Page 134 of The Pact
“Two.” She admits.
I grab her in a hug. “Go upstairs and get in the shower, silly.”
“I couldn’t resist. The pink frosting tasted extra good.”
Presley walks up to us. “Who can resist good frosting?” She smiles at me. “Let’s go get started on clean up. We have to go back to New Jersey tomorrow, so you two need to get to bed soon.”
Rhyan throws her head back. “I’m not even dirty though.”
“It’s still a good idea to clean up,” she wraps her arm around Rhyan’s little shoulders and steers her toward the stairs.
“You too, Remy.” I ruffle his hair.
“I’m going. Can I take a shower in Mom’s bathroom?” he asks.
I smile sadly. “Yeah, buddy. You absolutely can.”
An hour later, I’m sitting on the bed in the guest room when Presley comes in.
She sits next to me and puts her hand on my leg. “You did good today.”
“You think so?”
“I do. You listened, you offered solutions, you didn’t place blame. You put the kids first, which was the most important thing.”
I turn enough to grab her around the waist and put her on my lap. Her arms wind around my neck.
For a second, I just hold her, breathing her in.
“I miss her,” I say.
Presley lays her head on my shoulder. “I know you do.”
“I can’t stand being in this house. I thought I might be able to hold on to it for the kids, but I just … it hurts, being here. I can still smell her, and it’s been months.”
“It’s not something you have to decide today, though.” Her hand runs up and plays with the hair at the nape of my neck.
I let out a breath.
“Yeah, it is.”
“Well, you can’t do it tonight, so let’s worry about it tomorrow.”
She’s right. Today we’ve done enough.
Today, we kept one more piece of the kids’ world from falling apart.
We came together as a family. It might still be a little messy and broken, but we’re standing together now instead of across the battle line.
And I meant every word I said to the Harts today. I won’t let the kids forget them. I’ll make sure they have contact with them anytime they want, and I’ll encourage the kids to reach out to them too.
I’ll make sure they carry Savannah and Chris with them always, no matter where we are or what new piece of life we build.
Yes, we will grieve, but we will remember the happy times too. Together.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Presley
