Page 69 of Surviving in Everton

“Sure you are.” I roll my eyes at her as I unbuckle.

She skips back, making room for me to get out. Once I’m standing, she closes my door then takes my hand, leading me to the front door. Just before we enter the house, she stops and turns to me.

“I know you’re worried, Mommy. I’m worried too. But I trust Mr. Hudson to get the information you need. Like you told me, those guys will do whatever they have to to fix you. Have some faith.”

With that bit of sage wisdom, she leaves me on the porch. Rushing off, to no doubt, join Logan in the playhouse. It’s so easy to look at my sweet little girl and misjudge her, only seeing the young child. Assuming her to be as blissfully naive as typical five year-olds, but that’s just not her. I tend to forget that, until she says things like that, proving she’s wise beyond her years.

“You going in, or planning on standing on the porch with the door open all night?”

I gasp and spin around to find Hudson standing on the steps behind me. “Hudson!” I squeal then promptly throw myself at him. Luckily, he catches me. “I’m so glad you’re home!” I cling to him, holding him tighter than is absolutely necessary, but I can feel this mix of tortured feelings coming from him, and I know without a doubt that heneedsthis as much as I do.

“I got it, baby. I’ve got everything we need to fix you,” he whispers into my hair as he holds me close.

I start to sob in his arms. They really did it! He got the spells that were used on me! Now all we have to do is make the potion and pray that it works. I was scared that we wouldn’t find the person responsible, or the spells they used. That there was nothing we could do about the magic in my head. That it would slowly take over my body until there was nothing left of me. But Hudson just stomped on all of those fears with those twelve words. Now, all I feel is immense gratitude for these men and a burning hope that this will all be over soon.

“Shhh. It’s okay, baby girl. I’ve got you.” Hudson strokes my head with one hand as he squeezes me tight with the other. “Let it all out, then let’s go inside and tell everyone else. Declan’s gotta get to work.”

I nod against his chest, soaking his shirt with tears and snot. I swear, it’s not fair that I ugly cry. Why couldn’t I have been one of the lucky girls that look beautiful even as they cry their eyes out? No, instead, I’m a complete mess. Hudson doesn’t seem to mind though, he just keeps holding me as I fall apart. Reassuring me that everything will be okay. My sobs finally start to calm down, my tears slowly drying up. My whole body heats up as I’m hit with an overwhelming sense of rightness. I look up at Hudson, to see him staring at me in shock.

“What… what was that? I’ve never felt anything like that before. That has to be magic, but it’s not any magic I know about.” His voice shakes as he looks to me for answers.

“I have an idea… but it can’t be...” I quickly shake my head, not allowing myself to believe that could be what happened.

“What? What is it, Rowe?”

“I… we have to ask Declan.” He would know if it was even possible.

“Ask me what,A Stor?”

I look up at him, my head spinning. Feeling a mix of hope and fear. Could it be? Could Hudson have the soulmate bond that Declan and I have? I bite my bottom lip, eyes wide, begging Declan to answer my unspoken questions.

“I don’t know,A Stor. I’ll look into it. But right now, we need to talk about what Hudson found, okay? The sooner you take this potion, the sooner I can start researching for you.”

I nod in acceptance. I guess that’s going to the back burner for now. It won’t be there for long though. Once I take this potion, I want answers.

“I know,A Stor. I promise.”

I sigh deeply then nod again. “Alright, let’s go fill everyone in.” I take Hudson’s hand, not wanting to stop touching him for some reason, and lead the way inside.

When we enter the kitchen, everyone is talking a mile a minute. One conversation over the other, each person getting louder to be heard. I whistle to get everyone’s attention and the talking stops.

“What is going on?” I demand.

“West was just filling us in on the show we missed, Lovely,” Kayden answers.

“Okay? So what’s with all the yelling?”

“It wasn’t pretty. We’re reasonably outraged right now, Doll.” Ayden looks like he’s ready to kill someone.

I look around the room, eyes bouncing from person to person, waiting for someone to fill me in.

“Britney is a vile, evil woman,A Stor. I’m glad I dragged everyone out of here so we didn’t have to see that. I commend Hudson for being able to sit across from her and not strangle her.”

I look up at Hudson in concern. “It was that bad?”

“Worse. The entire meeting was a mix of trying not to throw up and trying not to kill her myself.”

I wrap my arms around him and lay my head on his chest. “I’m sorry you had to go through that… whateverthatwas.”

---