Intent(81)

“No, baby. I can tell you’ve lost weight since our honeymoon. What have you eaten today?”

“Toast,” I admit.

“Are you still sick? It’s all this stress taking a toll on you. You’re safe here with me. I’d never let anything happen to you or River.”

“I believe you, but my stomach is still in knots. I can’t wait for all of this to be over.”

“I’ve been craving some loaded baked potato soup from the diner in town,” Marcia announces. “It’ll be easy on your stomach and you’ll love it. How about I go get some orders to go and bring it back here to eat? We can spend more time catching up and I can spend some time with my granddaughter.”

“You don’t have to do that, Mom. I can go get it,” Ace offers.

“No, you should stay here with Layne and River. Keep them safe. She probably doesn’t even know I’m back in town yet.”

When Marcia leaves, Ace turns his attention back to me. “What’s really going on with you, babe?”

“I’m okay.” I lay my head on his shoulder and snuggle into his embrace.

“Daddy?” River’s busy with her coloring book and crayons on the coffee table. “Can I call Laynie ‘Mommy’ now?”

My head instantly jerks up. My heart just skipped a beat in my chest, and it’s now running wild. Ace looks at me and raises his eyebrows. With the biggest smile, I nod in agreement. “You sure can. Is that what you want, River?”

“Yes. I love her. I want her to be my mommy.”

I slide out of Ace’s lap onto the floor beside her. “I’d love to be your mommy, River.”

“Okay.” She draws the syllables out at least three times too long. “But I’m not gonna call you Laynie anymore now.”

“You can call me mommy if you want to, baby. I don’t mind.” I don’t mind at all. In fact, my heart is so full of love and gratitude it feels like it may burst.

This makes her head snap up to look at me. Her eyes grow as big as saucers and her little lips part. She jumps into my lap and throws her arms around my neck. “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! I have a mommy!”

It’s amazing how love multiplies exponentially with no effort at all.

Marcia returns with soup and sandwiches for everyone, and Ace intently watches me with my food. “You know, you’re kind of freaking me out. Stop staring at me while I eat.”

The devilish grin he flashes says he knows exactly what he’s doing. “But I love to watch you eat. You wouldn’t deny me something you know I love, would you?”

“You don’t play fair,” I complain.

“But it’s all out of love, babe.”

With my bowl of soup finished, I’m too stuffed to attempt the sandwich as the soup is the most I’ve eaten in one sitting since Zoe disappeared. “You’re the best, Marcia. Thank you for the soup. It hit the spot.” I move from the table to starting cleaning up from our meal but Ace grabs my hand and stops me.

“I’ll get it. Go get some rest, babe.”

“Thank you,” I lean over and kiss him. “That’s so sweet of you. If you three don’t mind, I actually could use a quick nap. Sleep has been evading me recently.”

“Mommy, can I take a nap with you?”

“You sure can, baby girl. Let’s give Daddy and Grandma some time alone to talk.”

River takes my hand and we walk to my bedroom and climb into the enormous, soft bed. She cuddles close to me and I wrap my arm around her. When she’s finally still for more than three seconds, she’s out like a light. My eyelids feel weighted down and finally close on their own. I feel myself drifting into sleep right behind her. Late nights and early mornings have finally caught up with me.



* * *



ACE



“I’m glad you’re here,” I admit. “I’ve missed you.”

Mom moves to the seat beside me on the couch and wraps her arms around me. “I’m so glad to have you back. I’ve missed you more than you’ll ever know. It doesn’t matter how old you are, Ace. Whether you’re eight or eighty, you can never stop being your mother’s baby.”

This makes me smile. “You’ve told me that all my life. Guess my mom knew what she was talking about after all, huh?”

“Your mom is a genius, son. I’ve told you that all your life, too, but it still hasn’t sunk in.” She laughs heartily, and memories of all the good times with her flood my mind.

“There’s no way Margot will ever be a real mom to River. Is there?”

She shakes her head from side to side. “No, she won’t. But I don’t think it’s necessarily because she doesn’t want to do it. It’s more that she can’t do it. The public evidence of her problems at home may have started at around ten years old, but the severity of her issues didn’t happen overnight. It must’ve been building over her formative years. She probably acted out at home to try to get some kind of attention before progressing to the more significant actions that landed her in court.”

“She got to Zoe—I know it was her. Layne and I planned to adopt Zoe’s baby. Layne got the nursery ready to bring the baby home. Zoe was living here with us after her parents kicked her out. Then we got home from our honeymoon and found a note from her on the table. Layne has taken it really hard.