Kyle gave a worried look to our dad. We were all still a little concerned about him, but he looked unaffected.
We spent the remainder of the evening playing games and hanging out in the family room. Kyle hadn't stayed long; he had just come to grab his mate for a kid-free night. Zander was staying and Oscar thought it was super cool to have a sleepover with the tyke. Despite the age gap, they seemed to get along and entertain each other well.
I could tell Maddie was extra nervous the closer it got to bedtime. “Are you sure you're okay with this?” she kept asking him.
“Mommy, I'm fine. Are you going to be okay?”
“I'll be fine, buddy.”
“Grandma Mary says Liam's room is just across the hall. Could you sleep there tonight, you know, just in case?”
I heard her intake in breath and tried to fight back a smile. I knew I liked that kid.
“Yes. I have a few things to do before bed, but if you need me tonight, I'll be just across the hall.”
“Okay, good night, Mommy. Good night Liam.”
“Night, Unkie Leem. Night, Aunt Maddie,” little Zander said. I could see Madelyn turn to mush. The squirt was going to have her wrapped around his tiny finger any second.
“Come on, Aunt Maddie,” I teased. “These boys need sleep to grow big and strong.”
“Just like you, right Liam?” Oscar asked excitedly.
“You got that right, kid.” I fluffed the hair on his head and told him good night, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me down towards the bed. Before I knew what was happening he had his arms wrapped around me tightly.
“Thank you for taking care of Mommy today so I could play with Zander and Grandma Mary. I had a lot of fun,” he whispered to me.
“Anytime, kid.” It bothered me that he felt so strongly that Maddie needed to be looked after. She was far stronger than any person I had ever met in my life, yet her own son seemed to find her weak and fragile. “We'll be right across the hall tonight if you need anything.”
I quietly closed the door to the nursery and found Maddie staring at the adjacent door, looking more nervous than ever. I wanted her. God knew I wanted her, but I would never push her for more than she was ready to give. I figured that was an issue we'd deal with later. First up was probably an even harder one. It was time to make the phone call I knew she dreaded above all else.
Without a word, I took her hand in mine, gave it an encouraging squeeze, and led her down to Kyle's office. He had left it unlocked for us, so we quickly entered and closed the door behind us. We were completely alone, and for a brief moment I could appreciate why Elise would choose this room to, uh, pick out her new chair. I struggled not to laugh just thinking of it.
“I can't do this, Liam,” Maddie said, reaching for the doorknob and ready to bolt.
“Hey, hey, hey, come here,” I said, wrapping my arms around her and holding her close to my chest. “I'll be right here. We'll do it together. I know it's hard, but do you really want them to find out through the grapevine? They'd be en route the second they heard.”
She shook her head. “No, I'm not ready for that. I can't see them yet.”
“I know. I know,” I said, kissing the top of her head. “That's why we have to make this call, and you know it.”
She nodded, but when I pulled back and really looked at her, she looked terrified.
“Mad, they're going to be thrilled. They've missed you so much.” I said, trying to be reassuring.
“Don't you think I know that? Don't you think the guilt of that has eaten me alive every day of the last eight years?”
I hadn't thought about that. I really hadn't considered why she was so purposefully staying away from her family. I knew she had always loved them, and I also knew they still very much loved and missed her.
“I'll be right here with you. You can do this.”
Her eyes begged me not to make her and I had an internal battle over what to do. In the end, I knew we had to call them. I put the phone on speaker and dialed the number to the Collier Alpha house.
“Hello?” A woman's voice came across the phone.
Maddie shook her head no and ended the call. Tears filled her eyes and my heart broke watching her. She was trying hard to breathe, but I could feel her headed for a panic attack.
“That was my mom,” she said.