74: Don’t Leave Part 1
Easton
It takes a few seconds for my brain to process the sight running toward me. Lorelei saying something about being home as she does that annoying as f**k giggle squeal of hers.
I register Becker vaguely saying “f*****g hell” as Jackson slams his fist on the counter. She’s about to honestly leap into my arms like some damn cheesy romance movie, so I sidestep using my height to my advantage, and she barely manages to stay upright. Cole is staring at her with his mouth open as Barrett does the same.
“Easton!” She whines and my voice finally works. Boys first…
“It’ll be ok, boys. Ear muffs! Go to the playroom please.” I say firmly, utilizing Luci’s newest trick as I give them a reassuring smile before I whirl on her presumptuous ass. They’ve covered their ears with both hands as Jackson lifts them off the stools.
“What the f**k are you doing here?” I snarl coldly, keeping my voice low.
“Easton…what…” she takes a tentative step toward me and I step back automatically, glaring
at her.
Keys jingle and Dad calls out cheerfully from the door behind us. “You guys are not going to believe the morning I’ve had.”
“No Dad, I think we’ve got you beat.” Kingston calls out dryly.
“Lorelei?! What in f*****g creation…Why are you in my house?” I see him glancing around at
our faces. “How did you get inside?” He snarls.
She gapes at him dramatically for a minute. “Umm well Dad, I uh, I live here. I came home finally,”
He and I both explode simultaneously. “This is not your home.” I say coldly.
“You do not live here and I am not your dad!” Dad grounds out.
“I do. Remember, I moved in when I brought Cole back. This is my real home.” She sounds
tearful.
“How did you get in here because my boys didn’t let you in?” Dad asks with authority.
“Apparently, we need to female Winters–ize, or Winters–proof our house, Dad.” Becker says with
venom.
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74: Don’t Leave Part 1
Lorelei answers slowly. “The door was unlocked.”
Her soft hesitant voice has me snapping my head toward the hallway. Luci steps forward into
sight. “That’s… that’s my fault. I…I didn’t lock it after Sydney….I’m sorry.” She stares at her feet. I rush to her and gently tip her chin up.
“Don’t Luci…” I say softly. “You did nothing wrong, sweetness. Hold on for me while I get rid of
her.” She’s running down a rabbit hole blaming herself. “Luci, baby no, come back.” I whisper
and touch her ear. She comes back mostly.
Dad’s voice is very gentle. “Luci, that doesn’t matter. People who don’t live in or aren’t welcome
in a home have no right to enter it even if the door is left wide open. It’s trespassing period.”
He drops the last bit with steel.
I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and see Cole and Barrett slowly sliding along
the wall trying to listen. Great parenting Easton, I should have made sure they were gone.
Kingston moves to my side, ready to step in front of Luci. He talks quietly to her. “Don’t blame yourself Luci Lou. This presumptuous C U Next Tuesday is leaving soon.”
Suddenly, someone knocks on the door and Becker cackles. “Live demonstration of how
people should act. It’s like the universe is talking to you, Lorelei.” She gives him an
exasperated look that he mocks.
Kingston moves to the foyer before returning with Banning following on alert. Banning’s eyes
dart around the room as he takes in the situation rapidly. “Luci Lou…” he calls softly, seeing
her eyes slightly unfocused. He gazes at me with an unspoken question. I give him a subtle
nod and point to the boys, before whispering to her. “Go with Banning please. I need to handle
this and I don’t want her to affect you.”
“Come on Luci. Boys! Playroom chop chop.” Banning says firmly as he wraps an arm around
her shoulders and steers her down the hall. Cole and Barrett run ahead of him.
“Wait. Cole…he’s grown so much.” My fists clench hearing her almost wistful tone. The nerve
of her….She gives me a little smile as I spin to face her. She’s moved to stare down the
hallway behind me.
“Did you only just now remember he was sitting there?” I ask her quietly. “Most mothers would
run to their child first when they haven’t seen him in oh… almost three years. And surprise, he
grew up. You missed it.” Sadly, I already know why she didn’t bother with him. At least the most glaring reason. Two boys who look related….
Becker slaps the counter before pointing at me. “I mean, do you even know which one of them
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74: Don’t Leave Part 1
was your kid? Two blonde boys with similar eye color at a glance, same size…you had no idea.
which one to talk to.” His eyes glint with his dislike of her.
Jackson scoffs and his voice is icy. “I mean you had a fifty–fifty chance to get it right, Lorelei. Pretty good odds for anything other than identifying the child you abandoned.”
Kingston folds his arms. “You actually think she was going to bother?”
“Of course I was going to bother. Cole’s my son! But I thought Easton should get my first
greeting. I missed you so much baby! I know I haven’t been the best at communicating, but it
wasn’t because I didn’t miss you two.” She stares at me, hopefully pleading.
I shake my head. “Get out.”
She stares back at me stunned. “What? Easton. This is my home. I’m back. My contracts are
fulfilled and I came home for our family. We’re engaged remember?” She flashes her left hand
and I see the ring I gave her like a damned moron.
“Are you sick?” I ask slowly.
“No.” She is indignant.
“Have you been diagnosed with clinical amnesia?” I narrow my eyes at her.
“No. Easton, we need to talk. I’m home.” She drags the last two words out like it will change.
my mind.
“Did
you watch us on the news Friday night?” I’m holding on to what little control I have over
my temper. She sent my girl into a tailspin and f**k knows what her appearance did to Cole.
“No. Did something happen with the hockey team and you made the news?” She appears
genuinely confused, walking toward me slowly. Like a viper stalking her prey.
“When did you decide to come back?” Jackson’s caught on. This is not a coincidence her
being here right now.
“I bought my ticket over a week ago. Does that matter?” She laughs slightly and goes to touch
my arm.
I jerk away from her before she does. “Do. Not. f*****g. Touch. Me.” I point toward the door. Get out. You are an expert on leaving this house. Make sure you stay gone even longer this
time.”
“Like ten minutes to never would work.” Becker adds dryly.
44
Jackson isn’t to be outdone. “Too f*****g soon, Beck. Like fifteen minutes after never is better.
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74: Don’t Leave Part 1
* Pem
She recoils like I slapped her. “Easton, this is my home. I moved in with you before I went back to work. My family is here.”
“No, your f*****g mother lives two doors down. She’s your family and that’s your home. Last chance or we call the police. Get your f*****g unwanted ass out!” I growl furiously.
“Out Lorelei!” Dad barks. “You can be arrested very publicly like your mother if you aren’t gone in thirty seconds.”
His finger hovers over his phone screen.
She swallows hard and lets a few tears slide down her cheeks. “I know you’re surprised. I
thought…I know you missed me, Easty baby.” My lip curls in disgust at that nickname. I’d
much rather answer to Captain hottie a million times…
She walks reluctantly toward her suitcase. “Call me when you get over the shock. I haven’t
changed my number.”
“Good. Easier to block.” Jackson mutters loudly.
She leaves slowly, looking back the whole time. “Go, East.” Jackson urges.
“We can see vermin off the premises.” Kingston stalks behind her. I don’t need to hear it twice.
My feet speed toward the playroom, while I hear Becker call out pleasantly. “Don’t let the door
hit you…no I got it wrong, be sure the door hits you, Lorelei.” I would laugh, but I need to get to
Cole and Luci. My family…
Banning
“Luci?” I squeeze her hand and she gives me a small smile. She’s blaming herself for this. Kingston had only whispered a few words to me as he let me in about Cole’s mother ambushing them after Luci left the door unlocked and she was struggling. I know her guilt for anything harming a child in any way and saw how she was berating herself the second I
looked at her. “Not your fault, Luci Lou.”
Cole climbs in her lap and she puts on her brave face for him.
“Hey Coco. Want to talk about it?” He nods at her. Barrett climbs into my lap and I hold a
finger up to my lips before pointing to Cole. Barrett nods and wraps his arms around my neck.
I wonder how she’ll handle this.
“Luci, was that my mom?” His voice is almost a whisper.
“Yes Coco. That was your mom.”
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74: Don’t Leave Part 1
“She didn’t talk to me. Didn’t see me.” Not a question.
Luci takes a deep breath. “Coco, listen. She was talking to your daddy first. I don’t know if she didn’t see you. Sometimes when you see someone you haven’t in a long time, you don’t see all the other people in the room until they talk or move. And remember she hasn’t seen your daddy in a long time. I’m sorry I let her surprise you like that.”
I look at her with a bit of a warning. I know she’s softening the blow for him but don’t want her to go too far. “Don’t paint a picture with such a generous brush, Luci.” One of Mom’s best sayings for raising kids. She gives me a beseeching look.
“Luci?” Cole lays his head on her shoulder.
“Yes sweetie.”
“What if she wants to see me? Do I have to talk to her?” The mixture of fear and hope in his voice almost kill me. Tender–hearted Luci will be in agony by the end of this. Like Syd, I fully
believe Cole sees Luci as the first mom he’s ever had.
“You might have to talk to her. Sometimes other people make kids see or talk to their parents. People called judges or counselors or lawyers. But until that happens, your daddy is in charge. And you get to choose if you talk to her and what you talk about. Like if all you want to do is ask her favorite color, you can. And you don’t have to say anything else until you’re ready. If you want to talk to her all day, you can. It’s whatever makes your heart feel ok. Your daddy can tell her those are the rules if she wants to see you. He will listen to you, Cole for what you
need and want to do. Your daddy will fight for what is best for you. I won’t lie to you, Cole. I can’t promise it will stay that way. But today it’s that way. Do you know what my words
mean?”
“Yes Luci. You always help me. I feel better with you.”
“I’ll do my best to help you. I promise.”
The door flies open and Easton steps in looking panicked. “Banning would you…”
I nod quickly. “Hey Barrett, how about you show me Cole’s room?”
He nods gratefully at me and I carry Barrett out. I text Sydney that Luci is going to need her
later. Maybe Stormi and Mom too for this one.
Ivory Row
Let me help you off the cliff with a semi–early update. Don’t say I don’t love ya…. How do you think he did? Those boys are brutal like their father. Delulu–lei bird has come home to roost but didn’t find her nest waiting.
