I laughed. “The wailing noise didn’t sound like a baby. I think it was a cat.”
“Well then you’re either looking at a cozy mystery or a furry romance, I think. I’ll have to ask Daphne to be sure. Either way, that’s not nearly as fun.” Rob sighed. “What a bummer. A double bummer really. Because now there’s no baby and your ass is still dumped.”
Homecoming - Chapter 6
Sunday
Brooklyn
The sun streaming through the blinds lit up my son’s peaceful face. He rarely looked this peaceful when he was awake these days. His cute little smiles had turned to frowns over the past couple weeks.
We were both broken.
But it was my job to be strong for him. I lightly ran my fingers through his hair.My sweet boy. What are we going to do now?
I’d been so focused on growing my family. I never in a million years thought it would shrink. I’d taken time for granted. And I hated myself for it. Every morning I woke up since Miller died, my heart was filled with regret. I just wanted to go back. Hold Miller tighter. Kiss him longer. Tell him how much I loved him more often.
A tear trailed down the side of my face and onto my pillow.
“Don’t cry, Mommy.”
I hadn’t realized Jacob had opened his sleepy eyes.
He reached up and touch the tear on my cheek. “Daddy doesn’t like when you cry.”
Present tense.Present tense was slowly killing me. “I know. I’ll stop, okay?”
He nodded and snuggled into my chest. I held him tight and kissed the top of his head. I would never take a second for granted with my son. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Mommy.”
I’d come to New York for one reason and one reason only. And I’d failed. Jacob and I should have already been over the border by now. Far away from this hellish city.
I didn’t trust my dad. I couldn’t possibly.
But…what if…
The words floated around in my head.
But what if he hadn’t killed Miller?
What if he really had been waiting for me to come home to him?
What if he really did care that he had a grandchild?
What if he did love me in his own twisted way?
What if he was actually telling me the truth about all of it?
He said he’d already gotten justice. Not that murdering someone was justice for Miller’s life. I pressed my lips together. I’d thought killing my father would be justice though.
I kissed the top of Jacob’s head again and yawned. I hadn’t slept a wink, even though I was exhausted. I just kept reliving that conversation with my dad. Over and over on an endless loop. I wish he had a tell when he was lying. If there was just a way forme to know. But I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to know if he was telling the truth.
And I doubted Poppy would actually help. I didn’t know her. And I definitely didn’t know any of her tells. I was supposed to meet up with her and my father in a couple hours. My father had texted me about it. Which made me feel sick to my stomach. He’d had my number this whole time. He’d known everything this whole freaking time. He’d been watching. Waiting.
I felt…exposed. Miller and I had been living in this happy little bubble. I had no idea it was more of a snow globe. Someone controlling everything from the outside. Just waiting to throw it on the ground and shatter it into a million tiny pieces.
Jacob’s breath evened out as he fell back asleep, snuggled against me. And I couldn’t help but think about all the previous times he’d snuggled up to me just like this. The only difference was that Miller had always been across from me in bed. If I closed my eyes it was almost like I could reach out and touch him.Almost. My fingers came up empty and the knife in my chest twisted.
