Not Broken: The Happily Ever After(13)

“I should go.”

I swallowed my retort, even though everything in me wanted her to stay, to talk to me. I wouldn’t push the issue.

“I’ll carry him down for you.”

We didn’t speak in the elevator or on the short walk to Ginger’s car which, was parked in my second assigned space in the covered garage. She hit the unlock button on her key ring. The car beeped, and the tail lights flashed. I opened the backdoor and started to buckle Shawn into his car seat.

“Thanks again for inviting us over. I had a good time.”

I remained quiet while buckling Shawn in. When I finished, I closed the door then stared at Shawn’s sleeping form through the window. My gaze then went to Ginger’s reflection.

I turned to face her. “Yeah, me too.” I wanted to hold her, to say or do something that would let her know she had no reason to be afraid, but I remained clueless as to what. It was a mystery to be solved on another day. I opened her car door for her. “Drive safely.”

She walked toward me, but stopped just before getting in. Ginger laid her hand on my chest, but she wouldn’t look at me. She pulled her hand back then got into her little SUV.

“Goodnight, Mal.”





Chapter 6


Calida





Shawn woke a little when I unbuckled him from the seat, so instead of putting him in his own room, I carried him to mine. After changing into my PJs, I snuggled up with my baby. Gently, I moved his dark curls off his forehead and gave him a kiss. My sweet, innocent baby boy. I pulled the covers up around us and like most nights, fell into a troubled sleep.

I awoke to wet, sloppy kisses as Shawn tried to eat my nose. My breath caught in my throat when I opened my eyes to be met with his. That momentary fright got replaced with the familiar guilt. I pushed down my urge to roll away and forced a smile on my face as I greeted my son.

“Hey, baby boy.”

He gave me a bright, toothy grin. “Hey Ma-Ma.”

“Are you hungry? Is that why you are trying to eat my nose,” I asked, playfully scooping him up and planting kisses on his belly.

Shawn’s laughter filled the air. That sound instantly made me forget the uneasy feelings from moments ago. After getting him changed, I put him in his high chair then made him breakfast. We were just sitting down to eat when the intercom crackled to life, broadcasting the one voice I’d not expected to hear.

I furrowed my brows together as I got up from the table and walked over to the intercom.

“Dorian, what are you doing here?”

“Well, if you’d open this damn gate, you’d find out. Or are you expecting me to have a conversation through this thing?”

Sighing, I glanced back at Shawn who sat in his high chair, happily dropping more eggs onto the floor than he was putting into his mouth. I let out a groan as I seriously considered leaving her out there. However, I pressed the open button before heading toward the front door. At first, I was annoyed by Dorian’s unannounced arrival; not once had she been to my house. She didn’t even come by after I got out of the hospital, so coming today I worried something might have happened to Mom and Dad. She was locking the door on her blue Mercedes coupe when I stepped out onto the front porch.

“Mom and Dad okay?”

“Good morning to you as well, sister dear.”

I rolled my eyes and turned back into the house. With an answer like that, I knew they were fine. Even she wouldn’t be so callous as to downplay something like that. I headed back toward the kitchen, figuring she wouldn’t be far behind.

“What is that?” I heard her ask.

My steps faltered a moment as I took quick stock of my attire. My hand went to the top of my spaghetti-strap tank top, finding relief when I touched only the smooth skin of my back instead of the raised keloid scar. It’s not showing.

“A tattoo, Calida? When did you make that mistake?”

I closed my eyes and let out a quiet exhale before turning back to face her. “Why are you here Dorian?” I asked, ignoring her question.

Shawn squealed when Dorian got in his view, and his dirty hands reached out for her. She stopped just out of reach, making sure he couldn’t stain her shirt. I wet a paper towel and proceeded to clean him up. Dorian carefully stepped around the mess he’d made on the floor, and took a seat at the table.

“I’ve decided to move here. There’s not much point in me staying in Charlotte with Mom and Dad living here now.”

I cast a quick glance back at her as I worked to unbuckle Shawn from his high chair. “No hope of reconciling with Daniel?”

He waddled over to Dorian, raising his arms in the air. She picked him up. “No,” she replied in a clipped tone. “We’ve already put the house on the market and our respective lawyers have been hired.”

“Oh,” I replied, carrying the plastic tray to the sink. “And you’re letting me know you’re moving here because…?”

Her reasons for this visit eluded me. We’d never been sisterly, so I couldn’t imagine why she thought I’d care what her plans were, and I sure as hell couldn’t fathom her motives for wanting to tell me. Dorian carried Shawn into the connected family room, and sat him down in front of his play area.

She looked around the space. “Who decorated this place?”