“Lean on me,” she said.
“I’m sorry about this. It’s not what you think—”
“Lean on me,” she said. Maverick put his arm around her shoulder, and the two of them went to the master bedroom and bathroom. Noah followed them, crying in protest.
“Noah’s upset. My fault. You’re right, you should take him and go. Let me get my shit together,” Maverick pushed her helping hands away.
“You’re the one that upset him,” Delilah sighed. “You need to fix it, not me. But first, shower. Change. And I’ll make you some soup.”
Maverick gripped the door frame to remain standing.
“I’ll bring in some bottles of water for you to drink after your shower. Can you handle it?”
Maverick looked down into her angelic face. She continued to surprise him with how genuine and supportive of him she was. “I fucked this one up, didn’t I?”
“This isn’t about us, Maverick. It’s about Noah. Get in the shower and clean-up.” She turned and picked up her son and soothed him. His son rested his head on his mother’s shoulder and relaxed without acknowledging him. Delilah left before she closed the door behind her.
MAVERICK SAT ON THE bed and finished the third bottle of water. The shower helped. The bottled water finished him off. Now alone, he faced the man who had once again flushed his life. His image in the mirror stared back at him. He’d had some really tough dreams during his blackout. But somehow, they made him stronger. Camille’s forgiveness was something he couldn’t get in life. Part of him genuinely felt as if she was there for him now. He put his face in his hand and then wiped them both back over his head. Not since Delilah confined him to the room had she or Noah come back to check for him. It would take him forever to make the first move. This was something he’d have to fix. With the bottle in his hand, he went to the door and slowly opened it. The smell of something cooking greeted him. He heard Delilah’s laughter first and the soft sound of music playing. It was classical and very soothing. Noah laughed next with his mother. He followed their sounds of happiness and then peeked in the kitchen at them. Delilah danced around with Noah locked in her arms. His son’s arms were raised above his head, and he was swaying. A weird like waltz, they danced along to the pianist who played a beautiful harmony from an Amazon Alexa speaker box.
“Hi,” Maverick said.
Delilah froze. She and Noah looked at him as if surprised he’d returned to the living so soon. Maverick stepped into the kitchen.
“Hi, Noah,” he said again. Noah dropped his head on his mother’s shoulder. Maverick took a step forward, and Noah turned his face so he didn’t look at Maverick. Delilah rubbed her son’s back. “He’s okay. Give him a minute to warm up to you again.”
“I scared him?” Maverick asked.
“You scared the both of us. Why don’t you go sit down at the table,” Delilah said, keeping her distance? “I made some soup—tomato bisque I made from scratch. We had the ingredients in here. It’s my own recipe. I can make you a grilled cheese to go with it. Mommy makes the best-grilled cheese. Doesn’t she, Noah?”
Noah refused to lift his head from her shoulder. Delilah kissed his cheek. “We’ll join you in a minute Maverick. Here.” She went to the fridge and got him another bottle of water. She handed it to him. His fingers grazed hers briefly when he accepted the water.
“I’m really sorry,” Maverick said.
“Stop apologizing. Okay?” Delilah smiled her brightest smile at him.
“Hey, Noah? I see you got the pots out. Make any music for mommy?” Maverick asked.
There were pots all over the floor, and several cabinet doors open. Noah lifted his head to look at Maverick, but he held his mother’s neck protectively. Maverick winked at him and went into the kitchen.
Delilah had to balance Noah on her hip the entire time she flipped the grilled cheese sandwiches. Every time she tried to put him down, Noah cried.
“Are you going to be mad at Maverick all night?” she asked her son. Of course, he didn’t answer. He sucked his two middle fingers for comfort and rode her hip in contentment.
“Maverick!” Delilah called out.
“Yes?”
“You’re going to have to help me,” Delilah said. Maverick returned to the kitchen. She pointed to the porcelain bowl of bisque and serving spoon. He nodded and took it to the table. He returned for bowls and plates for them as she took the tray of sandwiches to the table. There was fresh-squeezed lemonade she had made and brought to the table as well.
“Smells good,” Maverick said.
Delilah sat in the chair with Noah in her lap while Maverick served the soup. “Noah, you like grilled cheese?”
Noah blinked at his father and then stared at the sandwiches.
Delilah smiled. “Vegan grilled cheese.”
“Vegan?” Maverick paused.
“It's the only cheese I keep around. Try it. It’s good, I promise. Don’t worry about Noah. He’s stubborn.”
“Like his mother,” Maverick said.
“Or his father,” she added.
Maverick shrugged. “Could be true.” He glanced to them both and then to the soup he poured. “Are you still angry with me?”
“I wasn’t angry. I was disappointed. You understand. I don’t want my son to see you drunk. Ever. Hell, I’d like not to see you drunk either.”
“Yes, I understand. I don’t have a drinking problem. I want you to know that. I’m okay,” Maverick assured her.
“Can I ask? What happened?” she asked him.
“You don’t know what happened?” Maverick replied.
Delilah sliced into the sandwich for her son and gave him his half. He ate while the soup cooled. She glanced up at Maverick and then away. “Oh. Right. I know what happened.”
“That video wasn’t just your husband betraying you. That man on that video said he impregnated my wife on purpose. He experimented on her. He killed her. I came here to clear my head with a few beers. And then... then it got the best of me.”
“I’m sorry. I should have been more sensitive. You already knew Yasar Fikrit’s crimes, though. You said so in court. I didn’t think you would be any angrier than you already were.”
Maverick slammed his fist down to the table. It startled her, and Noah blinked at him, surprised. He stopped chewing. Maverick clenched his fist tightly. “He murdered her. Yes. I knew his treatments killed her. I’m angry. I’m hurt. But hearing that he murdered her and couldn’t give a shit is something different. The people who did this to Melissa are dead. There is no justice for her. I don’t know where to put my anger.”
“Maybe we should just eat. Until you do,” Delilah replied.
Maverick ate his soup and sandwich, as she suggested. He gobbled it. Whatever she put in the soup had a zest that exploded over his tastebuds. And the two different kinds of cheeses that weren’t really cheese placed between buttered grilled bread was equally as gratifying. She wasn’t playing the role of perfection. Delilah was closer to perfection than any woman could come. He smiled at Noah a few times, and Noah smiled back at him. When they were done, she offered desert, and he gobbled that down as well. He passed gas and had to apologize. She shook her head in disgust at the smell and left the table.