I shake my head. “When I was ten years old, I… I watched my father kill my mother.”
She gasps as memories flood my mind, bringing tears to my eyes.
“And the situation wasn’t exactly the same because he had been using drugs for months but I need you to understand that all it takes is one time where things go too far and he’s already voluntarily gone off his meds. I’m not here to tell you what to do and if you ever need our help, we’re going to be here but I’d really prefer not to go to your funeral. And it would kill me to see those kids end up orphans just like I did.”
“I’m so sorry that you went through that but it’s not like that with us.”
“Don’t you think that every woman who’s ever ended up in a bad spot has said that exact same thing? But like I said, I’m not telling you to do anything. Just think about it.”
I stand and hold my hand out to her to lead her back to the car. For the time being, her mind is made up. I just hope that something I said sticks with her and she can make a change before it’s too late.
Chapter Eleven
Quinn
“Alice!” I call as I step into the foyer and set my purse down on the little bench by the door. The scent of something delicious greets me and I sniff the air.
“Hey, we’re in here,” Alice calls from the living room and I kick off my heels before following her voice. She smiles at me from the piano as Brooklyn plays on her mini keyboard, smashing the keys more than playing and I laugh.
“I see the lessons are going well.”
Alice glances down at Brooklyn and nods. “I’m certain that she’s a musical prodigy.”
“Clearly.” I laugh, my gaze falling to Brooklyn, who has the corner of the keyboard in her mouth. “What’s that smell, by the way?”
“I’ve got Gram’s rib recipe in the crockpot and potatoes on the stove.”
My stomach growls and I let out an appreciative moan. “Oh, lord, that sounds so good.”
“Yeah, I woke up missing her this morning so I decided to do something in her memory.”
I smile but before I can answer her, my phone starts ringing in my purse and I whisper a curse. “Hold on. I gotta get that.”
Rushing back into the foyer, I grab my purse and dig my phone out of the side pocket, smiling when I glance down at the screen.
“Hey, you,” I answer, butterflies in my belly just from seeing his name.
“Hey, baby,” Lucas answers and his voice melts me on the spot. “What are y’all up to tonight?”
I spin and plop down on the bench next to the door before stretching my legs out in front of me. “Not much. Why?”
“Well, I have this problem…”
“Oh, yeah?” I ask. “What’s that?”
“I am just missing you like crazy.”
Giggling, I shake my head. “You’re so damn cheesy.”
“Should I stop?”
“No,” I answer as a blush creeps up my cheeks. “But I do have to point out that you just saw us last night when you brought dinner over, remember?”
“Oh, I remember, but I kind of thought that I’d do it again tonight.”
Glancing through the hallway to the dining room, I imagine all of us seated around the table and I can’t stop my smile. “Actually, how about I cook for you this time?”
“I think I could go for that. What time?”
“Mmm,” I hum. “Give me like twenty minutes. Okay?”
“Sounds good, babe. I’ll see you soon.”
We hang up and I set my phone down on the bench next to me as my cheeks ache from my smile. It’s been a few days since Lucas took Brooklyn and me over to Iris’s house for dinner and it feels like our relationship has changed somehow. I feel more settled, more secure in us and my feelings for him, and I know it’s time to tell him about my past. He needs to know the truth before we go any further but I have faith that I know him well enough to know that he’ll take it well. At least, I hope so…
“Quinn and Lucas sittin’ in a tree,” Alice sings and I glance up as she leans against the archway into the living room.
“You, shush.”
“Come on, Sis, admit it. You’re totally falling in love with this guy.”
I shake my head as I stand. “I just met him, Alice.”
“You keep saying that like it means anything. Time has absolutely nothing to do with the smile on your face or the sparkle in your eyes since you met him.”
“It’s just… he doesn’t know about my past yet… I was going to tell him tonight.”
She nods in understanding as she pushes off the archway and walks over to me, wrapping me up in a hug. “I know you’re scared but he’s a good man, Quinn. That isn’t going to phase him at all.”
“I’m just nervous.”
“Trust me, it will be okay,” she assures me as she grabs her backpack off the hook on the wall. “But I’ve got to get going now. Save me some ribs.”
After I promise to save her a plate, she leaves for class and I retreat into the kitchen to check on the food. I grab a fork and check to see how tender the potatoes are before slipping into the living room where Brooklyn is still playing with her keyboard. When she sees me, she starts crawling over to me and I smile.
“Hey, baby girl.”
She stops at my feet and I pick her up before tickling her belly. She giggles and my heart aches with love.
“Did you have fun with Auntie Alice today?” I ask.
“Babababa,” she babbles and I nod.
“Really?” I gasp as I turn back to the kitchen with her in my arms. “What else did you do today?”
I put her in her high chair, sprinkle some Cheerios on the tray, and work on finishing up dinner as she babbles on. When the potatoes are done, I drain the water and dump them into a bowl before adding a generous helping of butter and milk and mashing them. Once the potatoes are done, I throw a bag of vegetables into the microwave and turn to check the ribs. Before I can even take the lid off of the crockpot, the doorbell rings and Brooklyn’s head whips in the direction of the foyer.
“Lalalala,” she sings and I can’t help but think she’s trying to say Lucas.
“Who’s here, pretty girl?” I ask as I wipe my hands on a towel and pass by her high chair.
“Lalalala.”
I laugh and snag one of her Cheerios. “You think so?”
I step into the foyer and my heart starts to race as butterflies flap around in my belly. A smile stretches across my face as I grab the doorknob and it doesn’t even matter that I haven’t even seen him yet because just knowing that he’s on the other side of that door is enough to reduce me to a grinning, bubbly mess. Sucking in a breath to calm the electricity zipping through my body, I open the door and my grin grows as he steps into the house and lifts me up into his arms despite my squeal.
“Lucas!” I gasp, slapping his shoulder and he laughs as he slides me down the front of his body, igniting every single nerve ending under my skin. My breath catches as our eyes meet and I can smell the spearmint gum in his mouth as he leans in. His arm slips around my waist and he pulls me so close that I’m not sure where I end and he begins but I can’t bring myself to pull away - not when being in his arms feels like the only place I’m meant to be. Ever so slowly, he closes the distance between us and the moment his lips touch mine, I sigh because kissing him is like coming home.