Home to You

“Oh, I guess I should tell you,” I say, taking a drink of my Dr. Pepper. “Chloe kind of told Trina that I should love you so that you and I could get married.”

“That girl—” He smiles, shaking his head. “—she’s something else.”

I expected him to be upset or be worried about Trina, but again, my assumptions were wrong. Maybe living in New York has me jaded. “She certainly is,” I agree.

“So, tell me about you.”

“You pretty much know my life. It’s been plastered all over the papers.”

“Not the gossip. You. Tell me about Juilliard and dancing and Broadway. What about your injury, are you better?”

“Juilliard was intense. Strict regimens, and lots of stuck-up snobs, if I’m being honest. Actually, that’s pretty much how Broadway is too. As for my injury, I’m fine.” I pause, deciding if I should tell him. “I’m not dancing. I haven’t since the accident.”

“What about the classes?” he asks.

“That’s just showing the students. That’s not even close to my eight- and ten-hour days practicing routines.”

“Do you miss it?”

I take my time thinking about my answer. “No. I mean, I love to dance, and filling in for Mrs. Simone gives me that fix I need, but it’s been nice to take a break and eat pizza and cheeseburgers for the first time in over fifteen years.”

“It’s really been that long?” he asks, surprise on his face.

“Yes. It’s a constant battle to stay small, and I’ve basically been on a never-ending diet for the last decade.”

“Here.” He hands me his half-eaten burger. “You’ve earned this.”

“Stop.” I laugh, pushing his hand away. “I’ll be lucky to finish this one. When you eat salad and grilled chicken for the majority of your meals, this kind of food fills you up fast. Not to mention, I’m sure I’ll be paying for it later.”

“You should have told me.”

“I wanted a burger.” I shrug.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m really glad you’re home.”

“Me too,” I agree. “So, Miss Chloe, she’s in preschool?”

“Yeah, she’s going to be five in a few weeks. I swear she’s five going on fifteen. She was so upset that her birthday missed the cut off to be enrolled in the big girl school. Her words, not mine.”

“I remember those days… well, not when I was five, but I was so ready to be an adult. To graduate and forge my own path, and now here I am fifteen years later, and I’m up against a roadblock.”

Silence surrounds us as we finish eating. Sebastian gathers our trash and hops out to throw it away. “Hey, what do you say, want me to push you on the swings?”

“Yes.” I don’t even hesitate as I climb out of his truck. “It’s been years.”

“Fifteen?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I admit.

“Damn, I thought New York was this fun, exciting place, but you’ve been sheltered.” He grabs hold of the swing. “Climb on.” I waste no time doing as he asks. “Are you happy, Haven?” he asks from his place behind me. He gives me a push, and I begin to fly through the air. I lift my legs and tilt my head back, letting the wind hit my face.

“In this moment. Yes, I’m happy.” It’s easier to tell him the truth when my back is to him. I should have known better.

He stops the swing and leans in close. “In New York. Are you happy in New York?” he asks. His hot breath brushes across my cheek, causing goose bumps to break out on my skin.

“I- I don’t know,” I confess.

“Three months, right?” he asks.

“Three months?” I’m not sure what he’s talking about.

“You’re going to be here for three more months.”

“Yes. At least that’s the plan for now. As long as Mrs. Simone’s recovery goes as planned.”

He steps around me and bends so that we’re eye to eye. “That gives me time,” he says, reaching out and pushing my hair out of my eyes.

“I know, for us to get to know each other again.” I remind him of our earlier conversation.

“No, baby. That gives me three months to make you happy. To show you happiness again.”

“Then what?” I ask, my voice barely audible.

“Then maybe, just maybe, you’ll stay.”

“You want me to stay?”

“More than anything.”

My heart trips over in my chest and calls out his name. I thought time had dimmed the love I have for this man, but I was wrong. So very wrong. “Bash” I whisper.

“I’ve missed you, Haven. So much. I tried to make my marriage work for my daughter, but there was always something missing.”

“You all seem good. Happy even,” I comment.

He nods. “Yeah, that’s about to get even better.”

“Yeah?”

Another nod. “It’s you, Haven. You’re what was missing. I gave you my heart all those years ago, and it’s still yours. Only now, you have to share it with a sassy soon-to-be five-year-old.”