Page 105 of Hawk
“I think that would make her very happy, but you don’t have to do that if you don’t want to,” I explained.
“I want her to be my momma. She’s so nice and she plays games with us and listens to us without getting mad. Isn’t that what mommas do?”
I kissed her head and said, “That’s exactly what mommas do.”
Stella kneeled and said something to Matthew while using her hand to instruct Zeus. The dog was watching intently, and when Matthew copied her, the dog diligently followed his commands. She clapped as the two of them worked together before standing up and walking back to the porch.
She held her hand out and offered it to Anna. My sweet little girl took Stella’s hand, and they walked inside to ‘get beautiful’, even though they didn’t need it. I wanted to tell Stella what Anna said but felt it was something they needed to discuss between them.
Matthew rejoined me on the steps, and Zeus followed before laying down behind us on the porch. He looked at me and asked, “Did Anna talk to you about Ms. Stella?”
“Yes. Do you know what she asked me?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied and looked down at the porch. “She wanted to know if we could call Ms. Stella momma.”
“Is that something you want too?” I inquired, and he brought his gaze to me.
“I do. She’s more of a mom than Araneta ever was, but I don’t want to make her mad. I know she’s Ms. Hailey’s mom.”
“She can be yours too. Just take your time, and when it feels right, you’ll know. Until then, you call her what you feel comfortable with,” I returned and wrapped my arm around his shoulder.
“What about Araneta?” he asked, and the maturity in his question made me angry at my ex.
She exposed him to things he should never have been around, and his ability to see the ugliness in the world was her fault. He deserved to be a fun-loving, free-spirited kid, and not the nervous, anxious young man he already was.
“There will be a brother at your school until we know what she wants, but you have no reason to worry. I won’t ever let her hurt you again, and I promise, Stella will protect you if I’m not around.”
He smiled up at me as the door opened behind us. Stella walked out with pigtails in her hair that matched Anna’s and both were smiling. Matthew stood from his seat and glanced at me before walking up to her.
“You look so pretty, Anna,” he said to his little sister and then he looked up at Stella. “And you do too . . . Momma.”
Anna smiled and looked at Stella, whose eyes were wide and filling with tears. She kneeled in front of both kids and opened her arms to them. My beautiful, kindhearted children dove into her hug, and when she brought her blue eyes to me, she mouthed ‘thank you’.
I didn’t do anything but suddenly felt my heart overflowing with love. These kids were bringing both of us back to life with their innocence, and I knew, no matter what, we would shield them from the worst of life, ensuring they both grew up happy, healthy, and well-adjusted.
Now, to keep their bitch of a mother as far away as possible. I feared what would happen if she was able to get her hands on the kids, and as soon as we got to the clubhouse, I was calling the madman.
I brought his sister, the love of my life, home to him. Now, it was his turn to return the favor. I wanted him to find my ex, so I could deal with her once and for all.
Before she blew our lives apart.
