Page 128 of All Our Secrets

Chapter Forty-Seven:

are you okay?

Silas

I was on my way to Peyton’s to sleep outside her house like I always did when headlights appeared around a narrow curve. And by how quickly the lights washed over the trees, the vehicle was moving fast. Too fast for a one-lane holler. My heart flew into my throat as I whipped my truck off the road, narrowly escaping Peyton’s Tahoe. My body jerked, and the seat belt tightened around me as one tire went into the ditch. As soon as I yanked it out, the back tire went, and I hit another huge bump before I steered my vehicle back onto the road.

Fear engulfed me, burning my lungs as I looked over my shoulder to see where Peyton’s vehicle was. My shoulders sagged when I spotted hers parked on the road. Yanking off my seat belt, I hopped out of my truck. One of the back doors of her vehicle was open. I ran over to find her in hysterics, pulling T.J. out of his car seat. The baby was fine, but he looked startled at the state of his mother.

My soul cracked right down the middle to see her so distraught. She didn’t see me as she frantically checked on her son, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“Peyton, baby, are you okay?”

She jumped, clutching the baby to her chest as she gawked. “Silas.” Her chin wobbled before she burst into hysterics again.

“Look at me.” I grabbed her cheeks. “Are you and T.J. all right? I tried to get out of the road so you didn’t have to.”

“I’m so sorry,” she babbled. “I can’t believe—I could have hurt him.”

“Let me see him.” I plucked T.J. from her arms so I could inspect the little guy.

The small dude looked frightened but unharmed. Given the state his mother was in and that he was so little, I was positive she’d want to run him to the emergency room.

“He’s fine, but you want to run to the ER for peace of mind?”

She nodded vigorously. “Please. If you don’t mind taking us, I—”

“Wait in my truck with T.J. while I—”

“No, please.” She clutched my arm frantically. Her fingers shook. “Don’t leave us alone out here. Please. I’m losing my mind. I can’t…”

The fear in her eyes gutted me. I’d do anything to make it better. But she was terrified, and she had T.J. out long past when she usually settled in for the evening. Only one person could cause this kind of terror. A dead one.Theodore.

It was time to tell her the truth about Theodore. No more secrets. After nearly hitting her head-on because of her fear, I couldn’t let this go on any longer.

But first, I had to take care of Peyton and make sure the little guy checked out at the hospital.

“Look at me.” I grabbed her chin this time. “I’m going to park your SUV off the side of the road so people can get by. You’ll see me while you sit in my truck, okay?”

She squeezed my arm tighter.

“Peyton. I’m not going anywhere. Never. Never again, okay?” Another realization hit me as I spoke. The day I walked out of that bar. I abandoned her. Abandoned us. Because Iwasa coward. Just like she said. She expected me to leave.

Her grip loosened, and she simply stared. Wiping her eyes, she took T.J. “Please, hurry.”

_______

Thankfully, the emergency room had been empty. Mommy and the baby were fine. She barely had to use her brakes since I’d thrown my truck into the ditch. Literally. Which was a good thing because I’d hate to imagine how bruised T.J. could have been from his harness if not. Peyton, on the other hand, wasn’t handling it well at all. I saw the guilt written all over her face.

In her hurry, Peyton had left T.J.’s diaper bag and all of his things, so by the time we pulled into my driveway, he needed a diaper change and a bottle. Peyton wanted to stop at Walmart to grab a few things, but I assured her I had his formula and everything he needed at my place. I knew what he needed. They were mine to take care of.

I raced to the back door where Peyton and T.J. were. She’d chosen to sit in the back with him since he was fussy getting back into his car seat. I grabbed him before she could. “I got him.”

She followed me to the front door. “Are you sure you have the right formula?”

“Yes.”

As soon as we stepped inside, I took the little guy out of his seat and held him to my chest. He didn’t stop crying, and by the frantic way his mother moved, it was killing her. By the watery tinge in her eyes, she was seconds from crying again.

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