Page 70 of Twenty Years Later

"Mama! Why did we stop? I want out!"

Gabby started up at the same time, but Alex still held onto my leg. "You hear me, Jayda?"

Slowly, I nodded. I heard him all right. But I wasn't so sure. He finally let go of me, and we both stepped out of the warm car and into the cold, the metaphor hitting me full-on in the chest.

And too soon, with Gabby in one hand and his suitcase in the other, Alex stepped toward me, placing his luggage down on the sidewalk. He gave me a one-armed hug, pulling me tightly to him, like he was trying to reassure me.

Gabby's bright eyes were right in front of me, and I couldn't resist giving her kisses on those sweet, chubby cheeks. "Enjoy the plane ride, little lovey," I said, holding in my tears as she gave me a gummy smile, showing off her two teeth.

Alex pulled back, capturing my eyes with his. "Jayda, I'll be back. Okay?"

My heartbeat racing, I stared at him, searching his eyes, his face.

"Okay?" he repeated, his voice rough.

I finally nodded because I knew he meant it. I knew he had the best of intentions. But I also knew from experience that even with the best of intentions, life could completely fall apart.

He kissed me then, the sweetest, most tender kiss I'd ever experienced, making me want to weep. His face close, Alex grabbed onto my shoulder, his eyes burning into mine. "I'll see you soon. Okay?"

"Okay," I breathed out.

"Dadadadada," Gabby said.

Alex gave me one last smile as he picked up his luggage and walked away, my heart breaking into a million little pieces. When he reached the automatic doors, he turned around to wave at me.

"Have a safe flight," I whispered while waving.

Somehow, I kept my tears in until I got back into the car. I cranked up the Frozen soundtrack for Audrey and put on my sunglasses, reminding me of the months I'd hidden behind them after Blake had died. And then the tears spilled down my cheeks.

How on earth had I let this happen? How had I let myself fall so deeply in love? Alex Hernandez had broken my heart once before in high school. What the hell was wrong with me that I would let that happen again?

Part of me knew it wasn't his fault. I couldn't blame him. I could only blame myself. I had let him into my life so completely, and I just wished with all of my shattered heart that he'd come back to me.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jayda

Despite the amount of tears, I managed to get us home in one piece. I knew dropping Alex off at the airport would make me an emotional, hormonal mess. But then that added little drama about Fiona was like a knife to the heart.

Sure, last night he had assured me that they were done. But what did Ireallyknow about that? Alex had never said anything to me about love, about marriage, or any sort of future really. Of course, he said he'd be here for me regarding the pregnancy. But what did that actually mean?

As I cleaned up the house in a depressed funk and tried to get a very grumpy Audrey ready for preschool, I knew there was one person above all I needed to talk to, someone who was always there for me, no matter what—Kaileen.

I just needed to make it until a little after noon, when I would get home from walking Audrey to preschool.

***

She picked up after one ring and didn't even say hello.

"Spill it. I want to hear everything," she said.

And the tears threatened to come once again just at the sound of her voice.

"Jayda? You okay?"

"I'm okay," I croaked out, sitting on the couch and reaching for a tissue in my pocket.

"Oh, Lord." She sighed. "What happened, girl?"

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