Page 20 of Spring UnVeiled
“Oh, shit,” Evan said above a whisper.
A woman down the aisle giggled.“Yep.There’ll be lots of that.”She turned to them with a smile.“Shopping for your grandchild?”
Genevieve gave the girl a broad smile.Damn, she looked to be in her very early twenties.But that was the same age when she’d given birth to Kylie.“Yes, we are.”She gestured to the entire department.“I haven’t had to do any of this in twenty years.It looks like a lot has changed.”
The young woman had a toddler swinging her feet in the front of the cart and an infant in some kind of sash draped across her shoulder and around her waist.“Your daughter, or daughter-in-law, is going to appreciate all those diapers.This one used to go through a dozen a day,” she said, pointing to the little girl who looked to be about two years old.
Out of the corner of her eye, Genevieve watched Evan quickly add the diapers to each shopping cart.“We’re going to need more.”
Both women laughed.
“Evan, we can come back.”She laid her hand on his forearm.“The exchange on Coronado carries diapers.”
His serious eyes met hers.“Are you sure?We can stock up now.”
“I’m sure.Besides, there’s a lot more that needs to go in the back of that pickup truck.We need to get a crib, changing table, a dresser, and so much more.”
“Yeah.With two cribs, two changing tables, two dressers, it’s going to fill up quick.”His words had been casual, but they’d hit Genevieve like a jab to the heart.
Not sure she understood, she asked, “Are you planning to set up a nursery at your house?”
“Of course.”His tone sounded as though she’d asked a stupid question.“We share custody of Ian so that means he’s going to be at my house fifty percent of the time.I need a place for him, so we need duplicates of everything.”
The young mother unabashedly stared at Evan.“The baby is yours?”
“No.”Genevieve popped in.
“Yes,” Evan said with authority.
Genevieve looked at him knowing that he had misunderstood the question.She laid her hand on Evan’s arm.“We share joint custody of our grandson.Our daughter…” She couldn’t say it.She couldn’t say any words, least of all the ones she needed.Her throat completely closed.Tears flowed down her face.
Evan moved and enveloped her into his arms, pulling her head to his shoulder, hiding her face.
“Our daughter…” His whole body tensed.She could hear the air passing into his lungs as he inhaled deeply then exhaled in a huff.“She passed away last night after giving birth to our grandson.We appreciate your input.As Vivi said, it’s been twenty years since these decisions had to be made.”
He’d called her Vivi while holding her tight in his arms.More tears poured from her as the grief of losing him years ago piled onto the sorrow and heartache of losing Kylie mere hours ago.She couldn’t stop crying.If she were honest with herself, in all the years since their divorce, she’d never gotten over losing Evan.Would she ever recover from losing Kylie?
Genevieve wasn’t sure how long she’d stood there and cried.She felt a small soft hand rub up and down her back.“I’m so sorry if I said something that disturbed you.I can’t imagine what you’re going through.Sir, can I help the two of you shop?”
“I’ll be happy to help, too,” came another female voice.
“Ma’am, sir, I’m so sorry for your loss.Will you let me help you find what you need for your grandson?”It was another woman’s voice.
Genevieve took a deep breath and wiped her tears.She looked up at Evan.“I’m so sorry I’m causing a scene,” she said so low that only he could hear.
“I don’t give a shit.Cry all you need.”He kissed her on the forehead.
Rolling her lips between her teeth she fought back the next wave of sorrow.Evan had kissed her for the first time in nearly a decade.Grief for the years he had lost with his daughter that he could never make up made her tremble.
She should have gone with him when the Navy ordered him to take a command with Group 2 Navy SEALs.She’d been so selfish, not wanting to leave her job, that she had denied Evan and Kylie…and herself…all those years together.
And for what?
Nine years of living without Evan’s kisses.
Nine years of listening to Kylie’s end of their phone calls.
Nine years of bad dates.
