This Broken Beautiful Thing (32 page)

“She’s too darn cute Harlz.”  Josh mutters as he continues to act as if he’s going to bite Willows fingers.

“You may have many uncles sweetie pie but Uncle Joey and I
are
your blood. We are family and if you ever need something we will be there. Always.” Josh says sweetly before handing her over to Joey.

Joey smiles at her but Willow looks confused as she whips her head around to look at Josh.

“You look like him and my daddy.” She says to Joey reaching for his black messy hair making him laugh.

“Uncle Josh is my twin
cutie and your daddy is our brother. You look a lot like us too you know. Your mommy is gonna have a hard time when you grow older. The boys are going to drive your daddy mad.” Joey chuckles to himself.

“It’s getting late, how about we head over to moms house?” Caleb
asks his brothers and I. I smile and nod. The boys ask to ride with us and Caleb agrees.

I
jump into the backseat with Willow and let Joey sit in the front with Caleb. Josh sits next to me and wraps his arm around me. I watch Caleb glaring at his brother in the rearview mirror making both of us laugh.

Willow
falls asleep as soon as she gets comfortable in her car seat.

Josh whispers in my ear. “Willow is amazing Ha
rlz.” He smiles at me and winks. I laugh knowing exactly what game he’s trying to play.

I whisper in his ear, avoiding the sound of Caleb clearing his throat. “I know you’re trying to piss Caleb off.” I pull away and we both laugh.

“Little brother, better get your hands off Harley.” Caleb says in a flat voice soft enough not to wake Willow.

“I
think I like where my hands are, I’m quite comfortable actually. You knew I always had a crush on her but back then you two were together so I couldn’t do much, but …now that you two
aren’t
together I don’t think I’m going to keep my mouth shut anymore.” He says casually causing Caleb to almost growl. I can’t see Joeys face but his body is shaking as he silently laughs. Caleb punches his arm.

“Wait till we get out
of this car.” Caleb threatens his brothers, Josh looks down and winks at me.

Twenty minutes later w
e arrive at their house, it’s the same house Caleb grew up in. As we make our way up the long driveway many memories resurface, I used to spend more time here than at my own house.

Caleb
carries Willow as we make our way through the house in search for his mom.

“I’m here…” We hear her call
out.

Walking toward the backyard patio we find her sitting on one of the garden chairs reading a magazine and drinking wine.
She is still as beautiful as ever. Her blond hair is long and falls over her one shoulder in a neat braid. She looks older than the last time I saw her but it only adds to her beauty. She’s dressed in a floral dress with wedges on. She smiles at the twins and stands up to give the twins a hug, she hasn’t spotted me yet. I’m so nervous as I stand there thinking about what her reaction may be to seeing me and when she finds out she has a grandchild that I’ve kept from her for four years.

She spots me over Joey’s shoulder and freezes. Her eyes are fixed on
me, she doesn’t even see Caleb holding Willow. Joey steps away from her and she stands frozen with her hands clasped to her chest then she whispers my name. Next thing I know I’m being pulled into her arms as she holds me tight. I wrap my arms around her waist soaking in the comfort I always felt whenever we would spend time together. She still wears the same perfume and it eases my nervousness.

“Oh Sweetie, I’ve missed you so much!” She sounds as if she’s crying and I
can’t help but hold her tighter as I try to take her pain away.

“Missed you too.”
I watch over Holly’s shoulder as Josh takes Willow from Caleb.

Holly steps away from me and looks me over smiling. She pushes the hair out of my face and turns me around as if she’s inspecting me.

“You’re still beautiful as ever my darling. Where have you been? We were so worried about you.” She sounds sad.

“I’ve been staying with my father, I’m so sorry. I should have called
and let you know I was ok but at the time I was so upset and didn’t want anything to do with everything that reminded me of Caleb. It was stupid of me, I know…but I was so hurt at the time.” I say looking down at the ground. I feel bigger warmer hands over my shoulder as Caleb brings me to his chest and rubs my back. I hear Holly’s gasp realizing her son is here and we’re in the same room together.  Caleb drops his head to the crook of my neck as he whispers in my ear. “I’m so sorry for everything baby. I’m so sorry for keeping you from my family, they were yours too…” he says on a broken whisper. I squeeze him tighter against me then turn my mouth to his ear.

“No more apologizing okay? Remember,
we’re focusing on the future. No more lingering on the past. We need to be able to work together for Willow. We can do this.” I whisper in his ear. He holds me tighter and I feel him nod.

“I’m definitely missing something…” I hear Holly mumble. I move away from Caleb to see her standing there staring at the two of us. Willow is beginning to stir in Josh’s arm. She wipes her eyes with balled fists and looks around confused.

“Mom, there’s someone we want you to meet.” Caleb says, walking toward Josh and Willow who are standing behind Holly. Holly turns to follow Caleb’s movements and lets out a loud gasp when Willow opens her arms for Caleb. Holly sluggishly sits on the chair trying to catch her breath, her hand rests over her chest and I watch as tears fall down her cheeks. Willow makes a noise and wiggles in Caleb’s arms, he lets her down and we all watch as she runs up to Holly.

“Don’t cry.” Willow says in a sad voice as she touches Holly’s long braid. Holly smiles brightly.

“Here.” Willow says lifting the long sleeve of the jacket she’s wearing to Holly’s face.

Holly looks up confused and I start laughing. “
It’s to wipe your tears away. I wipe away her tears with my shirt sleeve whenever she cries.” The boys let out deep laughs and Holly chuckles too.

“No baby you keep your sleeve, these aren’t sad tears
my love. These are happy ones.” Holly says looking down at Willow as she takes Willows little hand in her own.

“Happy ones?” Willow asks confused.

“Yip, wanna know why I’m happy?” Holly asks using her other hand to wipe away her remaining tears.

Willow nods eagerly, “I just met my granddaughter and she’s perfect.”

“Huh?” Willow looks back and forth between Caleb and I evidently confused.

Caleb bends down to Willows level and wipes the hair from her face, “This is my mom sweetie which means this is your granny.”

“Another one?” Willow asks baffled making all of us erupt in laughter once again.

“Yes sweetie another one, you are a very special girl who has one
big
family.” Holly says lifting Willow onto her lap.

CHAPTER 26

We leave Holly and Willow chatting on the patio while I help the boys prepare the meat for the barbeque.

“Stay here tonight.” Caleb comes up behind me as I wipe the table down in the kitchen. His hands rest on the granite counter tops on either side of me. He whispers in my ear, “Let them spend some time with her so I can spend more time with you. Please Harlz…”

I turn to look him in his eyes, he’s so beautiful, his black hair is still messy from
swimming and the smell of the beach still lingers on his skin. He pushes against me harder with one of his legs between mine and my lower back against the counter ledge.

He brings his head to mine again and this time runs his lips against the curve of my neck until his lips stop at the base of my ear. A shiver makes its way down my body and I lean into his touch making him chuckle against me. He knows how
weak I am against his touch and he’s enjoying every minute of it. If I’m honest with myself, I’m enjoying whatever is between us too.

He whispers again, “Please…” I feel his lips latch onto my neck under my ear and I moan when he starts sucking. When he finally breaks away and looks down at me, I nod.

“Have you asked your mom about this?” I ask.

“She’s the one
who suggested it.”

“I have to go
to my mother’s to fetch some clothes.” I say looking out the window at the twins playing with Willow in the garden.

“I’ll take you.” He says picking up his keys off the counter.

“No, you need to stay here with Willow, she just met your family and I’m not sure if she’ll panic when she notices that we’re not around. I’ll be quick and I’ll take your car, if you let me?” I smile at him.

I know the possession he has over his car and if he allows me to use it, he must
really
trust me.

He runs his hands through his hair then lets out a smile and
those damn dimples appear.

“On one condition
...” He says.

“Anything.” I
blurt excited to drive his car.

He steps closer to me again and places both his hands on my jaw cupping my face forcing me to look into his eyes.  He kisses my forehead, moves to each cheek then my nose and finally leaves a soft kiss on my lips.

“I know we haven’t had a lot of time together but we’ve lost too many years already. I don’t want to lose any more time and I want to be with you and my daughter. I want us to be a family Harley. That’s all I’ve ever wanted with you. I love you so much baby. Please promise me that we’ll try to work on us. I know you still feel something for me. I just want you to tell me that you’ll at least try.” The mood has done a one eighty and is totally serious now, the playful banter over. I know we have missed four years of each other’s lives and we have so much to catch up on. Caleb will always be in my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way because we made our beautiful Willow together. I don’t think I ever stopped loving him and even though we have a lot of issues to work through, I know deep down that I can do this as long as he is by my side. I guess you never really lose your soul mate. Maybe it’s time for me to work on my forgiveness.

“Okay, I’ll try.” I smile up at him just in time to see his shoulders loosen as he lets out a deep breath. He pulls
me in for another hug then steps away and hands me his keys.

I quickly sneak out before Willow can see me leave. Caleb’s car
still has that brand-new-car smell and it’s so comfortable to drive, it’s rather large and I have to squeeze my way in when I reach the parking in front of my mother’s house.

My mother should be at work already but her car sits in the driveway. I look at my watch and double check the time. “Yeah five thirty…wonder what she’s doing home?” I think out loud as I make my way up the porch stairs. I open the door and call out, “Mom? Thought you had wor-” just as I close the door and turn around I scream. My mother is tied to a chair with a gag in her mouth.
Her head hangs down, eyes closed as blood drips from a wound on her right temple.

“Ahhh… just in time baby.
Been waiting all day for you while you’ve been out playing house.” Jace walks in with a beer in his hand. My heart is pounding and my fingers are shaking. Jace’s eyes are blood shot and he doesn’t look like himself at all.

“Jace…” I say on a whisper. “What are you doing?”

“Came to get you baby.” He downs the bottle of beer and strains his neck to the side as if stretching.

“
I’m not going anywhere with you.” I start shaking my head, he runs his hands through his hair and lets out a frustrated sigh.

“That’s what I thought you
’d say and that’s why I had to find a way to convince you.” He plants his beer down on the coffee table and saunters in my direction. I look in the direction where my mother sits out cold. I want to run to her and see if she’s okay but I don’t want to go near Jace. I look back at the door. Maybe if I can get out and shout for help he may not have time to hurt her.

“Don’t even think about it.” Jace says through gritted teeth.  I quickly turn to the door and open it only for him to slam it closed. I bend under his arms and run in the direction of my mother, I have to make sure she’s okay. 

I only get a chance to pull the scarf that was tied around her mouth out before he yanks my hair back and I’m smacked hard into his chest. He wraps an arm around my waist.

“Jace st
op this! Please. Let us go. Why are you doing this?” I thrash and kick my legs about trying to get free but his grasp is too strong.

“You’re coming with me either way Harley.”
He turns me forcefully to face him. His eyes are dark and the veins in his neck stick out.

He
looks down at my face lovingly then his eyes freeze on my neck and his grip on me tightens.

“What the fuck is that?” He screams and shoves me. I stumble back and cover the spot on my neck where Caleb gave me a love bite.  I hear mumbling to my side and see my mother
attempt to move her head but her eyes are still closed.