The sound of kids stirring in the room drew her attention away from the heated conversation. “The kids are waking I need to go.”
“Please just think about what I said.”
“I will, Mom. Please give everyone my love and tell them I’m okay. I love you. I’ll talk to you soon.” She disconnected feeling like she just sat on a couch with a counselor and talked out her feelings. For better or worse, she’d become too invested in Demon and his children to walk away now. Knowing she had a good fifteen minutes before they were up and moving about. She forced her body out of the bed, grabbed Demon’s discarded shirt and padded to the bathroom. It felt odd having other people in the house, but she understood the reasoning. She turned on the water, inhaling the steam in her lungs. Being afraid was okay. She would have to be inhuman not to be. What she couldn’t do was let that fear control her. Shrugging out of Demon’s shirt, she tossed it in the wicker hamper in the corner and stepped into the spray, welcoming the warmth. Inhaling the allowed the waters, to wash away the remnants of last night down the drain.
It was a new dawn. She realized how Rocket and Harley were damn perceptive. They’d pick up what she had going on. Her mind fixed on the two precious children who’d wrapped her around their finger. She’d watched them blossom under her care. Rocket had begun to speak his mind and seemed truly comfortable with her. Please let him be okay. The thought of him regressing to the shy, sullen, spectral child she’d first met broke her heart. I have to be okay, for their sake. Finishing her shower, she wrapped herself in a fluffy black towel and walked to the room she now shared with Demon.
After she dressed, she placed a smile on her face and walked into the kitchen.
The boys in the living room hadn’t said anything, but pancakes had a way of waking people up and bringing them to the table for breakfast.
She doubled her usual batch of sautéed blueberries and raspberries for a healthy topping choice.
“Ardy?”
She glanced up and smiled at Rocket.
He stood in the doorframe, rubbing his eyes. He was adorable in his motorcycle pajamas.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Ardy flipped the pancake and walked over to envelope him in a gentle hug.
He buried his face in her belly. “Where’s Daddy?”
She furrowed her brow, deciphering the muffled question. “Your Dad? He had to take care of some business at the club, but he’ll be back later, okay?”
“Are you going to leave us now?”
Rocket’s broken voice banished any lingering thoughts she had of leaving. She gently pried his death grip from her waist and knelt. “Hey, look at me.”
He glanced up with watery hazel-colored eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re not?” He blinked.
“No honey. I’m going to stay here with you. Why did you think I was going to leave?”
“Because—my Mom came back and she ruins everything. She made my Daddy go away.” Rocket glanced at the ground.
Ardy winced. She knew Demon took the betrayal hard. “You know what, buddy? Sometimes, adults have to go away to get some perspective. Do you know what that means?”
“No.” Rocket shook his head.
“It means to get a clear picture. It’s like a time out for big people. You walk away from the problem, calm down and then you come back.”
“He was gone for a long time,” Rocket said.
“He had to make sure you and your sister were safe from her. Your mom, she’s got a sickness that makes her act strangely. That has nothing to do with you. You unders
tand that right?”
“She doesn’t love us,” Rocket whispered. “Only Daddy does.”
“Honey…she’s mixed up right now. If she wasn’t sick, she’d be able to express her love properly.” The white lie rolled off her tongue. She had no clue what type of woman Natasha was, but she knew what this child needed to hear. “You know what else?” She put a finger under his chin and slowly lifted his head until their gazes locked. “I love you.”
He gasped as his eyes rounded.
“I love you and Harley very much. I’m honored to take care of you.”