was a silent conversation happening between us. And even though things were uncertain between us, I knew I was home. It wasn’t a place, but a feeling. Something I’d been chasing my whole life, something I found in a quaint town tucked away from the chaos of the only world I knew.
Simultaneously we spoke the same words: “I’m sorry.”
Now it was my turn to look at him with questions, matching the confused expression on his face.
Noelle started to rouse as the train operator spoke and we knew we needed to board. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I was going with them. After Caleb found us, I ran up to my hotel suite to grab a few essentials before we headed to the station. They were the family I so desperately wanted. If I had to, I’d stay at the B&B, assuming Fiona would have me back. I would show them I wasn’t going to leave them again.
For the first time in weeks, I had hope because I knew I belonged with them. We weren’t out of the woods at all. His daughter wanted me and insisted I come back to Grand Haven, for the night at the very least. Before she passed out from exhaustion, I promised her, and I’d keep my promises this time.
Caleb called Anne to alert her we were on the train. I also learned that Caleb got to NYC so fast because he was already on the train when I texted him–his fatherly instincts kicking in. Noelle slept throughout the whole ride, but Caleb and I didn’t speak about our blurted apologies. No, we kept it light and rarely said more than a few words in case little ears were listening.
As we finally returned to Grand Haven, I felt myself slipping seamlessly back into the place I loved and wanted to call home.
The welcome wagon was plentiful as we stepped off the train with a now awake Noelle. Something told me she was pretending to sleep during our ride. So many familiar faces were at the train platform waiting for Noelle’s arrival.
My cheeks grew hot, embarrassed at what they must think of me. I left so abruptly, not returning any of my friends’ calls except for Lucy’s.
“Noelle Anne Jameson.” Ms. Kenzie’s voice bellowed in the crowd before us. The lively older woman pushed through the hordes of people and engulfed Noelle into a big bear hug. “Don’t you ever do that to me again, young lady.”
Anne was hot on her trail, practically shoving Ms. Kenzie out of the way for a chance to see her granddaughter. “Noelle,” Anne cried, her voice hoarse as tears raced down her face. Noelle was surrounded with people who loved her more than anything in the world. My heart was full, knowing this little girl was finally realizing what she had.
“Grace.” I heard my name called by Jena, who practically tackled me with a bear hug.
“I never thought I’d see the day when I was better dressed than you.” Jena snorted, eyeing me up and down. She then leaned in and whispered, “They need you.”
Jena pulled back and saw the tears well in my eyes then waved me off, grumbling something about being “too emotional.”
Fiona threw a death glare my way before making her way to Noelle.
In my state of emotions, I chanced a glance back at Caleb and saw him watching the love pouring from people for his daughter. His stare then landed on me as more locals came up and greeted me, giving me hugs and stating how happy they were that I was back, asking a million intrusive questions that I came to love.
I broke eye contact with Caleb, knowing our talk would have to wait. I had so much to say in order to make things right. I had a million opportunities back in the city to clear my name. Interview after interview was offered to me. But only now, after nearly losing all communication with this small town, was when I felt the strongest urge to set the record straight. To own who I was and finally stop hiding.
It was well after midnight by the time we made it back to Caleb’s, and I was dead on my feet. I looked like hell and felt like I’d been through it too.
Noelle fell asleep in Caleb’s bed while waiting for him to come out of the bathroom. I noticed Caleb in the doorway, standing shirtless with his plaid pajama pants low on his hips, and I had to look away.
“I’m going to head out,” I muttered low enough not to wake Noelle. I looked at Noelle lying in the bed and whispered, “Love you.”
