Page 50 of Question Everything

CHAPTER 28

The horizon began to lighten with pale pinks and lavender streaks out where the ocean met the sky. Slowly the stars faded, the sun made its way to the very edge of the earth and continued to climb, bringing with it a new day. Mia had hoped that the dawn would make her feel better; instead, it filled her with dread. She’d have to tell Kyle about what happened in the very early hours of the morning, and she knew he’d be angry with her for not waking him up then.

She heard someone moving around downstairs. She could only assume it was Sibby, who had prepped the turkey the night before and had planned to put it up to roast early in the day. While this kitchen had two wall ovens, Sibby’s plan of attack for the meal included using both. Mia knew that it would be a busy morning and that if she wanted to bake off those cinnamon rolls, she’d better get down there soon. She glanced over at Kyle. He was still asleep. She quietly pushed the blanket off her body and was about to put on her fuzzy socks once more when she heard him stir.

“Mia?” he questioned. “Where are you going? It’s early.”

“I was going to help Sibby. I think I heard her put the turkey in the oven.”

“Right. But she usually goes back to bed after she does that. No one else is up yet. Even Daisy is still asleep. Come back and lay down with me. This is the best time of the day.”

Last night’s event sat heavily on Mia’s chest. She knew she had to tell Kyle about the mysterious man on the driveway, but she recognized that once she did, all hell would break loose.What difference will it make if I tell him later? That man is gone. Maybe he was just lost, trying to figure out how to get wherever he was supposed to be. Maybe he wasn’t looking for me. Why ruin the holiday that the entire family was looking so forward to?

She was building a defense in her mind for keeping this news secret just a little bit longer when he reached out his hand, beckoning her back to his warmth and the safety of their bed. “Just for a little while. I have cinnamon rolls to bake,” she told him as she sat back down on the mattress. He pulled her to his side.

“Oh, right. I was supposed to get up and put the dinner rolls in the downstairs refrigerator for you. I guess I didn’t hear my alarm.”

“No worries,” she said as she fit herself against him, her head on his shoulder, his arm snaked around her waist. “I was up, so I did it.”

“You went down to the dark basement yourself?” he teased. “See any ghosts?”

It was her opening to tell him the truth, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. “No ghosts. Just that creepy boiler clicking on as I hit the last step. I almost had a heart attack.”

He chuckled. “Yeah. When we were kids, we’d dare each other to go down there at night. Sibby was the bravest of all of us. She never got scared.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Mia asked. “Your sister can do anything she sets her mind to. She’s got that oldest daughter vibe. I’m so impressed by her resolve in all things.”

“It’s a family trait, I hope,” he said. “I like to think that we all have a bit of that.” He began to trace a light pattern against her hip with the tip of his fingers. “When I was first put on leave, that’s what got me through it. Without my family reinforcing my hope that I would make it out to the other side of that entire mess, I don’t know what would have happened to me. It was bad enough as it was, I mean, you saw the condition of my condo that first day you got there. I was a mess, and my home reflected my state of mind. Without my family believing in me, telling me repeatedly that I’d be cleared of the charges, I don’t know if I would have made it through. Then you showed up and I felt that old resolve returning. You gave me a reason to want to be better, to do my job better, to absolutely be the man I always knew I was – I am.”

“Kyle. You shouldn’t doubt yourself. You might be the best man I’ve ever known. I don’t want to think about what might have happened if it wasn’t you at the scene of my accident.”

“Just to be clear, Mia, it’s not like you remember the other men in your life. I don’t currently have much competition,” he teased.

She felt a chill run up her spine and she shivered.That man from last night. Was he familiar to her or was she imagining that she knew him somehow?

“Are you cold?” he asked. “I know what we can do to warm you up.” He brushed his lips against her cheek with a feather-light kiss.

Just then they both heard Daisy cry out.

“Give her a minute,” Mia said. “Maybe she’ll fall back asleep.”

When the cry became a wail, he said, “Let me get her and bring her in here. You’re cold, I’m not. I’ll be right back.”

He got out of bed and Mia rolled over onto the warm spot he left behind. She pulled the blanket up under her chin. She was filled with dread. She had to tell him. She had to tell him now.

Kyle returned to their room with a happy Daisy. He’d changed her diaper and removed her sleep sack; she was kicking her feet and cooing at him simultaneously.

“Here you go,” he said handing Mia the baby. “I’m just going to brush my teeth. I’ll be right back.”

She sat up, took her daughter into her arms, and unzipped the sweatshirt she still had on from last night’s adventure. She brought the baby to her breast and willed herself to be calm. Daisy latched on immediately and Mia closed her eyes. She saw the lights on the driveway, the man in the hoodie on his phone, the car backing away. It was as if this nightmare was on a loop, repeating in her mind endlessly. She felt the mattress dip and realized that Kyle was back. She was about to tell him when he reached over and kissed the top of Daisy’s head before running his fingers along the trail of milk leaking from the nipple of her other breast. He locked eyes with her as he put his wet fingers in his mouth and sucked. It was a simple gesture, but it sent shock waves to the center of her being.If I tell him, will I lose him? If I tell him, will he forgive me?

In the end, it didn’t matter. As Daisy happily drank her breakfast, Kyle pushed himself out of bed.

“I think it’s best if I shower. If I stay here now, Daisy might see some things she should never see.”

“Okay,” Mia said, feeling the same electric current between them that he felt. “Maybe I’ll shower after she’s done? Will you be able to watch her for a bit?”

“Of course. But take your time. Daisy and I are old friends now. She’ll be fine.”

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