Page 77 of Lock Me Out

“Make a wish, Mom,” Nix urges, standing on one side of the birthday cake.

“I already have everything.” She speaks slowly but clearly after a year of speech therapy. “I’m only worried I won’t have enough breath. Thanks for adding a candle for every year.”

“Here!” I urge as I lean closer. “Do you want help blowing them out?”

“Let me try.” Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath, then blows out every single candle on the first try.

“Way to go, Mom!” Colt leans down to kiss her cheek while Nix kisses the other.

“Hold it, hold it! I have to get a picture of this.” Grabbing my phone, I snap a shot of the three of them—two very happy sons and their deliriously happy mom on her birthday. There’s a twinkle in her eyes now, a brightness to her smile.

“Thank you, Leni,” she beams. “Now let’s cut into this cake. It’s almost too pretty to cut, though.”

“I remembered you always liked cakes with lots of flowers and icing,” Colt tells her while I pick the candles out.

“That’s sweet of you to remember, my sweet boy. Both of you,” she adds, smiling at Nix. “I didn’t think I would ever be able to do this again with you after I woke up.”

“You worked your ass off. That’s why you’re able to do it.” Nix practically glows with pride when he looks at her. He’s right, too. Over the past year in her new facility, she has completely outpaced even the most optimistic predictions.

When she stands—cautiously, but smoothly—she shakes her head at the help Colt offers. “I need to do it myself. We forgot to set out napkins.”

It’s very sweet, the way the guys hover, wanting to help her, but she is determined to do everything she can on her own. It’s a stubborn streak she definitely passed on to her sons, which is why I think it’s so funny when they get frustrated at her for doing the exact sort of thing they would’ve done.

“So, tell me, how is school?” She sounds like any typical mother on her way back to the table, where I slice the cake.

“I’m loving it.” She gets the first slice, and I make sure to include as many of the frosting lilies as possible. “Classes are going great.”

“It’s so wonderful that you want to help others by becoming a therapist. And sports therapy, too—it’s a perfect fit. Helping athletes develop their mindset and turn their setbacks into strong points.”

“That is exactly what I want to do.”

Because if there’s anything I’ve learned in the years since I was a competitor, it’s the importance of mindset. Being able to pivot when necessary. Turning your greatest pain into your greatest asset. It only sounds corny to someone who’s never been through it.

“And here I was, thinking we could just get free therapy out of you.” Nix smirks while I roll my eyes.

“How do you put up with him?” his mom asks.

“Sometimes I wonder,” I reply, and we share a grin while the guys groan.

“I never make you roll your eyes at me, do I?” Colt asks, hugging me from behind.

“Oh, no,” I tell him with a smirk while his mom laughs. “Usually, you make me grind my teeth. Big difference.”

There’s a particular expression a mom wears when she’s happy for her kids, and I’m glad to see that now. Our arrangement isn’t typical, but she doesn’t seem to have a problem with it—if shedoes, she keeps it to herself. After everything she’s been through, I guess certain things just aren’t worth getting all worked up about. Life is too short for that.

After eating cake, and setting up the new laptop the guys bought for her, it’s time for us to go. “We’ll be back next week,” Colt promises.

With a happy smile, she says, “You know how much I look forward to it.”

Before we leave, I bend down to give her a hug, and her lips brush my cheek before she whispers, “The best gift is seeing them so happy. Thank you.”

I’m a little choked up as we leave. Somehow, she knew exactly what I needed to hear.

On our way home,I try my best to act normal, but I can’t help getting antsy. I have big plans for tonight, and the guys have no idea what I’ve been up to. I grin to myself, thinking about the toys I stashed in the bedroom closet.

“What are you smiling about back there?” Colt asks, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

“Nothing,” I say a little too fast, clamping my hands together in my lap. “I’m just happy. It’s been a great day.”

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