Sweet Little Memories (Sweet #3)(21)

Stone

I MADE IT HOME BEFORE Beulah.

Relieved after not seeing her car parked, I took my time getting my paperwork together and made my way toward the entrance of the building. I didn’t want her to arrive home without me here again today. She seemed vulnerable last night and I wasn’t sure why. It felt like she was going to bolt at any moment but couldn’t make herself. With everything I had going on, I needed to make sure I found time for her too. I couldn’t always expect her to be there for me and not reciprocate.

A car pulled up as I was unlocking the front door of my building and I turned to see it was a white Lexus. Whoever it was parked directly in front of me. I knew that Lexus didn’t belong to anyone who lived here. Lifting my hand, I shaded my eyes from the sun to see who it was. Unfortunately, the tint on the windows hindered my view.

The driver’s door swung open and Hilda stepped out of the car. Hope, dread, and anxiety rushed through me at the sight of her. I wasn’t dumb enough to think she had a complete change of heart after I had left her in Chicago yesterday. Her showing up here meant something though. I wanted to believe it was to help her son. I knew I was setting myself up for disappointment.

She flipped her sunglasses up on top of her head and made her way toward me. Each step she drew closer I wanted to ask why she was here. Instead, I waited. I’d asked, begged, and done all I could to help her. It was far-fetched to think she was here for my help now.

When she was only a few feet away from me she stopped.

“I called Wills to tell him I had to change my plans and he started crying. Your father has given him a real beating because he asked to come visit you.” She paused and my hands clenched at my sides.

I’d hoped Wills would escape that. My plan was to get him away before my father thought he was old enough to hit. That day had come too soon.

“I won’t let him hurt Wills. He’s a kind child. I’m ready to help. He needs free of that bastard.”

Jumping on the first plane to New York to take Wills away was my first instinct. I knew I couldn’t do that yet. I had to wait until I had all the facts straight. Messing up by letting my emotions control me would give my father the upper hand.

“Come inside.” I turned and opened the door. Hilda followed me inside and we walked in silence up the stairs. I used every technique I’d learned over the years to calm myself. The rage boiling inside me was threatening to take over and right now I wanted to yell at the woman beside me. I was tempted to remind her that Wills wouldn’t ever have had to suffer at the hand of my father if she’d been the mother he deserved. But her selfish behavior and choices had led us here.

Opening the door to my apartment, I stepped back and waved my hand for her to enter.

“Wow, Winston this is something else. Gorgeous. Stunning.” Hilda was always impressed with material things.

“When did you talk to him?” I was not interested in talking about my apartment with her.

She turned and I could see the subtle change in her demeanor. It had all kinds of warning signs attached to it. She was imagining something that would never be again. I didn’t have the patience to deal with her stupidity.

“This morning around nine. I had gotten a call that woke me then changed my plans. It was important and I had to call Wills and let him know I would be there a day later than I had originally told him. He started crying so I thought he must be upset about something bad.”

“He was,” I stated.

She frowned. “Yes, he was. Anyway, he was crying. Upset. I calmed him down and we talked. He told me he wanted to come live with me.” She batted her lashes and I watched as she worked up fake emotion and tears. I wanted to believe that she loved Wills, but I was sure I couldn’t trust her. I also didn’t believe he asked her if he could live with her. He didn’t much like her.

“And if the results come back and he’s not mine, he’s my fathers. What then? Will you still fight for him?”

Her tears threatened to spill over. “Of course! He’s hurting him, Winston!”

I’d warned her he’d hurt him from the beginning. When I wanted to know if he was mine. When I was a kid and had no power. But she didn’t care then. “Why the sudden change of heart? This is something you’ve been warned about repeatedly.”

She wiped at the tears yet to roll down her face. “I didn’t believe you. Okay? I thought you were exaggerating or maybe you deserved what you got because you were a bad kid. I don’t know,” she trailed off. Sounding almost guilty for the words she was saying.

“I should have been the last person you thought would lie. I’ve never been dishonest with you. You can’t say the same thing to me.”

She opened her mouth to speak, took a step too closer and placed a hand on my chest. I reached for her hand to take it from my body and move her back.

At the same moment, the door to my apartment opened. I turned my head locked eyes with Beulah. I knew she would be here soon. Hilda showing up talking about Wills had distracted me and I’d forgotten momentarily.

“Who are you?” Hilda’s tone was sharp. Possessive. As if she had some right to be in my home and ask who walked in my door.

I moved her hand away and walked to Beulah. Her eyes wide, confused, and nervous. This wasn’t what she needed. Tonight, I had planned on talking to her about what had been bothering her.