Page 119 of Switched At Birth

“You’re my world, Ashton James. You’re my world.”

His hands caress the stubble of my cheek. “Then let me be your world. No one will have to know. No one.”

I pull him tight into my arms. “But I will, honey.I will know.”

He pulls out of my reach. “You’re the stupid asshole who is giving it all up for what others think is acceptable. But we know, regardless if we’re together or not, I will always be your world, and you will always be mine.”

He tugs out of my embrace, and stops at the door. “You can have the kids Friday night through Sundays. Come for dinners on Wednesday, and you can help the kids with homework or watch a movie. I’m not giving up on you, but it’s time the kids start coming first.”

He slides the door open and leaves, taking my heart with him.

48

Ashton

Three months later

“Lainey,Collin? Your dad will be here soon. Do you have everything packed?” I call upstairs. We have a plan. We have a routine. We’ve been honest with all three kids. First, they did nothing wrong, and that sometimes adults have problems that mean they may need to take a break from each other. Lainey, in her astute wisdom, asked us flat-out if we fell in love with another guy. We were clear there was no one else and that adults have disagreements that are too big to solve in a short amount of time.

With the open communication and family dinners on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, we have bridged the gap. Do they want us living back together? Of course, and they’ve not been quiet about their hopes that we’ll eventually clear this up.

It’s Friday. And typically, we have dinner before Noah takes them for the weekend. But tonight, something came up last minute, and I had to cancel, though Noah and the kids are spending the evening with Grandma and Grandpa.

“Dad, I have the best idea,” Lainey announces, jumping from the last step and running to me at the couch.

“Oh, yeah? I can’t wait to hear this!” I reply, and she frowns at my sarcasm.

“Brace yourself. Just for the record, I told her it was a horrible idea, but you know her,” Collin explains, carrying a bag and sitting on the couch opposite me.

“Go ahead, sweetheart. What’s your idea?”

She stands near me, clearing her voice. “You want Daddy to come home. I want Daddy to come home, and Collin wants Daddy to come home. So, I think you should tell him that you’re dating someone else. Make him jealous, and he’ll know what he’s about to lose.”

Noah had been honest with the kids when Devin called us out. He told all three kids that it was his idea to leave. He didn’t elaborate, but they know I want him back.

“Hmm.” I grimace, looking at her pleased expression. “Unfortunately, sweetheart, it’s not a great solution. I don’t want to trick your daddy to come home. I want him to come home because he wants to. Does that make sense?” I ask, and her happy expression falls. Oh, my sweet girl.

“I’m sorry, Dad. I thought it was a good idea.” I pull her toward me, holding onto her tight.

“Oh, baby. It really was, and I love you so much. Don’t ever forget that.”

She has tears in her eyes. “I just don’t like it when you’re alone on the weekends, Dad.”

“Don’t worry about me. I have plans with Uncle Greg and Uncle Dave in the afternoon and Aunt Kate and I are going out for dinner tomorrow,” I mention, hoping it will ease her worries.

“I miss Aunt Kate. Tell her I need a manicure, very soon. Will you?” She extends her hands, where I see her colorless nails. Lainey loves all the girly things Kate does with her. I let out a chuckle at her request.

“Yes, I’ll be sure to let Aunt Kate know you really need a manicure.”

The doorbell rings, and Collin runs to the door, tackling Noah. He has dinner with us on Wednesdays, works on homework with the kids and does the night time routine.

Collin loves me, I have no doubt, but he has a stronger bond with Noah, where Lainey, who loves her daddy something awful, has bonded more with me.

“Hey, guys.” He crosses the threshold with Collin attached to him. His smile reaches mine. I’ll forever love this man. He may decide we can’t move past this, and I’ll never love another like Noah James. “You okay, Ash?”

All I’d said in a text today was something came up and I couldn’t do dinner.

“Yeah, sorry. It’s work related.” He has chosen not to be a part of my life for now, so my personal details are off limits to him. I share stuff at dinner, how my new job is going. We never talk about Tia or Liam.Their story is their own to tell.

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