Page 65 of That One Moment

Say you came to see me, too.

“He’s not here, he’ll be back tomorrow,” I tell him. I’ve thought about this moment, and in my head, Caiden throws his arms around me and we kiss and he tells me how much he’s missed me. He says he’s sorry he ignored me and we hold each other and everything feels right again like it did all those days we spent in his bed together.

That doesn’t happen.

Caiden shifts awkwardly on his feet, a sickening tension building between us. “Oh, okay, I can come back tomorrow.”

He turns to leave, but pauses. “I’m sorry I didn’t call before coming,” he finally says.

“Why would you have, you don’t talk to me, remember?” I scoff, my voice hard and cold, so he doesn’t know how much he affects me. Caiden’s eyes close briefly before catching my gaze again, blue orbs searching mine. I try my hardest to school my features, keeping my expression blank.

“You’re mad at me,” he states. “I deserve that, but I can explain.”

“I’m not angry, I’m…” I shake my head. “Your dad will be glad you’re here,” I say, changing the subject.

He chews on his bottom lip then licks it, his tongue ring poking out with the action. “Are you glad I’m here?” he asks in a low voice.

Swallowing thickly, I look at Nova and then back at Caiden. Before I can answer, there’s a small gasp from behind me, followed by my mum’s trembling voice.

“Caiden?” She moves to stand next to me, her shoulder bumping against my arm. “I can’t believe you’re here.” When I look at Mum, her eyes are wet and she’s wearing a soft smile.

“Hi, Maria,” Caiden says. “I wanted to see my dad, but Jamie says he’s not in. I’m sorry for bothering you, I'll come back tomorrow.”

Caiden takes a step back but my mum darts forward and wraps him in a hug. “You’re not bothering anyone. I’m so happy to see you.” Her blonde hair is a stark contrast to his dark locks as she hugs him tighter. Mum whispers something in his ear and Caiden nods, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. I stand motionless at the door and watch as Mum takes Caiden’s hand and guides him into the house.

“Caiden is going to stay here tonight,” she says. My heart pounds erratically, so loud in my ears, I’m surprised she can’t hear it. Mum leans into me and says in a stern, no bullshit voice. “Be nice, Jamie. I know you two had your issues but he’s home now and my husband needs this.”

She has no idea how much I begged him to come back, how badly I want him here. Not just for Duncan, but for me too. Instead of saying anything, I simply nod. Caiden gives me a sheepish look before following her into the kitchen.

“Your Uncle Jamie feels something big for that man,” I mumble to Nova. “But your uncle is also a big confused mess.” She opens her blue eyes and blinks at me, before popping her fist in her mouth and falling back asleep.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Caiden

Jamie looks good. Good and not the least bit happy to see me. He keeps his distance all afternoon, reserving all his smiles for Sage and the baby. The way he is with them leaves me feeling like an outsider and if it wasn’t for the fact that I’ve come all this way to see my dad - something that has taken every ounce of my strength to do - I’d probably leave. I told Darius that Jamie would be back to his normal life, and I was right.

I focus my attention on Maria - trying to keep my jealousy in check when Jamie laughs again at something Sage says. Maria puts together a feast - all vegetarian, filling the room with the scent of garlic and cheese. Her warm smile and eagerness to take care of us reminds me fondly of the birthday dinner she made for Cooper and I. All the food and gifts and love she poured into making the night special.

Regret rolls around inside me when I think of how cold I was to her in the past. How I never even bothered to attend theirwedding. This woman has so many reasons to not accept me in her life, yet here she is, cooking up a storm and chatting to me like I didn’t run away and leave my heartbroken father for her to take care of.

Watching Maria move around the kitchen reminds me of her son doing a similar thing, only with less finesse and loads more cussing. The thought does something funny to my stomach, and warmth blossoms in my cheeks when I think of the other things Jamie and I did in my kitchen.

Maria hands me the plates, which I carry through to the dining room, then take a seat across from Jamie.

“How long are you staying for?” Sage asks, her eyes flitting to Jamie and then back to me. I’m certain she knows everything that happened between us and this question is as much for his benefit as Duncan’s.

“I have to be back at work on Thursday, so a few days. Maria says my dad will be back from his trip tomorrow. I guess it will depend on how he feels about me being here.” I shrug, my stomach churning at the thought that he won’t want me around.

“I told you, sweetie, your dad is going to be thrilled,” Maria says, joining us with a huge bowl of salad in one hand and dressing in the other. “Jamie, can you get the pasta from the kitchen?” My eyes follow Jamie out of the room, coming to land on a large print on the wall that I missed earlier. It's one I'm very familiar with - the four of us stargazing the night of my twentieth birthday.

“It's my favourite photo,” Maria says when she catches me staring.

“Mine too,” I reply. “I have a copy next to my bed.” Hidden in my drawer because it's too painful to look at. For the first time since losing Cooper, I look at the photo and see not what we lost, but what we gained. A family.

When Jamie returns, we eat and make idle chit chat - Sage and Maria doing most of the talking. Jamie holds the baby for the duration of the meal, all his attention on the little thing that looks startlingly like her mother.

Maria asks me what I’m doing now and where I’m living. I get the distinct feeling from the way she’s talking, that she has no idea that Jamie and I have seen each other recently. It becomes clearer that he never told his mum about seeing me when she remarks about Jamie having recently been on a work trip to the same town I live in.

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