Page 44 of Broken

Those words hit me hard and I push away from him, everything is making my head spin. He just showed up and what, everything is all fine now?

Chapter Eighteen

Westley

Standing in her kitchen, I wait for her to say something, anything. I arrived thirty minutes ago, met my daughter and asked Katherine for her heart. She looked up at me, I said my peace and she turned on her heels, walking into the kitchen without a word.

She’s cleaning up their breakfast, wiping the counters clean, and washing the dishes. I step closer as she turns to put away a dish in the cabinet. “Katherine.” I grab her wrist as she reaches up, stopping her. Her head snaps around to look at me, those damn icy blues staring daggers at me.

“I need to process this, you’re too close.” She yanks her hand away, and continues putting away the dishes. I let her have her moment, swiftly moving through the kitchen.

There’s a knock on the door and McKenna comes running out of her room again. “Bailey!” She shouts, reaching for the door.

“McKenna Rozaline Sherman!” Katherine booms, halting mine and McKenna’s movements. McKenna’s last name is Sherman, not Winston. “Don’t you open that door.”

“Sorry Momma.” McKenna bows her head and takes a step back from the door. I watch as Katherine goes into the living room, opens the door and invites a woman into the house.

I stand here, in the kitchen, leaning against the counter as it hits me. She gave McKenna my last name, even though I had no idea she existed. Even though she didn’t know if I would ever be a part of her daughter's life. She gave our daughter my last name.

“West!” Katherine shouts, snapping me out of my head. I stand up and move towards the three of them. “This is Bailey, she’s McKenna’s caretaker when I’m at work.”

The woman has dark brown hair that she has pulled up into a ponytail at the top of her head, she’s wearing a pair of leggings and a bright blue shirt. I hold a hand out to her, “Hello.”

She takes my hand and nods, “So, West, as in the West?” She asks Katherine.

“Yes. He showed up a little bit ago.” Katherine responds. “I have to work tonight, but West and I need to have a conversation. Do you think you could get McKenna ready and take her out for about an hour?” She asks.

“Of course.” Bailey holds a hand out for McKenna. “Come on girlie, let’s go feed the ducks!”

“Yay!” McKenna takes her hand and they’re off to her room.

“So, Bailey has been helping you?” I ask. I feel like there is more to the story though.

“Yes, her father is the one who taught me how to tattoo, she’s been in McKenna’s life since before she was born. She’s basically my best friend.” Katherine turns to walk away and then her head swivels around, “Come on.” She nods for me to follow her.

We move to what I assume is Katherine’s room. The dark walls with black roses painted on the ceiling. She has photos all over her wall where her black headboard is. Photos of McKenna, her, Bailey, and a wide variety of people in what looks like a tattoo shop. Then I see the picture that McKenna was talking about. The one of us at the fucking Elvis wedding, in our vintage clothes. Then I see another one, her and I on the bus. And another of us standing on the side of the highway. There are several of us from that summer mixed into her memory wall. She has no pictures of her parents or her brother, but I’m there smiling right along with the friends she’s made here.

Moses Lake, Washington. Who knew she’d settle down here. I always figured she’d find herself in a big city like Seattle or Portland.

I turn to see her putting makeup on in her bathroom, I step towards her and lean against the doorway, watching her as she puts the black wings on her eyes. The beautiful gothic butterfly has found her wings. She’s made a life here for herself and our daughter and I’m so proud of what she’s accomplished.

“When McKenna leaves with Bailey, we’ll talk, but I don’t want to confuse her until I know that you’re not going anywhere.” She says, switching to the other eye as she leans over the sink looking into the mirror.

“That’s fine.” I’m not here to take McKenna or confuse her. I want to be here, forever and always. I’ll figure out the rest later, maybe instead of a lawyer, I’ll do something else. Find something here that could work as a career.

“Momma!” McKenna comes charging into the room around me. “Do my hair?”

“Of course!” Katherine lifts her daughter, putting her on the counter as McKenna puts her shoes in the sink. “Double space buns?”

“With braids!” she claps her hands together. McKenna looks so much like me it's ridiculous.

“I’m sorry, she took off so fast!” Bailey says, coming into the room.

“It’s all perfect.” Katherine says parting McKenna’s hair.

“She prefers when you do her hair anyways.”

I watch the three of them in the bathroom, McKenna just smiling into the mirror as she watches her mom do her hair. Katherine braids McKenna’s hair like my hair used to be braided, only a little different since it’s in pigtails instead of one bun. Bailey sitting on the counter next to McKenna, painting her nails. They’ve got a whole system down, am I intruding on their little world?

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