Page 100 of Tempted Away

“She’ll be eighteen soon. You’re going to have to let go at some point. Besides, Brody is a good boy. Piper raised him right.”

“Nobody’s good enough for Chloe,” he states with conviction.

I sigh, rolling my eyes. The first night back from the hospital, he stood staring at her in her crib—the beautiful crib he made—and declared that nobody would ever be good enough for her. He still hasn’t changed his mind.

“So, you think I should ago?” I ask again, secretly wishing for a different answer. If he tells me he doesn’t want me to go, I won’t. Nothing in this world will ever make me do something that can hurt him.

“Baby,” he says, compassion softening his eyes. “You don’t owe him this. You don’t owe him anything. It’s your choice, but I think you should. For your sake. Not for him.”

*****

I STOP MYcar outside Orchard Park. Taking a deep breath, I wipe my sweaty palms on my slacks. I’m a jumble of emotions, and I’m procrastinating. I know I am.

I hardly ever think of that time. While I was going through it, it felt like my world was ending, but time and the love of the best man a woman could ever wish for healed the many wounds inflicted by his betrayal.

I love Kallan more than I thought possible. I love him more than I ever loved Quinn. The only thing in this world that can compete with the love I have for my husband, is the love I have for my children.

But Quinn was a big part of my life. Almost all of my childhood memories are wrapped around him, and that’s what’s making me procrastinate.

Just do it, Bailey. The quicker you get this over with, the quicker you can get home to your family.

Pep talk over, I gather my courage and walk into the building. The lady at reception has a friendly smile as I give her my name and then settle on one of the chairs. The area is bright, clean, and welcoming. Not a bad place at all.

It doesn’t take long for someone to come and collect me, and I’m surprised when we walk outside.

“Mr. Foster enjoys being outside for an hour or two on sunny days,” she says with a smile.

We walk down a manicured path until we get to an area with a pond. Off to the side is a large tree with a bench that’s being occupied by a lady who must be one of the staff. She doesn’t hold my attention. It’s the man sitting in a wheelchair across from her that’s staring out at the pond.

Seeing him is a punch to the gut. I saw his mom at the end, and I thought I’d emotionally prepared myself for it, but watching him, I realize there is nothing that could have prepared me for this. When I picture him, I still see that young, vibrant, thirty-year-old.

He’s a shell of who he used to be.

Life can be so incredibly cruel. The cruelty of it makes the residual resentment fade away till all I’m left with is compassion. With a smile, the lady gathers the papers in her lap and walks a short distance before settling down on a different bench—far away enough to give us some privacy.

“Hey,” I say softly, settling on the now-empty bench.

Quinn’s head turns slowly, and his face lights up, a smile trying to form on his mouth. “Bails, you came.”

“Of course, I did.”

“Nathan said he gave you my message, but I wasn’t sure you would.”

I wasn’t sure I would either, but I’m glad Kallan convinced me to come. The silence stretches while he stares at me. What do you say to the man who you once loved, who once was a huge part of your life, the one who’s now dying?

“It’s nice out here,” I eventually say, taking in the manicured gardens with winding paths.

“It’s not bad.”

Silence descends again, and I’m just about to throw out some or other inane observation about the weather when he clears his throat.

“You’re looking good, Bails.”

I want to cry because there’s no way I can say, “Thank you, you’re not looking too bad yourself.” The disease that’s ravaged his body has left him a shell of who he used to be, and it’s so fucking unfair. So fucking unfair that he had to watch his mom succumb to this and now have to experience it himself.

“Thank you,” is what I say because there’s not much else to say.

“Is he good to you?” he asks, tipping his face to the sun.

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