Page 50 of When I Found You

I’d lost my job. My apartment. Justin and I were on the rocks, and with her in hospice, I knew it was only a matter of time before I lost her too. I didn’t want useless platitudes and deep insights on life. I wanted something I could grasp with both hands and hold tight. I was losing control and it scared the fucking shit out of me.

Her words echo in my mind giving me strength with each step.

When I reach number twenty-three, I stop and stare up at the narrow brick townhouse squeezed between neighboring buildings. Light illuminates the first-floor window. They’re home.

Mom and Dad. Alive. Happy. Excited for their future family, with me. My grin falters. No, not me. I pause on the bottom step.

What the hell am I doing here? I should leave before they see me. They don’t need my drama. It was stupid of me to think I could scavenge whatever time I could with them stuck in this nightmare time slip.

“Kate?”

A dictionary of curse words zings through my brain at lightning speed. I regain my composure and spin around. Dad’s standing on the sidewalk with a bag of groceries in one arm. His warm smile and kind eyes instantly soothe the ache in my heart.

“Hi, Da...Victor.” I wave and sway catching myself against the railing.

“Whoa, easy there. These steps can get slippery sometimes.”

“Yeah. I’m good.”

“Did Arthur send you?” He chuckles. “I swear sometimes he can’t turn off work. The man needs a hobby or a wife.”

My throat constricts at the mention of his name. “No.”

Dad’s smile falters. “Is something wrong? Did something happen?”

I shake my head, but there’s no stopping the tears. My lip trembles and I fight hard to keep myself from falling apart on my parent’s front steps.

“Kate?” Mom’s voice echoes behind me.

I tumble over the precipice and burst into tears.

“Oh, honey.” Mom rushes down the steps, careful not to slip, and wraps her arms around me. “Victor, what happened?”

“I don’t know. One minute we’re talking, and the next—”

“Come on, honey. Let’s go inside. You need a cup of tea and something to eat.” She tucks my hair behind my ears. “Then you can tell me what’s wrong.”

I can’t fight her kindness or her tender touch. I missed it so much. All I can do is nod and follow her up the stairs.

Inside, she tugs off my coat and deposits me on the couch. “You sit here, and I’ll be right back. I have a kettle already on the stove.”

“Thank you, M...Nora.”

“Of course.” Mom carries my coat into the hallway. I can hear their voices carry down the hall, but I can’t make out the words.

My gaze drifts over the room. The avocado green and goldenrod patterned sofas seem to be holdovers from the seventies, but the rest of the room is tame enough. The pictures on the wall opposite the front window catch my attention.

I cross the room and inspect them. Mom and Dad at their wedding. Grandma and Grandpa on their front porch. A few other familiar family members are scattered across the wall, but I keep coming back to their wedding photo.

“We got married in Las Vegas.” Mom comes up beside me with two mugs in her hands. “I told him I wanted a house, not a wedding. So we compromised.”

I take the mug she offers and blow across the top. “You look so happy.”

“It wasn’t traditional, but it was fun.” She laughs. “I even allowed Elvis to officiate the ceremony.”

“I remember.” The gaffe slips from my tongue and I sputter in an attempt to correct myself. “Arthur mentioned it.”

Her brow rises. “I’m surprised Arthur pays attention to anything aside from his business.” She waves her hand. “He’s a wonderful man and a good friend of ours, but the man does nothing but work.”

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