Page 50 of Starting Back
Everything looked the same but seemed different. MaybeIwas different. Things didn’t seem so hopeless, other than the lingering question of if I’d ever cross paths with Leo again.
I’d done something for myself, and not only did I not feel an ounce of guilt about it, I was also proud of myself for seeing it through.
Most of all, I was happy to have met a wonderful man who’d pointed out all the ways I’d been selling myself short.
Things would change, or at least I would give myself a break sometimes, and I would finally put my marriage and all the work I’d put into it behind me.
“Mommy!” Short arms wrapped around my thighs right after I almost fell over from the impact.
I turned to scoop Emma up. She was still small enough to carry and cuddle with, and as she burrowed her head into my neck, her long raven-colored ponytail draping down her back, I let my chin rest on her shoulder and breathed her in.
“I missed you so much,” I told her and squeezed my arms tighter around her little torso. She giggled and squirmed in my arms.
“I missed you too! Unca Jake bought bagels. I saved one for you and one for your friend.”
I glanced over her shoulder at Peyton, holding her fist to her mouth to cover a laugh.
“My friend lives in Florida, so he didn’t come back with me.”
“Oh,” she said, her dark brow knitting together as she studied me, disappointment in her innocent face. Her hair was as dark as my mother’s, only my daughter’s was still naturally that way. It was a stunning contrast with the light-blue eyes she shared with her grandfather and uncle.
My baby was too gorgeous, and we were all too wrapped around her beautiful finger.
“Well,” she started, those eyes narrowing at me as I braced myself for what her next question could be. “Since he’s not here, can I eat his?”
I turned to my brother’s deep rumble behind me.
“I’ll bet that’s not what you thought she’d ask.”
Emma kicked her legs against my stomach when Jake tickled her neck.
“Welcome home, baby sister.” He planted a kiss on my temple and headed over to Peyton’s trunk.
“Thanks, big brother. You don’t have to get my bags. I can do that.”
“No worries.” He kissed his wife, giving her belly a quick caress before he lifted my bags out of the back. They were always cute enough to be nauseating, but I was happy for them. After his own miserable marriage imploded, he never expected to want to be with anyone else, but he’d lit up ever since he met Peyton.
I’d never thought it was possible for me after my divorce. I’d written off any kind of second chance for me, but meeting Leo gave me a spark of hope. Even if that chance couldn’t be with him, it was still possible.
My silly heart was still set on him, but in time, that would fade. It was something I both dreaded and hoped for.
I set Emma down, picking up her hand and swinging our arms as we made our way inside.
“Welcome back, sweetheart.” My mother rushed over to me and brought me in for a quick hug, pushing back to search my face. I cringed at the smile tugging at her lips.
“What?”
“Nothing, you just look so beautiful. And relaxed. Exactly what I was hoping for.”
“Glad to know you were all so anxious to get rid of me,” I laughed, searching the living room for my firstborn.
“Chloe is upstairs with Mikey, yelling at that video game.” She chuckled. “I told her we’d get her when you came home, in case you wanted to talk to us first about—anything.”
“Mommy’s friend didn’t come home with her, so I can have his bagel.” Emma dropped my hand and raced into the kitchen as my mother examined me with narrowed eyes.
“If that’s theanythingyou wanted to talk about, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there’s nothing. We had fun for a few days, and now I’m home and he’s still in Florida. And that’s all there is.”
I held in a groan at my mother’s slow nod.
