Page 54 of It's Not Home Without You

Max got in his car, slamming the door. I stayed in the driveway, watching him drive away. I stood there until his car was nothing but a dot on the horizon. Numbly, I walked into Rusty and Jana’s house, both were sitting on the sofa pretending like they hadn’t been spying on us.

“Are you okay?” Jana tried getting up, but her very pregnant belly was giving her difficulty.

I shook my head. “I’m going back to San Francisco.”

“What? Because of Max? What did that son of a bitch do?” Rusty, unlike his wife, jumped up. “You can’t leave, Gabby. I justgot you back, and my daughter will be born soon. I willneed you.”

As Rusty ranted, Jana gave me a soft smile and wobbled out of the room.

Weird.

“You don’t need me, Rusty. You have Jana.” I took a step toward him. I’d known Rusty a long time; it wasn’t often that he freaked out. As soon as I opened my arms for a hug, he was crushing me to his body.

“A few months after you left, I found out I would have a kid.”

I gasped, but I didn’t dare jump to any conclusions. Instead, I hugged Rusty a little tighter, letting him know I was here.

“I wasn’t with her. It was on and off. Mostly off. I got my hopes up, Freya. I got to the pointwhere I could see it happening. Then Bethany called me saying she took care of the problem.”

“Oh God,” I whispered, my heart breaking for him.

“She got rid of my kid, calling it a problem. How am I supposed to be a good father when—”

“That wasn’t your fault, Rusty. You will be an amazing father. You were the best brother anyone could ever wish for. You are kind, caring, and loving. Your little girl will be so lucky to have you as a father.” Tears were falling down my face, but I couldn’t help it. Rusty would be an amazing dad.If I ever saw Bethany again, I knew I’d be spending time in jail. The chief liked me. I was sure he’d go easy on me.

“Thanks, Gabs. I needed to hear that.” Rusty kissed the top of my head.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you when you needed me.” I said and the rest just spilled. “I’m sorry for not telling you I would leave. I…I just couldn’t do it Rust. I couldn’t look into your eyes and lie to you. You and Grampa are my family, you’re all I’ve ever had to rely on. I know I give you shit for not inviting me to your wedding, but the truth is I know the one to blame is me.”

“It’s okay Gab’s. You’re here now, we’ll make it right again. You can’t leave, or else you give up your godmother rights.”

I left his arms smiling. “Really? Like really, really? You will not take it back and give it to one of Jana’s second cousins twice removed?”

“I heard that!” was yelled from the kitchen where Jana was standing with tears in her eyes.

“Only if you stay,” Rusty said.

“That’s blackmail.”

“Not to me.”

“I’m going back to San Francisco,” I said. “But I’m coming back. I need to get a few things in order.”

Rusty hugged me again, and over his shoulder, I saw Jana smile at me. Whatever problems we face, we would always be Freya and Rusty. He was Jana’s, but that didn’t mean he would stop being there for me and me for him.

By the time Rusty took me to the coffee shop, I had forgotten the possibility of Emma being mad at me for ditching her, and her financial problems seemed easier to manage. I guess I worked well under drama. I also realized that the smell of coffee grounds smelled like home. Shit, maybe it wasn’t even the smell but just the place, being here with family and friends.

When I walked in, Emma was up to the wall with people. I guess everyone was getting their caffeine fix before they got ready for the homecoming game. Q and Jess had the day off, which meant it was Emma and me.

Shit.

“Hello to the loveliest, most awesome boss ever.”

“I’m not your boss,” Emma said as she made an expresso.

“So, on a scale of I won’t fire you to I never want to see you set foot in my shop again, how much do you hate me?” I asked as I handed a three-year-old a cupcake. Not to judge his dad’s parenting, but I didn’t think it was a good idea to give him a chocolate cupcake covered in chocolate icing. That just said trouble.

Emma gave me the silent treatment. It wasn’t hard to do since we were busy.

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