Paxton and I had just started to paint the trim around the new window in my old room when we got the call. We didn’t mean to get started that late, but by the time we recharged our family stones, and had sex on the drop cloth, it was nearly ten. I was on my phone, searching for someone who could make custom seat covers for the seat. I loved the seat, loved the view overlooking the ocean, and I loved how Paxton turned it into a little nook with a built-in bookshelf on one end, and a fold down desk on the other.
“Here’s one. It’s over on Oak. Want me to call them tomorrow?”
“I’ll do it. What about blue and white stripes? That would look nice in here.”
I thought about Paxton’s suggestion briefly, wondering how to break it to him easy. “Hmm, how about not. I’ll call. I think a charcoal gray would look nice with the walls. I don’t like the stripe idea. What size do we need?”
Paxton’s look was glazed over when I glanced up from my phone, wondering why he didn’t answer.
“What?” I questioned.
“Um, nothing. It’s the same size as a twin mattress.”
I turned off my phone and rolled my eyes.
Paxton was the one to question my motives that time. “What?”
“I don’t need a custom seat made, you big dumb idiot. All I need is a mattress store. I’ll buy the cover I want.”
Paxton dipped the tip of his brush into his paint cup and began the tedious job. “Oh, yeah, that makes sense. We’ll go one night next week.”
“I’ll go tomorrow while the girls are at dance.”
“Yeah, I don’t really like you doing things while the girls are at dance. Stay with them. We’ll go together.”
“Why? You afraid I’m going to find someone else to hypnotize me? I can go Paxton. You have enough going on. I don’t need you to go with me to pick out a mattress. I—”
Paxton held up one finger, shushing me when his phone rang. I let out an exasperated breath and dipped my own brush. Ten o’clock at night and he was still taking work calls.
“Pierce Pools and Landscaping. Oh, hi. How are you?”
I looked over, realizing it wasn’t a work call, halting movement of my brush midair. My heart started to beat in a quick rapid pace. The more I listened, the harder it beat.
“Yes, we can do that.”
“Do what?” I questioned while stepping closer to him. I could hear her voice, but I couldn’t make out the words. I knew it was Jonnie White, I just couldn’t understand what the hell she said.
Paxton kept me at arm’s length with a straight arm, and a dirty look.
“Um, wow. Yeah. I mean, let me see what I can do. I’ll have to rearrange some things, but yeah, definitely. Is this a good number to reach you at? Thank you so much. I’ll get back to you as soon I know what’s going on. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
My eyebrows curled inward. Paxton passed out thank you’s like he’d just hit the lottery. It had to be something big.
“What?” I said in an elevated tone.
“You want to fly to Michigan tomorrow and meet your nephew?”
“Seriously? We get to meet him? That’s a good sign, right? I mean they wouldn’t let us see him if we didn’t have a chance, right?”
“That’s what I’m thinking. Hurry up, paint that side. I’ve got a million calls to make.”
“What about the girls? What about dance, and the mattress?”
Paxton smiled and pulled me into his arms, an attempt to calm my crazy nerves. “The mattress? We’re about to go meet Vander, and you’re worried about the mattress?”
“I’m shaking.”
“I feel you.”
“Are we taking the girls?”
“Can they spend the night with Tricia tomorrow?”
I pulled out of his arms with that one. “No way. I don’t want them anywhere near her. I hate her.”
“You didn’t always hate her, Gabriella. She’s always been good to our kids. We could call my mom? They could spend the night with their grandma.”
“What?”
“Nothing, I’m just being a dick. What else are you going to do with them?”
“My doctor friend?” I offered and questioned at the same time.
Paxton turned back to the trim, shooting me down the same way I did him. “I guess we’re taking them.”
“Why? They love Mi.”
“Yeah, and she’d probably have them sacrificing the neighbor’s cat or something. No. I’m not leaving my kids with Mi for an entire day and night, probably two days. Forget it. Paint,” he ordered with a point from his brush to my side.
“She’s a doctor for Christ’s sake.”
“Yeah, a weird as fuck doctor. A witch doctor.”
“Shut up. She’s not a witch doctor.”
“No, Gabriella.”
“Whatever. That’s so dumb.”
“Paint.”
“Grrr.”
Paxton and I talked about Vander and the room. He was determined to give Vander the room. I finally agreed, but not because I agreed. I was afraid of jinxing it, of setting it up for failure. I came to my decision when I realized I didn’t care if he slept in the bathtub. It didn’t matter as long as he was there.
I excused Paxton, offering to clean up the mess once we’d finished. He had plane tickets to find, and I had nerves to calm. Every time I thought I had them under control, they proved me wrong. It was so surreal, and I couldn’t believe it. Not until I saw him. Of course thinking about that worried me, too. What if he was confused? What if he thought I was his mommy?
Paxton stood a few feet back, observing the finished product. “Okay, you win. Call Mi.”
I turned to him unsure I heard him right. “What?”
“Mi can stay with the girls, but only here. I don’t want them at her house, and I would rather Nick not come with her.”
“Why? That’s dumb. They can sleep in here. Nick could use a day on the beach. Maybe he’ll take the day off.”
“What about Mi, doesn’t she have to work?”
“She got suspended for a few days.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“Because Mi don’t take shit from anyone.”
“I could squash that little girl with one foot.”
“But you don’t.” It was the truth. Mi put him in his place every time she’s seen him, and Paxton took it.
“Go call Mi. I’m going to do a few things in my office. I’ll meet you upstairs.”
“What time are we leaving?”
“As soon as we can get a flight. His foster parents are bringing him to the office at one, but if at all possible they want us there an hour before. I’ll see what I can do.”
Paxton walked out, leaving me spinning in circles. I breathed in slow, calming breaths, trying to convince myself that I was at peace. I cleaned up the room for the tenth time, this time with clean sheets on my bed. Mi was going to love it.
Paxton was on the phone with one of his main guys when I walked out. I mixed a drink with a double shot of Grey Goose, and walked upstairs to shower. I didn’t want to hear about the Miller’s hot tub built into a waterfall. I cared about freaking plane tickets to Michigan. My head shook from side to side as I blew out a puff of frustrated air.
I talked to Mi, soaking in lavender bubbles, sipping my stiff drink for twenty minutes. Of course she would come, and she would make Nick come, too. I told her what we had learned, talked about my fears, my hopes, and then my doubts. Mi mostly listened with a question here and there, or a quiet hum, letting me know she was listening.
“Is that Mi? Can she be here by six-thirty? We have a seven-thirty flight, but I couldn’t get first class.” Paxton said as he strolled into the bathroom.
I didn’t care about first class. I wasn’t too proud to ride economy, not where I was going. “Really? Mi, can you be here by six-thirty?”
“Is he peeing?”
I laughed into the phone. “Yes, that’s exactly what he’s doing.”
“He’s so modest.”
“Right, can you?”
“Yes, I can be there. I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t worry, Gabby. It’s all going to work out. I promise. Make sure you wear your Wonderland Jasper. It’ll keep you from warring so much.”