Three of Hearts (29 page)

“Daddy, what are you doing?” Megan asked looking at the open bag on the bed and Seth running around.

Hearing Megan’s question, Conner and Aidan soon joined them in the master bedroom.

“Dad?” Aidan asked anxiously

God,
how
did
he
make
such
a
giant
mess
of
the
priceless
blessing
he
was
given?
Tina hit the nail on the head; he could screw up a free lunch.

Squeezing his eyes shut as he silently asked for heavenly guidance, he opened them again and asked his children to get up on his bed. When all three were situated, he sat with his back against the headboard and looked at the faces that meant the world to him. Not only did Seth ruin his own chance at happily ever after, he ruined his children’s chance at having a mother who would love them with everything she possessed.

“Guys, I’ve made a lot of bad choices the last week, first with the way I acted towards Mae before I had all my facts, then when she wanted to talk, I shut her down and lastly by not going after her and begging her to come home. I’m sorry guys. I just found out that she might be moving back to Boston. I can’t promise that she’ll forgive me or give me the chance I don’t really deserve, but I have to try. Not just for me but for you guys too. I know how you all love her. Can you guys forgive me? I’m going to do everything I can to get her back here where she belongs, with us.”

Seth prayed his kids would forgive him for being a foolish man. He wanted to teach his sons that being a gentleman is not always the easiest thing to do; boy did he screw that up! Looking at Megan, she just sat there, not looking at him, as she continued to brush the hair on her dolls head.

“Well, Dad since this is kind of for all of us, can we go with you?” Aidan asked. Instantly wanting to say no, Seth looked at these three precious faces and thought, he could use all the help he could get.

“I think that is a great idea. Go quickly and pack a bag, we’ll be gone for a couple of days.”

Seth watched as the all three of them ran out into their own rooms. Seth finished packing his own and headed into Megan’s to help her. When all four of them were packed and headed down to where Robyn and Lynne were in deep conversation; Seth told them of the change of plans for the kids and told both of them that he would call them when he reached the city.

They were all buckled into the Tahoe when Lynne came out with a small cooler packed with drinks and snacks for their journey. On the way out to the highway, Seth called the schools and told them he was keeping the kids out today. The got on the highway and got comfortable for their long trip.

They were about thirty minutes outside of Boston when Robyn called Seth.

“Ok, I’ve got you booked in two connecting rooms at the Back Bay Hotel on Van Ness Street. I’ll send you a text with the confirmation number and directions. How exactly do you plan on finding her, may I ask?”

Robyn gave voice to a very big problem facing Seth on this mission, but he couldn’t give up. Not until he found her.

“I’m working on that Ro. I’ll think of something.”

“You do realize that you’re looking for her in a city of over six hundred thousand people, right?”

“What other choice do I have?” Seth said, knowing if this didn’t work, he didn’t know what he would do.

After checking into the hotel, Seth continued to call Mae’s phone with no luck. Not knowing what to do now that he was here, he started calling Dana Farber. After thirty minutes of being transferred nine hundred times, Seth lost his temper and just disconnected the call. What was he going to do, go out and walk every street in Boston looking for her? He tried calling everyone that would pick up their phone and no one had yet to hear from her. Seth dialed one more time and listed as her phone went to voicemail, feeling utterly defeated, he ended the call before the beep sounded noting he could leave a message.

Conner picked that moment to come in and check on Seth. He found him in one of the wingback chairs sitting with elbows on his bent knees and his head in his hands. Wishing that there was something he could do, Conner reached out and touched his father’s shoulder.

“Still no luck?”

Startled by Conner, Seth quickly dragged his hands over his face and then stood.

“No, nothing. Maybe this was a mistake coming down here. I don’t know where else to look for her. She never mentioned anything about where she lived before, who her friends are here or anything that would be helpful,” he answered sullenly.

Taking a deep breath, he told the kids to get ready so they could head out to get something to eat. Hopefully with a full belly, the great idea he was waiting for, would make its presence known.

Mae had just gotten back to the hotel after her meeting with her former nursing director, Lois. She grabbed a seat at the empty bar off the lobby and asked for a glass of Pinot Grigio. The bartender quickly filled the order and then went about polishing all the various glasses behind the bar. She decided to order a chicken Caesar salad to go along with her wine and watched the local news on the bar’s LCD.

She replayed the meeting with Lois in her mind. Her job was hers if she wanted it. Lois was so happy to see her and wanted her back that she didn’t even hesitate to offer her it right there on the spot. And as if that wasn’t enough, she was able to promise a nice little raise for Mae as well. This is why she came back, wasn’t it? She would just need to find an apartment and of course get the remainder of her things from Hamden.
Seth.
God how she missed him; he was honest when he said he wouldn’t chase after her. She regretted that she didn’t fight him to hear her out rather than getting her feelings hurt and walking away. She knew there would be no one else for her. She was used to being alone, didn’t she explain to Seth that she got used to it when she was growing up. Well this would be no different. She’d find a place to live, work as much as she could; perhaps she would look into going back to school and furthering her education. She swirled her wine around in its glass and left her salad wilting sadly in the bowl after just a few bites, and leaned back and watched as the weatherman on the TV predicted a cold, cloudy, gloomy couple of days to come.
No
shit,
tell
me
about
it!

After eating at a small Italian place about four blocks over from the hotel, Seth walked back into the hotel’s lobby and was standing waiting for the elevator when he noticed a familiar ponytail. She was here! Quickly and quietly he motioned for the kids to be quiet, he got down on his haunches and whispered instructions to Megan and pointed in Mae’s direction. Praying that Megan’s squeal of delight wouldn’t tip Mae off, he watched as his daughter ran in and did what she did best, surprised people.

Mae had just slid off her stool and placed the money to cover her bill on the bar, when she was suddenly grabbed from around her waist. Startled, she looked down to a mop of red curly hair that smelled of childhood and Megan. Not believing her eyes, she placed her fingers under the child’s chin and pulled up so she could see the face. There was her Megan.

Speechless, Mae looked all around and stopped when she was caught in three vivid green gazes.

Conner and Aidan quickly joined Megan and embraced Mae causing tears to joyously fall down her cheeks. After she hugged and kissed each one of the kids, she asked them what they were doing here.

“We’re here looking for you, we came to bring you home” Aidan said. Leave it to Aidan to be so matter-of-fact.

Seth slowly strolled towards the small gathering praying she would look at him and would know how much she meant to him, to all of them.

When her blue eyes locked on his, compelled by an overwhelming force, he walked up to her and put his hands on both sides of her face, he breathing her name: “Mae.” After looking his fill at her beauty and knowing she was truly here with him, right now, he said as strongly as he could, amidst all the adrenaline was pumping through his veins, “I love you so much, Honey. Please don’t leave us, we all need you and want you to come home.” Seth said as he finally laid claim to her lips and kissed her.

Mae looked into his eyes and then around to the kids and saw all their faces echoed the same sentiment. They came here for her. If that wasn’t love, she didn’t know what was.

As they stood there in a tight circle with Megan in the middle, the kids went on and on about how they left Hamden to find her. Seth guided them out and stood back as his kids engulfed her. Deciding to go up to Seth and the kids’ rooms, they entered the elevator and no one let go of anyone else. When they got into the room, Seth asked the kids to give him and Mae a couple of moments alone to talk. When his children were alone in the next room, Seth pulled Mae into his arms, and buried his face in her hair.

“I thought you were gone forever. Please don’t ever leave me again, my heart, body and soul wouldn’t be able to take it.”

“I’m not going anywhere ever again. Right here is where I belong, in your arms.” She said as she savored the warmth he gave her.

“We have so much to talk about and work out, but we’ll handle it, together,” Seth vowed. He kissed her with all the pent up fear and angst that had consumed him since she walked out on him the other night. He filled his kiss with the physical promise of all the days that lay ahead of them.

Mae wrapped herself around Seth as he took the kiss deeper. She felt whole, she felt like herself more now in this moment than she had in the last week. His tongue tasted as his hands rubbed and caressed until her body hummed with the familiar electric charge that was only Seth. Coming back around to the here and now, and aware that all three kids are just through the open door, Mae reluctantly pulled away and ended the kiss.

“Before we get too carried away…” she softly explained.

“I wish I could show you right now how much I’ve missed you and how completely sorry I am.” Finally calming and accepting that she was truly here with him, he let out the breath he wasn’t aware he had been holding. Resting his forehead to hers, he was content just to stand there gazing in the bluest blue that ever was created.

Neither of them could tell you how long they stood there just still and holding each other when there was a loud shout coming from the other side of the wall.

“Is it safe for kids?” Conner yelled with humorous intent.

Mae and Seth both laughed and Seth answered back, that is was completely safe for children with no chance of therapy being needed.

Megan was the first to run into the room and she headed straight for Mae. Mae picked her up and sat with her on the bed just holding the little girl and loving the feel of her in her arms.

“Mae, I have a present for you, but I left it at home.” Megan said, disappointed.

“Oh sweetie, that was so nice of you. I’m sure whatever it is, I’ll love it almost as much as I love you.” She smiled at the green Finn eyes and kissed Megan on her head.

Now watching the Red Sox game on the plasma in the hotel room, the five of them decided to order some ice cream sundaes from room service and just spend time being the five of them.

By the time the game was over, Megan was sound asleep and sprawled out in the middle of the king size bed. Conner and Aidan had given up in the top of the ninth, on the pathetic loss of their beloved Sox, and had gone over to the other room and were currently watching some new release comedy. And by the sounds of the laughter, it was quite the movie.

Mae got up from where she lay next to Megan and walked over and sat down next to Seth on the sofa. She cuddled right into his side and placed her head on his shoulder.

“So what are the chances that we would both stay at the same hotel?” Seth asked as he traced her skin from elbow to palm.

“Apparently, very good, Mr. Finn,” Mae said laughing, just enjoying the nearness of him.

“So how did you know I was in Boston?” Mae asked a moment or two later.

“Robyn tried to track you down at the hospital and Tina told her you had come down here.” Kissing her on the forehead just for something to do, he then continued, “So we put two and two together and figured you would come down here trying to get your old job back.”

Feeling the need to be completely honest to both him and herself, Mae sat up and faced him. “I actually met with Lois, the nursing director, this afternoon and not only did she offer me my job back but also with more money. It was what I came here looking for, but even before I knew you and the kids were here, it just felt empty. This isn’t where I want to be Seth; I want to be with you, looking out over that beautiful lake every morning and watching as the sun dips down behind the trees at night.”

“God, that is music to my ears, Mae, but if Boston is what you want, we can discuss it as a family and figure it out.”

“No I want to go home to Hamden with you and your family,” Mae answered from her heart.

Seth leaned in and kissed her and they lost themselves in each other. His lips sealed to hers, as his tongue lingered in and out. He wanted to get lost in her body, to worship her the way she deserved and how he would every day until death do thy part. His hands roamed and appreciated all her softness and lusciousness. She answered in kind, feeling his long limbs and distinctive strength. His chest and shoulders became her anchor to the oblivion that was going on around her, that wasn’t this man. Mae wanted to be consumed by his hunger for her; and she wanted to form herself to him completely. Her soft moans fueled him to continue and brand her in every way. As they slowed down considering Megan was ten feet away from them, they talked quietly and kissed and petted some more as they planned on leaving tomorrow morning and heading back to Hamden.

Seth suggested that Mae sleep in here with Megan and he would go and sleep in the other room in one of the two double beds. As he tucked Mae into the bed next to his sleeping daughter, they whispered their love for each other again and promised to dream of each other.