Left Together (31 page)

“I’m
sorry.”

“Me,
too. Anyway, when Sam and Sophia offered me the full-time nanny job, I couldn’t
refuse. It meant a steady income and a place to call home. Despite how little
attention they gave Noah, he was a great kid. He mostly did what he was told
and rarely caused any trouble. We became more like friends. Because of how time-consuming
taking care of Noah became, my boyfriend and I were constantly arguing. He
hated that I had less and less time for him. One night, Noah was at a
sleepover, so I went to my boyfriend’s house. We were supposed to go out to
dinner, but never made it. We had a huge fight and we called it quits. When I
got home, Sam was the only one there. He was already pretty lit. He only ever
drank that much when Sophia was out.

“I was
so angry that when he offered me shots of his whiskey, I took them. Before
long, I was slurring my words and having trouble standing on my own. Sam walked
me to my room. That’s how this whole thing started. I was drunk for the first
time in my life, heartbroken over the loss of my first serious relationship,
and stupid enough to think the advances of an older man could erase the
loneliness I felt.” She stops to rest her head on her hand, as if she’s
reliving the moment all over. When she looks back up, tears are flowing again.
“Life really when to shit after that. I considered never telling Sam that you
were his, but as soon as he heard I was pregnant, he knew. I couldn’t deny it
when he confronted me. At first, he wanted to keep it from Sophia and promised
to help me however he could. I have no idea what changed, but it did. One day,
I came home from grocery shopping and was ambushed by the two of them. What it
all came down to was that if I wanted a quality life for you, I had to agree to
their terms.”

I feel
terrible watching her struggle through this. It’s obvious she has been
suffering for a long time. I stand up and walk around the table to sit next to
her. She doesn’t look at me until I put my hand on top of hers.

“I
understand,” I whisper. They’re the only two words I have, but they’re
important. She starts to shake her head. “I’m serious. What you did was
selfless and brave. You did what you thought was best for me, without any
regard for yourself. You were the very first person to care about me. My dad
and Sophia were wrong on so many levels. They still are, if you want to know
the truth. My dad, at the very least, should have done things a hell of a lot
differently than he did. You deserved better.”

“I
should have known better.”

“You
were a kid. It sucks that there was no one to look out for you.”

“That’s
no excuse…”

I cut
her off. “No, it’s not, but kids are expected to make mistakes. The adults
surrounding them sure as hell shouldn’t be encouraging the mistakes to happen,
let alone making them worse.”

Kristen
attempts to smile. “How’d you get to be so smart?”

“I had
an amazing grandmother.”

“Sam told
me how close you two were. He was so relieved when you went to live with her
because he knew you’d finally be happy and free from Sophia. Apparently, she
was pissed about you leaving, so to get her to let you go, he distracted her
with a bunch of expensive gifts and a trip to Italy. I guess it helped that you
were at your grandmother’s most of the time anyway. When I heard she passed
away, my heart broke for you. I wanted so badly to go to you then.
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t have done you any good finding out about me as they
hauled my ass off to jail. Marie was a wonderful person and I’m very sorry you
lost her.”

“Thank
you.” I peek at Evan. “I’ve had a lot of support lately. I’m always going to
miss her, but it’s time to start moving on. She’d want that for me.”

“She
would,” Kristen agrees.

“How
often did you speak to my dad?”

“Not
all that much. Every once in a while, he’d show up at the hotel where I work.
Whenever someone would tell me there was a man at the bar asking for me, I knew
it was him. I should’ve ignored him, but he’d give me a quick update about you.”
I stay quiet and let her sort through what’s in her head. “For what it’s worth,
the day you were born was the best and worst day of my life. You were supposed
to be taken right from the delivery room and given to Sophia, but the nurses
were sick over the situation. They placed you in my arms first and I fell more
in love than I ever thought possible. You weren’t crying, just staring at me
with the most precious little face.” She smiles at the memory. “Over the thirty
minutes or so that I held you, I grasped at the hope that you felt the bond
between us the way I did. That someday, you and I would have this time for me
to explain everything and I’d be able to tell you how much I’ve loved you since
that day.”

I’m
not going to lie. Since she noticed me standing in her driveway, I’ve wanted
her to tell me this. It was only after seeing her that I realized how much it
would mean to me. I had a general idea of what happened when I was born, but it
was important for her to say it in her own way. I needed to know how she felt
about me today. “When they had prolonged the inevitable as long as they could,
both nurses came over to us. One held my hand as the other one reached for you.
That’s when you started crying. It was almost as if you knew we were being torn
apart. It was awful, to say the very least.”

I
don’t know where he found it, but Evan places a box of tissues on the table and
we both reach for one. There’s nothing I want more than a perfect mother/daughter
relationship between the two of us, but I need to take this slow right now.
Something tells me that everything will be just fine. That this is only the
beginning for us.

“I’m
here now,” I whisper.

“You
are,” she replies, pushing a curl behind my ear. “You’re even more beautiful
than those pictures make you out to be.”

“You’re
my mom. You’re biased.” She freezes at my words. Perhaps she wasn’t expecting
to hear them from me. Truthfully, I hadn’t planned on saying it out loud. It
just slipped out. Surprisingly, I’m okay with it.

She
clears her throat. “That has nothing to do with it, Kacie. Ask Evan.” She
smiles at me and we both turn toward him.

“I
tell her how beautiful she is every single day,” he responds, watching me. “And
I’ll continue to tell her for the rest of my life.”

“See.
It’s not just me.”

Conversation
lightens up after that. Evan joins in and makes it a point to bring up how I’m
getting ready to teach at Shining Stars next month. My mom is stunned and proud
to hear how I defied my father by not going to medical school and doing what is
best for me. I learn she never had any more children because she deeply felt as
though it would have been like replacing me, and that wasn’t something she was
willing to do. At one point in her life, it meant the end of a relationship
because it wasn’t up for negotiation. I’m not sure how I feel about that. It
makes me sad to know she denied herself such a thing but, at the same time, it
makes me feel special. She’s currently seeing someone, which does sort of ease my
guilt. She asks questions about my life, such as how Evan and I met, and what I
like to do.

 “I’m
glad I came here today,” I tell her as the three of us stand outside.

“So am
I,” she says, smiling. “I’ll be in touch early next week to set up a time for
you guys to come for dinner.” We had decided to get together again soon and
figured a meal at her house would be the best way to continue getting to know
each other. I’m already looking forward to it.

“Thank
you,” I say, leaning over to give her a hug. She automatically pulls me into
her and I feel comfortable as she tightens her hold on me.

“For
what?” she asks curiously, not letting go.

“For
not pushing me away today.”

“That
will never happen. I promise. Oh no! I almost forgot!” she says suddenly. “Wait
here for one second.” She runs into the house and comes back out holding an
oversized white envelope. “Here. I want you to have this.”

“What
is it?”

“It’s
the money Sam and Sophia gave me. I’ve had to borrow from it a few times, but I’ve
always paid it back. It’s all there.”

“I
don’t want this.”

“Kacie,
please,” she begs. “It’s important for me to give this to you. I need you to
know it was never about the money.”

“No,
and I never, ever would have thought that.” I put the envelope back in her hand
and hold it there. “I want you to spend it. Every single penny.”

“Don’t
fight her, Kristen,” Evan adds, chuckling. “Her stubborn ass
always
wins.”

“This
isn’t over,” my mom warns.

“We’ll
see.” I smile, heading down the walkway. She exchanges a few more words with
Evan and then he catches up to me. We walk hand-in-hand to my car.

“I’m
so proud of you,” he whispers, leaning in to kiss me.

“Oh,
yeah?” I ask when he pulls away.

“Yeah.”

“Well,
if you thought that was impressive, just wait until we get home and you see how
good I am up against the inside of the front door.”

“Sweetheart,”
he says, shaking his head. “We aren’t going to make it that far.”

Evan

The
ease with which Kacie has handled the things that have been thrown at her over
the last month is nothing short of miraculous. I have absolutely no fucking
clue how the girl is still functioning. The accident, her recovery, the two of
us getting back together, the news about her mom… That’s bound to rattle the
most stable person. She had a bit of a setback after confronting that no-good,
piece of shit father of hers. Watching her battle the demons on her own just
about fucking killed me. Thankfully, it only lasted a few days. It was
important for her to cope with it in her own way because she had to find her
footing in unfamiliar territory. That was the first time she didn’t run away
when things got tough. The fact she didn’t even try to take off confirmed how
far we’ve come, and is proof we’ll be just fine through whatever bullshit life
decides to throw at us.

Good
thing I was already lying down when Kacie asked if I’d drive her to Port
Charlotte. She totally caught me off guard. Before that, whenever I tried to
talk about how her mother was only a little over an hour away, she’d clam up
and retreat. When she brought it up, she was still wearing that cute little
pink tank top. The one that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. I had
to physically bite the inside of my mouth to distract myself long enough to get
away from her or we would’ve spent the whole day twisted up in those cozy
sheets Kacie keeps on our bed. Since she was willing to go for the ride, I
couldn’t let sex prevent that. Thank goodness it didn’t. Kacie meeting her mom
for the very first time ranked a lot higher than getting laid. I wasn’t sure
which of them looked more terrified, but the fear I felt was pretty fucking
awful. If that first meeting didn’t go well, if Kristen turned her back on
Kacie, it would’ve been disastrous. Kacie couldn’t have taken another blow like
that and still come out swinging. Fortunately, that’s not what happened.

Witnessing
the initial reunion between a mother and daughter who’ve been separated for so
long isn’t something I’ll soon forget. Besides the obvious happiness they
shared, a part of Kacie that had been dormant came to life in a way no one
except Kristen could’ve done. While the two of them talked through some of the
shit that needed to be discussed, I stood by and interjected small things here
and there, trying to help them through the awkward parts. In the end, it all
worked out. Kacie has her mom, and Kristen has the daughter she never wanted to
let go of to begin with.

A week
later, Kristen invites us, along with Noah and Addison, to her house for dinner.
Kacie wonders if it will be too much, too fast, but I convince her that the
hardest part is over. All that is left is for them to move on and leave the
past behind. There isn’t anything any of us can do to change it, so her options
are simple. She can continue her life without Kristen, or she can take it
step-by-step with Kristen and see where it takes her. She chooses wisely and we
go to dinner.

Kacie
and I arrive before her brother and his girlfriend. Knowing Kristen and Noah are
both going to be nervous to see one another again, Kacie wanted to make sure
she’s there to be the buffer. Kristen introduces us to her boyfriend, Walt. He is
just as shocked as I was over the physical resemblance Kacie and Kristen share.
They both have the same shade of red hair. Kacie’s is longer and curlier, but
the rare color of it is exact. Their hazel eyes are also a perfect match. The
way they smile is almost identical, but when they stand side-by-side, you can
see the only physical feature that sets them apart are their noses.

By the
time Noah gets here, we already have the cooking underway. Walt and I are out back,
cooking on the grill, when the doorbell rings. We turn the flames of the grill down
and go inside. Kacie has gone to let them in, and Kristen is anxiously wiping her
already dry hands on a towel. She may have looked just as nervous as when she
caught a glimpse of Kacie in her driveway. Kacie comes into the kitchen first,
but stands to the side, allowing Noah to walk in.

“Who
the hell gave you permission to grow up, Noah Foster?” Kristen whispers.

He
smiles warmly at his old caregiver. “Just sort of happened. Definitely wasn’t
something I planned.”

“I’m
sorry I never got the chance to say goodbye.”

 Noah
takes the five steps and tugs Kristen to him before the first tear makes it to
her cheek. “It wasn’t your fault,” he consoles her. “And don’t you even try to
pretend like you are even partially to blame for this shit. Kacie doesn’t feel
that way, and neither do I. I’d apologize for my parents a million times, but
it won’t do any good. The only thing that matters is you have your daughter
back, and I have one of my best friends in my life again. Have I made myself
clear?” He loosens his grip to see her reaction.

“Well,
since you’re taller than me now, I suppose I don’t really have a choice.”

And
that was that. No more uncomfortable silence or having to tiptoe around any
bullshit. It’s an enjoyable evening where old friends catch up, and new bonds
continue to form. The best part about this whole situation is how my girl hasn’t
stopped smiling since that night. I have a very good feeling her smile is going
to be in place for a really, really long time.

***

To
celebrate Kacie’s official start at Shining Stars next week, our friends decide
to bring her into Skyline tonight. We have our own plans for the weekend, so I
don’t mind that they set this up for a time that I’m working. I’ll still be
able to hang out with them most of the night. I just hope things stay calm
enough that no one will need much of my attention. This is only the second time
since we got back together that Kacie will be in the club. Up until recently,
she hasn’t felt like going anywhere. Those damn ribs, which had prohibited her
from going out, have finally quit nagging her. Noah said she doesn’t have to
wear the strap to support her arm as long as she feels okay. That was all she
needed to hear. I’m pretty sure the thing is buried under a mountain of crap in
the back of the bedroom closet.

Only
because I have promised Kacie to be available, I make sure to finish all my
chores early tonight. Payroll, the booze order, and finding coverage for the
week my DJ is on vacation are all done. I’ve heard people walking up and down
the hall, so the staff is starting to arrive and getting set up for their
shifts. As I pick up the phone to check in with Kacie, a timid knock on the
open office door snatches my attention. I glance up to see Ashley. Since
joining our crew at Skyline, she has become one of the favorite waitresses. People
ask to be seated in her section and, if it’s full, they’ll gladly wait
ridiculous lengths of time until something is available. She’s young, spunky,
and so full of life, it would be impossible not to like her. Rumor has it that
Mike Rodriguez finally broke her down and they’ve been out a few times. It will
only be my business if he hurts her. He knows it, too.

“Hey,
Ash,” I say, putting my phone back on the desk in front of me. “How’s it
going?”

She
takes one more look in each direction of the hallway and steps inside the
office. I’ve never seen her upset. “Umm… Not too well, actually. Do you mind if
I talk to you for a minute?”

“Come
on in and close the door.” As she does, I walk around the desk and motion for
her to have a seat on the sofa. “What’s up?” I want to ask what Rodriguez did,
but I hold off.

“I
absolutely hate to come to work with personal shit, but I’m afraid I don’t have
a choice.”

I
smile. “Haven’t you been here long enough to know these people don’t separate
personal and work shit? They’re in your business whether you want them to be or
not.” Around this place, it’s the truth.

“That’s
why I have to tell you.” She sighs. “I’m not sure if you remember, but shortly
after I had my son, my ex took off.”

“I
do.”

“Well,
he’s back and causing some trouble.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders as she
tries to keep the tears at bay.

Suddenly,
I’m wishing the problem was only Mike. That would be an easy fix. “Oh shit,
Ash. I’m sorry. What can I do to help?”

“Help?”
she asks, confused.

I nod.
“Just tell me what you need me to do.”

She
runs her shaky hands along her thighs. “I’m not really sure what he’s capable
of, so I was going to ask for some time off. I know I haven’t been here all
that long, but I couldn’t live with myself if he came in here and made a
scene.”

“Ashley,
you can take off as much time as you need, but don’t think for one second that
you aren’t safe here.”

“It’s
not that, Evan.” She gets up and starts to pace. “Since the baby was born, I
thought his problem was realizing he had to grow up. Molly told me that the
other night, he showed up at our old apartment, banging on the door. Yesterday,
he went to my parents’ house, drunk as hell, demanding to see me and saying if
he didn’t, he was taking the baby away. I wasn’t home, but my dad told him to
sober up and come back. I don’t know what his problem is. He left me, not the
other way around.”

“Is
the baby okay?”

“Yeah,
he’s fine. My mom is spending the weekend with him at my grandmother’s place.
She’s recovering from foot surgery and my mom wanted to keep her company.”

“Sounds
like you have a free night. You know how busy Thursdays are,” I tease,
returning to my desk.

“But
what if he comes here?”

“I
can’t promise he won’t get his ass kicked. Does Mike know about this?”

“No.
It was hard enough coming in here to talk to you. I can’t exactly tell the guy
I went out on a couple of dates with that my ex is back and seeking vengeance.”

“Come
with me,” I say, shaking my head. I lead Ashley out to the main room where
everyone is hanging around. Kylie is strolling past the bar, so I call out to tell
her to get Joe for me. “Hey, guys. You got a second?”

“What’s
up, boss?” Keith calls out from behind the bar.

“Family
issue,” I say. It’s enough. I have all of their attention. I look at Ashley
cowering behind me. “Stop being such a wuss.”

“I’m
not a wuss,” she pouts, making me grin.

Joe
appears from the back room carrying a takeout container and a fork. He drops
into the closest chair and continues eating. “This better be good,” he mumbles
in between bites.

“God
forbid you’d have to stop shoving food into your face for five seconds,” Molly
barks. The tone she uses is quite harsh, even for her. When I look at my
friend, her arms are folded over her chest and the scowl on her face is kind of
scary.

“Screw
you, bitch,” Joe throws back, glaring at her.

“What
the fuck, you two?” I snap. This is very uncharacteristic for both of them. I
don’t usually get involved, nor do I care what employees do with each other…as
long as it doesn’t disturb the running of the club. There’s clearly something
brewing here. “Not now.” Joe returns to his meal and Molly adjusts her stance.
She’s too pissed to be embarrassed. “Anyway, Ashley has something going on and
she needs our help.” More than anything else, the comment is to make the grown-ups,
who are currently behaving like children, feel terrible.

“What’s
up, Ash? Is it the guy you’ve been seeing? I’ll kick his ass,” Keith says,
rounding the bar.

“No.”
She shakes her head. “My ex has returned from wherever the hell he went and,
apparently, is pissed at me. I’m not sure for what. I just spoke to Evan and
offered to stay away in case he comes to the club.” The group, full of thirty
or so people, starts talking at once, giving her plenty of reasons she
shouldn’t hide. She receives an “I told you so” look from yours truly. “I don’t
want to cause any trouble for anyone.”

“Owen’s
dad?” one of the waitresses asks. Ashley only dips her head slightly to
acknowledge the question.

“It
doesn’t matter if you’re here at the club or at home curled up in your bed. If
someone is giving you shit, they’re giving us
all
shit. And we don’t
take shit from anyone here at Skyline,” Joe says, abandoning his dinner to
comfort her. “Especially when it’s some punk who isn’t man enough to stand by
the woman who carried his baby. That right there just pisses me off.”

“You
can’t let him chase you away from one of the biggest tip nights of the week,”
Molly adds. “Is the munchkin with your parents?” Ash nods again, overwhelmed by
the support being shown to her. “It’s a no-brainer then.” Molly kisses her
cheek. “We’ve got your back.”

“You
have a picture of the douchebag in your phone?” Joe wonders.

“Probably.”

“Text
it to me. I’ll get it around to everyone. I’m going to put Dylan in your
section, so don’t be surprised if he’s up your ass all night.”

“That’s
probably not necessary. I know Mike will be around, too. The guys from the shop
are coming in to hang out with Kacie,” she tells us. “Once he finds out, I’m
sure he’ll be paying attention.”

“Mike
doesn’t answer to me,” the bouncer says, matter-of-factly. “Another set of eyes
won’t hurt.” He glances down to check out the picture Ashley sent him. “You’ll
be perfectly safe. No worries.”