Broken Cheaters (19 page)

W
hen I woke
up the next morning, Axel was gone. I was beginning to think that he had a habit of leaving the bed in the morning, and wanting to cuddle, I made a note to talk to him about that. When I opened my eyes, instead of his loving gaze, a pair of younger eyes stared back at me. They would have normally reminded me of Axel, but this morning I saw Chloe in her son’s – my nephew’s – eyes.

“Good morning. Was I snoring?”

“No,” he laughed.

“Did you have a good night camping?”

“Gwamma and Gwampa wewe snowing, and I told Gwamma that I want to go home and she took me inside.”

“And you left Grampa in the tent?”

“Yes.”

Trevor’s giggles were the best sound ever. A moment later, he stopped and took on a more serious expression.

“Is it twue? Is it weally, weally twue? Awe you my auntie?”

I wondered how long Trevor had been staring at me this morning, waiting for me to wake up and get the answer.

“Yes, it’s true.” I smiled.

His mouth stretched from side to side in a wide smile, but his gaze lowered to the scar on my chest. Trevor reached to me and touched the white mark. I held my breath as he ran his tiny finger up and down.

“Is Mommy here?”

I wasn’t expecting to have serious conversations this early in the morning. “She is, baby. Did Daddy tell you?”

He nodded. There was a pinch of sadness in his eyes, mixed with happiness.

“Yes. Your mommy was my sister. She saved me by giving me her heart.”

“Mommy was a hewo just like daddy?”

“Yes, she definitely was.”

He scooted closer and leaned his head against my chest, listening to the beating of my heart. I felt my pulse rush as his little hand slid close to the scar, almost by his cheek. I wasn’t sure how long Trevor remained like that, but I didn’t want to do anything to disturb him.

“It sounds like mommy’s heart. And yours too. It sounds like both of you.”

“Well, if you’d like, you can listen to it any time.”

This time his big smile revealed his pearly white teeth. Trevor had lost all his front baby teeth already, and the new ones were still different lengths.

“Where’s Daddy?” I asked.

“He went out, and Gwamma is making bwekfast with Geowge, and Gwampa is still snowing in the tent.”

Grateful that I’d worn my shorts to bed, I pulled the covers aside and slid from underneath.

“Did you brush your teeth?” I asked as I walked to the bathroom.

“Yes.” Trevor followed me inside. Feeling my bladder, I stopped by the toilet and looked back at him. Trevor turned around and lifted his hands to his eyes, saying, “I’m giving you pwivacy. Daddy says it’s impowtant.”

“Thank you.”

With Trevor turned around and me getting used to the idea of someone else being in the bathroom while I peed, my bladder couldn’t take it any longer.

This is going to take some getting used to.

I did my business and washed my hands. As I wet my toothbrush, I saw Trevor standing beside me. He lifted his hands and I took that as a sign that he wanted to sit on the counter, so I lifted him.

He sat, watching me brush my teeth. I had a funny feeling that Trevor would be stuck to my side all day long, which I totally didn’t mind. I was looking forward to learning more about my nephew as much as he was probably wondering about me.

“Twish, did mommy like dinosaurs?”

“She loved them.”

His eyes grew wide open.

“In fact, I think she may have some books in her old room I think you’d like.”

He nodded his head up and down quickly and jumped off the counter, ready to go. Instead of going downstairs, I led Trevor to Chloe’s room. We sat down on the floor, and I pulled a few of her books from the shelf.

I leaned back against the wall, and holding the book in front of him, he sat between my legs. As we flipped through the pages, Trevor pointed to the words and I read them. The moment felt magical. A warm breeze swept thought the room, teasing my gaze upward. The curtains moved slightly, and I could have sworn that I felt my sister’s presence in the room.

“If you’d like, we can go out today to buy some dinosaur coloring books.”

“Yes!”

“Okay.”

“And ice cweam because you can’t go out and not buy ice cweam.”

“Yes, we’ll get ice cream as well.”

Trevor took in a deep breath before looking up. His eyes were full of wonder and questions, and I got nervous for a moment.

“Twish, will you be my mommy now?”

I hadn’t thought about ever having a child in my life. The time had never been right, and neither had the person. And here I was, with this marvelous boy staring into my eyes, taking over my heart. I wasn’t sure what I’d done in my life to deserve him, but I was beyond delirious to have him. I felt as attached to Trevor as any mother would to her child— at least that’s how I thought a mother would feel. I wanted to protect him, to laugh and cry with him, teach him, and comfort him when he needed me. He would forever be my number one. I’d give my life for him.

“Is that what you’d like?” I asked.

He nodded with delight.

“Well, I can guarantee you that we’ll always be a family, and you’ll always be in my life, Trevor. Always.”

He leaned against my chest, and I wound my arms around him, bringing him even closer, his little ear once again over my heart as he whispered, “I love you, Twish.”

“I love you too, Trevor.”

Someone cleared his throat at the threshold, and we both turned to see Axel leaning against the door frame.

“I thought you went out?”

“I’m back. Are you going to let Trish eat breakfast, buddy?”

Axel was freshly showered. His wet hair, ruffled by a towel, had that sexy look only he could pull off.

“Mommy loved dinosaurs too.” Trevor ignored the question and kept his eyes glued to the book, flipping the pages.

“Trevor, why don’t you take the book with you?” I asked.

He got up and ran out of the room. A moment later he was back, with his knapsack full of dinosaur items on his back.

I stood up and walked to Axel. He kissed me, and the morning finally felt complete.

Downstairs, the kitchen was bustling. My father walked through the patio door at the same time as we made it downstairs.

“Someone abandoned me last night,” he complained playfully.

Trevor giggled. “You’we a snowopolous because you snow, Gwampa.”

“Come here and give me a hug.” My father opened his arms wide and Trevor rammed into him.

I turned to Axel, asking, “You went out this morning?”

“Needed to clear my head, so I went for a run.”

“Is everything okay?”

“It is now that I’m back. It’s perfect, actually.”

“Breakfast’s getting cold,” George called from the kitchen.

There was nothing better than a home-cooked meal, especially when the entire family was in one room. It was still difficult to believe that we were all here. Trevor sat beside me with Axel on his other side. My father made more jokes about dinosaurs, and Trevor giggled at each one. My sister would have loved being here.

“Please, stay another night,” my mother implored.

“Mom, we have to work—”

“Meg, if it weren’t for an important appointment that I have lined up, we would. I don’t have a choice. These people depend on me. But Trish, if you need more time…”

“No, I won’t leave you. We’re a family now,” I said firmly.

“Trevor would stay with you.”

I looked between my mother’s pleading eyes and Axel’s confirming gaze.

“I’d leave tonight and have a private jet ready for you for tomorrow.”

“What about Olivier’s? I have a job—”

“He’ll understand. You’ve worked so hard, I’m sure a few extra days will be fine. I’ll talk to him myself. Besides, I thought you’d want to reconsider working there. I mean, you have amazing experience as an engineer.”

I shook my head. “I know waitressing is not rocket science, but I really love it. It feels right, and it pays well.”

My mother cocked her head to the side, “Trish, if it’s money you’re worried about, we could help. We just haven’t seen you in so long.”

“No, Mom. I’m not worried about money.” I sighed. Truthfully, another twenty-four hours without Axel felt like eternity. “Okay, until tomorrow night.”

“Gwamma, can I have anothew dinosaur pancake?”

“Of course, sweetheart.”

Trevor seemed to be having the time of his life. If he was confused, he didn’t let anyone know it. In fact, he was the only one of our family taking the new change in his life completely in stride.

After breakfast, I stretched my legs out on the patio and watched as Trevor, my father, and Axel all played in the sprinkler on the lawn. Then they frolicked in the pool, Axel and my father taking turns throwing Trevor high up in the air so he could dunk underneath. He was a natural swimmer. I closed my eyes for a moment, remembering when it had been me and Chloe having fun in this house. I saw her behind my eyelids as she morphed from the young girl I remembered to the mature mother she would have been. She kept mouthing something to me over and over again, but I couldn’t hear her. An image of a passing blue Camaro with two white stripes over its hood flashed by. It dissipated into thin air as it sped over Chloe. But she stood in the same spot, shaking her head.

I was jolted awake by drops of water falling onto my stomach. Axel stood above me, his bright smile fading into a sinful grin. He crouched beside me, kissing the side of my arm. The tip of his tongue teased my skin with a sensual lick.

“If it were just you and me now, I’d eat you alive.” His gaze snaked over my body and I couldn’t help but rest mine on the growth underneath his shorts. “Last night was not nearly enough, baby.”

“Oh, yeah?” I bit my lip. “We’ll have to do something about that, won’t we?”

“I sure hope so. But first you need to not pass out on me.”

“I’m sorry I fell asleep so quickly.”

“You had a day full of surprises.”

“What if we go now?” I pulled on the string of his shorts.

“I’m leaving in half an hour.”

I pouted.

“I wish you could stay.”

“Me too, but I’ll see you guys tomorrow night, and I’m sure my mom would like to take her mind off some things and babysit Trevor.”

“You’re making me want to leave here, and I’m not sure I can just yet.” I looked back to the pool where my father was playing with Trevor.

“Stay. You need this, and your family needs this. And when you guys come home tomorrow, we’ll do something special for the three of us… and then for the two of us.”

“Sounds perfect.”

With one last kiss, Axel went to change. After he left, I put on my shorts and t-shirt and helped Trevor get ready for our day of shopping. Two hours later, we were sitting outside an ice cream shop, and Trevor was coloring in his new dinosaur book. The remnants of his chocolate desert rested at the bottom of a cup.

I closed my eyes and let the sun warm my face when a call came through.

“It’s your daddy,” I said to Trevor, before picking up the phone.

“Trish, where are you?” The panic in his voice turned the blood in my veins into slush.

“We’re sitting outside an ice cream shop by the park. What’s going on?”

“Do not move. Jack made bail.”

“Okay, but it doesn’t mean—”

“Trish, just listen to me. There’s more. I don’t have time to explain, but you’re in danger. Go to the nearest public store and call the police.”

Jack wouldn’t come after me for doing what was right, would he?

“I’m getting on the next flight back. Trevor’s with you?” he asked.

I started packing up the books and dinosaurs into Trevor’s knapsack, saying, “Trevor, give me your hand, honey. Yes, he is.” Sensing the fear in my tone, Trevor set his crayons aside as well and grabbed my hand.

“Trish—”

“I’ll keep him safe, Axel. I promise.”

“Jesus, I shouldn’t have left.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw someone across the street staring at us. “Axel, we gotta go. I think we’re being followed.”

“Hang up and call the police. I’ll—”

The phone died before he got a chance to finish. I looked at the black screen and pressed the power button again. My battery was dead. Of course it would be!

Shit!

I walked as casually as my nerves would let me, and Trevor followed suit. He stuck to my side like glue. Once I turned the corner, the first store on the right was a linen and crafts store.

“We’re going to go inside a fabric store to see if grandma needs some new sheets. And we’re going to make a quick phone call. Okay?”

“Okay.” His whisper was enough to tell me that he’d absorbed my fear like a sponge. As soon as we turned the corner and snuck into the store, we ran to the back. This small space was a labyrinth. Passing rolls of fabric, bins of trinkets, and racks of yarn, I searched for a checkout counter with a clerk.

This was beginning to feel like a nightmare. The front door bell chimed, and I froze. Goosebumps covered my arms. I pressed my finger to my lips, asking Trevor to be quiet. We scooted into a corner. I moved the fabrics around and hid him behind the giant spools. “Whatever happens, don’t move, baby. Hide out like a velociraptor.”

“Is he a bad guy?” he asked.

There was no point in lying to him. “Yes, baby. He’s a very bad guy. Stay here until I get you, okay?”

He nodded.

The steps drew closer, and I tiptoed a few feet away from where I hid Trevor. Between the racks, I saw Jack heading our way. Trying to seem as casual as possible, I pretended to be inspecting a floral pattern when he cleared his throat.

I looked up. The man I used to know was gone, replaced with the face of a murderer. The tailor-cut suit was gone too and the perfectly slicked hair a total mess. Jack looked like he hadn’t shaved in a week, and the dark circles under his eyes made me suspect he hadn’t gotten much sleep in jail.

“Just who I was looking for,” he said.

“Hello, Jack. I wish I could say it’s nice to see you too, but I’d be lying.”

“You have some nerve, Trish. Do you know what you’ve done?” he asked.