“Sure,” he said. “I'm going back to watch my cartoon.”
With that, he was gone.
I took a step forward, and she didn't move. Her cries had turned into sobs. I stepped forward again, reached up, took her hands away from her face, and leaned down so I could see her eyes. She slowly opened them, and there was so much emotion there.
“Jackson is your son,” I said as more of a statement than a question.
She nodded but didn't speak. Tears were sliding down her face faster than my fingers could wipe them away.
“Why didn't you tell me?” I asked.
“I couldn't,” she said.
I wrapped my arms around her, pulled her close, and held her tight.
“It'll be okay, Lauren,” I said. “We'll figure this out.”
In that moment, I was so glad I hadn't turned my car around. She was alone with her son. Nobody should ever have to be alone.
Chapter 15
Lauren
Lance didn't run. I thought he would the second he found out I had a child, but he didn't. He stayed the entire time. He got a hotel room in town, but he was at the house early each morning and stayed until it was late. He helped me with everything, including Jackson. He'd even gone with me to the funeral home and helped me with the plans. I don't know how I could have done that without him. My mom should have been the one to take care of that part, but she didn't. Instead, she stayed in her room. I couldn't even tell you how many times he held me while I cried.
It was all so unexpected. My grandma had been fine. She was healthy, always had been. When I found her on the floor in the kitchen, I didn't know what to do. They said it was a heart attack. They said she hadn't suffered, but that didn't do anything to ease my pain. She was my life, her and Jackson. She was the only one I had left that had been there for me. The only thing left was my son, and I was going to do everything to give him the great life he deserved. We were both going to miss her so much.
Jackson loved Lance. I couldn't believe how good he was with my boy. If you would have asked me, I never would have thought he would be. He had his niece and was great with her, but that was different. Seeing Jackson after just a few days with him, I knew I needed to be careful. I didn't want him to get too attached to Lance. He'd already had enough loss. I didn't want him to hurt anymore.
After my grandma's funeral, I had a small lunch at the house. Lance took care of everything. He wouldn't let me cook or do anything. He hired a caterer and told me I needed to relax and celebrate my grandma. I promised I'd pay him back as soon as I could, but he brushed it off. There was no way I'd let that happen. It wasn't his job to do any of it.
Just after the last person left, I heard someone walk into the kitchen behind me. I thought it was Lance but could hear him talking to Jackson from the other room. When I turned around and saw my mom standing there, I knew something was up. She had a smirk on her face. Her mother had just been buried, and she was smirking.
“I wanted to let you know that you need to leave,” she said.
My mouth dropped open. I was stunned.
“What?” I asked, totally confused by her words.
“I need you to pack up you and your son and leave,” she said, as if I should've known exactly what she meant.
I could see Lance standing behind her just around the corner. His shadow was giving him away.
“I don't understand,” I said. “Why would I need to do that. I've lived here since I was eight. This was grandma's house.”
“It's mine now, and I want you out,” she said.
“You can't be serious,” I said. “We just buried her today. How can you do this to me and to Jackson? You can't do this to us. Grandma would never let this happen.”
“She's not here,” she said with hate in her tone. “I can, and I am. The house is mine. She never changed her will after Jackson came along. I don't want you here. I told you when you got pregnant that you were making a huge mistake. She helped you keep him. She took care of you. I told you no man is ever going to want you now. You didn't listen. Your dad left me because of you. I don't want you here. Now that she's not here to help you, you can figure it out on your own.”
I could feel the tears sliding down my cheeks. How could she do that? How could my own mother throw me out? It was the only place that's ever felt like a real home to me, and I was being told to leave. I couldn't believe what she was doing. I felt like I couldn't breathe.
“Where am I supposed to go?” I asked her. “This is our home.”
“I don't give a,” she began.
“With me,” Lance growled out, cutting her off as he rounded the corner. “The two of you are coming with me.”
Chapter 16
Lance
Hearing her mother speak to her that way made me want to knock her ass out. I was so fucking sick to my stomach. How could she talk to her own child that way? What about her grandson? It was like she didn't give a shit what happened to them. How could she tell her own daughter that no man would ever love her because of a child? Shit! Was that why Lauren was so afraid to tell me about Jackson? How could she have lived with that woman all those years? What the fuck was wrong with her mother?
Her mom was kicking her and her son out on the street. She didn't have a plan in place. Shit, she didn't know she'd need one. Her grandmother had died suddenly just days before, and she was being thrown out on her ass. That was not okay. I was so pissed off. That wasn't how family was. It wasn't how it was supposed to be anyway. Family was supposed to love you. They were supposed to be the people you turned to when the world fucked you over. My parents pissed me off on a regular basis, but I'd never not be there for them. They would never dream of turning their backs on me. They'd spend their last penny to help me. That was family.
When she asked her mom where she was supposed to go, I couldn't stop myself. There was no fucking way I was going to walk away.
“With me,” I growled out. “The two of you are coming with me.”
In that moment, I felt more protective over the two of them than I ever had anyone or anything in my life. There was no way that bitch of a woman was going to hurt Lauren days after her grandma's death. I didn't care if she changed her mind, Lauren and Jackson were not staying there with her. That shit would never happen.
“I can't,” she said, as she looked past her mom.
“You can,” I said firmly.
She shook her head no.
“Jackson”
“I'll stay at my parents if you're worried about me getting close to him,” I said. “I'll figure it out.”
“No,” she said. “We're not your problem.”
“You're right, you're not,” I said, as I stepped around the nasty woman to get to Lauren. “You can pay rent if it makes you feel better.”
Her shoulders instantly relaxed, and I smiled down at her.
“Ass,” she whispered but smiled back.
That was good enough for me. It was the first smile I'd seen on her since I'd first knocked on her door.
“Go pack your stuff,” I said. “I'll help you pack Jackson's. Between our cars, we should be able to get most of it. I'll bring you back for the rest.”
“I'm not leaving right now,” she said.
“You are,” I said. “I'm not leaving the two of you here one night with her.”
“Lance,” she said, as she reached out and grabbed my arm.
“Now,” I demanded.
It was taking all I had to hold it together in front of her. I couldn't have her arguing with me. She needed to go. There was no way she was staying without me there. I'd carry her ass out over my shoulder if I had to.
When I narrowed my eyes at her, she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Don't do this, I thought. I didn't move my eyes away. Finally, she took a deep breath and walked around me and out of the room. I stayed facing away from the evil woman behind me. I heard Lauren tell Jackson to come up to her room with her. Then I heard their footsteps.
I t
ook a huge breath in and released it. Then I spun around to face the bitch that had put Lauren through so much in her life.
“Go ahead, take her,” she snapped at me. “I don't want her. She's the reason he left.”
“That's bullshit,” I snapped back. “She doesn't deserve any of this, and she definitely deserved a better mother than you. How can you turn on your own child. She's the one you should have chosen. He's not here. Being a bitch to her didn't bring him back, did it? I've never seen a more disgusting person in all my life. She just lost her grandmother, and you couldn't even give her time before hurting her. What the fuck is wrong with you? You're alone for a reason, and it's not because of him.”
“I should have listened when his ex's man told me he was a loser. He'd gotten her pregnant and told her to take care of it. He was pissed when he found out she hadn't. It didn't help that a ballplayer had gotten her after he was done with her. I thought it would be different with us. He loved me. He didn't want kids. I got pregnant by accident. I'd still have him if I'd listened to him when he told me to take care of it.”
I was so pissed off that I wasn't even listening to her ramble anymore.
“You make me so sick,” I growled out at her. “She deserves so much better than you.”
“Oh really?” she asked sarcastically. “You going to take her and a boy that's not even yours?”
“I am,” I said. “She better never hear from you again. You have the house. Enjoy it. I'll make sure they're safe. You're going to grow old alone, and that is your fault. So, when you're lonely and you need help, remember this moment right here. The moment you turned your back on your child. You have nobody to blame but yourself. You should have loved her. You should have been a mother to her. It wasn't her fault that you picked a jackass to love. That was all on you, remember that.”
I turned around and walked by her toward the doorway so I could go help Lauren and get her the hell out of there.
“Have a nice life,” I said. “I'll make damn sure they do.”
Chapter 17
Lauren
I began filling boxes when I heard Lance walk up behind me.
“She's really throwing me out,” I said more to myself than to him. “How could she? This way my grandparents' house. I've lived here since I was a little girl. They loved me. I'm her daughter.”
He grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him.
“Stop,” he said. “She is the wrong one here, not you. Do not give her any power over you. You hold your head tall and walk out of here knowing that you and Jackson will have better lives without her. Do you hear me?”
I nodded before looking down at my feet. He'd been there those last few days and helped me so much. There he was, seeing every vulnerable, shitty part of me and my life. I felt so awful. He had it all together. He had an amazing family, great job, money, and his own place. I was a mess.
“Look at me,” he said.
I shook my head. His fingers brought my chin up so I was forced to look at him.
“That little boy can't be here,” he said. Even if you wanted to stay and fight for whatever it is you want with her, you have to go for him. You're grandma is gone. I'm so sorry for what you've just gone through, but there is no way you can keep him around that evil woman after the things she has said and done.”
“I know,” I said. “I can't believe you heard those things. I feel so stupid.”
“Don't,” he snapped.
“You don't get it,” I said. “Look at you, and look at me. You should just go. I'll figure this out.”
“Not happening,” he said. “I'm going to start in Jackson's room. Get your ass moving in here.”
Just like that, he turned and walked away.
“Lance,” I called after him.
“Not a word,” he said. “Don't fight me on this, Lauren. It won't do you any good.”
I let out a huff and went back to filling boxes. In that moment, I was so glad that my grandma saved every box she probably ever had.
By the time I was done, I was exhausted. I didn't take everything, but I got most of it. With having Jackson, I spent most of my money on him, so I didn't really have much. I grabbed photos of me and my grandparents through the years as well as a picture of my dad with me on his lap and put them in my purse.
When I walked into Jackson's room, I almost lost it. He was sitting on his bed talking away, and Lance was packing as he listened to every word. He even stopped to ask questions about what Jackson was saying. My mind began questioning things. Was I making the right decision? Should I stay and try to find something close? Was it bad that I wanted to go with him?
“You going to stand there all night?” Lance asked, pulling me back to reality.
“No,” I said, as I walked in and grabbed a box.
By the time we were done, it was midnight. We were able to fit all of the boxes into the cars. His was much bigger than mine. I followed behind him to the hotel. Jackson was so excited to be staying the night in a new place, but he fell asleep before we even made it. When I opened his door, Lance ran over from his car.
“I'll get him,” he said.
“I've got him,” I said.
He narrowed his eyes at me, and I rolled mine as I stepped aside.
“Have it your way, Boss,” I said sarcastically.
He gave me a fake smile before leaning into the car to get Jackson. When we got to his room, he set Jackson gently on the bed and covered him up. Then he turned back to me.
“Do you want me to get anything out of your car?” he asked. “I have boxers and a t-shirt you can sleep in.”
Wait a minute, I thought. How the heck did he have clothes? It took me days to think of that. How sad was that?
“Where did you get clothes?” I asked.
“I went shopping on the way back here the night I got here,” he said with a laugh. “Thanks for noticing.”
I went to turn away from him, but he reached out to stop me.
“I was just kidding,” he said. “You had a lot going on. Calm your ass down.”
“I'm going to go out and get my laptops,” I said. “I'll feel better if we have them in here.”
“I'll go,” he said. “It's dark out there. Hand me your keys.”
“I've been out in the dark before,” I said with a laugh of my own.
“Keys,” he demanded.
I handed them to him, and he turned to walk out the door.
“Open it for me when I get back,” he said. “Don't be a smart ass either.”
“Yes, Sir,” I said with a smile.
I heard him mumbling something on his way out, but I couldn't make it out.
When I turned around and saw my sweet baby curled up under the covers, tears slipped from my eyes. He'd been through so much. Our grandma was our everything. He spent so much time with her and loved sitting and playing with her. It was going to be just as hard on him as it was on me. On top of that, I'd packed his whole life in just a few hours and was moving him hours away. Part of me wasn't sure it was the right thing to do. The other part knew we couldn't stay there. Not only not in that house but not anywhere near my mom.
I heard the knock on the door and hurried to open it. His eyes hit mine, and I turned away to quickly dry them. He put my stuff down, spun me around, and wrapped his arms around me.
“I know all I seem to do is cry. I'm so sorry for everything I've put you through. If you hadn't come,” I said, but he quickly put his finger over my lips to quiet me.
“I'm glad I did,” he said, as he put his forehead against mine. “Everything will be okay.”
“How?” I asked. “She was all we had. She's gone.”
“I know,” he said.
He sat down on the bed with his back against the headboard and pulled me down next to him. His arms wrapped around me. My head went to his shoulder, and I slowly felt my body relax. It was the first time in so long that I'd actually felt safe, like nothing was going to hurt me.
“Thank you
,” I said, as I closed my eyes. “Thank you for everything.”
“Get some sleep,” he said.
“Jackson,” I said barely awake.
“I already told you I'll stay with my parents,” he said sounding just as tired as I felt.
“No, it's your place,” I said. “He's never had a man in his life. It's always been my grandma and me. He's been through a lot, Lance. I'm so worried about him getting close to you. He's not your responsibility. I'm going to get on my feet and get my own place. I'll make sure we're not in your way. I'll make sure he doesn't bother you.”
“She really messed with you, didn't she?” he asked.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said. “Get some sleep. We'll be up before you know it. You need to be rested to drive. Close your eyes, and quit thinking.”
I soaked up the feeling of being in Lance's arms. I was so damn scared for what was ahead. It was just my boy and me against the world. All we had was each other. Could I do it, I wondered? Could I be everything Jackson deserved? Then I thought about Lance and couldn't help but wonder why he was helping someone like me?
Chapter 18
Lance
We were up and gone early the next morning. I wanted to get home, and I wanted them safe and away from the shit she was leaving behind. She followed behind me the whole way. Each mile we drove brought us closer to her new start. I knew I should have been nervous. They were going to invade my home, the home I'd gotten so I could get away from everyone. Things were going to change. There wouldn't be anymore walking around naked or thinking of only me. Not only was she going to be there, but he was going to be there too. There would be cartoons, toys, and tiny chatter. I wouldn't be alone. My privacy would be no more. I should have been worried, but I wasn't. I was actually looking forward to having them there. There would have to be real meals and set schedules. The only thing set in my schedule was my job and my freezer full of boxed meals.
She pulled her car in next to mine. When I looked over at her, I could see the worry in her eyes. There was no way I was giving her time to think. She needed to jump in with both feet, or she'd be trying to find a way out at every turn. I hurried over to her car, pulled open Jackson's door, and scooped him up. Then I took off for my apartment.
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