Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
I’ve thought a lot over the years about how I would tell Hunter about Samuel’s adoption, and in my head, I knew all the right things to say and envisioned what Hunter’s reaction would be to the news. I never in my wildest dreams imagined he would find out about it in the middle of a grocery store with Zach’s children present.
As soon as I have the door to the house open, Hunter pounds up the stairs, leaving me standing in the entryway at a loss. Taking off my jacket, I toss it on the couch in the living room then take a seat in my granddad’s chair—one of the few things of his still remaining in the room—and put my head in my hands.
“What do I do now?” I ask, then jerk my head up when a knock sounds on the front door. Swiping the tears off my cheeks, I head for the door. Opening it just as Zach’s hand is hanging in the air, getting ready to knock again.
His eyes are filled with concern. His hair is a disheveled mess, as if he had been pulling on it on the way over here. “Are you okay?” Without giving me time to answer his question, he puts his hand against my stomach and pushes me back into the house. As soon as the door is closed, he pulls me into his arms. “I’m sorry, Shel,” he whispers, running his hands over the top of my head then down my back.
“I can’t believe she did that.” Realizing where I am, I push against his chest and take a step back pointing at the door. “You need to leave.”
“Shel—”
“No.” I shake my head frantically while wiping my cheeks. “I can’t do this.”
“Don’t.” He takes a step toward me, and I take another step back, not wanting him to touch me again. Never wanting him to touch me again.
“You should go talk to your kids. I’m sure they’re upset,” I whisper, pointing at the door once more.
“They know about Samuel. They’ve known about him since they were old enough to understand what adoption is.”
“What?” I breathe, taking yet another step away from him. I can’t believe he didn’t warn me, not only about Tina, but about the fact his kids know about our son.
“I know Tina, and knew she’d tell them. I didn’t want her twisting shit in their heads, so I talked to them first.”
“Oh, God.”
“I’m guessing Hunter doesn’t know about the adoption,” he whispers, moving toward me once more.
“No, he doesn’t know about it!” I cry, shaking my head. “Or he didn’t,” I feel a sob climb up my throat and I cover my face. “I was waiting until the right time to tell him.”
“You guys had a kid?” Hunter asks, and I turn to find him standing near the bottom of the stairs, looking between Zach and I “And you gave him away?”
“Honey.” I pull in a ragged breath and take a step in his direction, but he shakes his head and holds my gaze.
“You gave your kid away?”
“Please come sit down.”
“Tell me now!” he yells, making my heartbreak and my hands clench into fists.
“Yes, Zach and I had a son, but no, we didn’t just give him away. We chose a family to raise him, because we were too young to take care of him, and we wanted him to have the best life possible,” I explain quietly, Sensing Zach move closer then feel his hand on my back.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Hunter blinks, trying to fight back tears as his lip wobbles.
“I…” I close my eyes, praying to get this out right. “I was waiting for the right time, waiting until you were old enough to understand.”
“You said you two were only friends. You lied to me.”
“I know, honey. But I haven’t seen Zach in a very long time and you’re young. So young. I wasn’t sure you would understand.”
“I’m not a baby. You always treat me like a baby.” Tears trek down his cheeks while his chin wobbles again.
“You’ll always be my baby.” I shake my head, taking a step toward him. “No matter how big you get, you will always be my baby, and I will always do everything within my power to protect you.”
His hands fist at his sides and his eyes narrow. “Does Dad know?”
“Yes.” I nod. Max knew about Samuel and Zach. I told him about them when we first started dating. When I believed he had the power to heal me. When he wanted to heal me.
“Dad never told me.”
“No, he didn’t,” I agree. “He was waiting until the time was right, too.”
“I want to go home,” he repeats his earlier statement, and I blink back a rush of tears, because he is home, but he’s talking about wanting to go back home to his dad.