Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Thankfully, due mostly to Giana’s gentle maneuvering of the media, there were no cameras waiting for us. She had been a godsend, communicating our desperate plea for privacy during this time, and working some sort of magic to where the press was actually respecting that.
I didn’t know how long it was before we were in the car, before we were picking Sebastian up from Braden’s condo, before we were sitting at Sebastian’s favorite pizza place and explaining everything to him.
There was laughter. There was sadness. There were so many mixed emotions I couldn’t name them all.
When we finally made it home, my mom and dad hugged me tight and implored me to get some rest before they made their way to our guest suite out back. I thought I thanked them for coming. I hoped I conveyed how much it meant to me that they were there, that they had been with me and with Kyle and with their grandson.
I couldn’t be sure.
It was all surreal, even when Kyle and I climbed into Sebastian’s bed on either side of him and answered every question he had for us. We knew he’d go through many emotions after tonight, and we assured him we’d be there for all of it. But tonight, he cuddled us and told us he loved us, and most of his questions were about his baby sister. He wanted to know when she was coming, even though we’d told him several times. He wanted to know how big she was now. He wanted to know what color we would paint her room. He wanted to know if he could help pick out her first toys. He wanted to know what we’d name her.
I had a feeling it was him fixating on something happy to avoid the truth of the day — that, at least for now, he would no longer have Marshall in his life.
If the stepparent adoption really did go through, that would be true forever. Because I knew once Kyle made Sebastian his, he would keep him from my monstrous ex at all costs.
I was content to let my son ride out the emotions in his own time. I promised him I’d be there for him no matter what. Kyle promised the same. In fact, Kyle even asked Sebastian if he’d like to talk to someone who wasn’t us about everything that had gone on. He explained it would be a way to talk about everything without fear of hurting anyone’s feelings.
At first, Sebastian had shaken his head. But then, he’d shrugged and said he didn’t know, that maybe he would like that.
I knew I’d be looking into a therapist first thing in the morning.
I wanted him to survive this and come out stronger on the other side. I wanted him to be able to communicate everything he felt, to have space for the anger and the sadness and the resentment, and anything else he might feel.
By the time Sebastian was asleep, Kyle and I were bleary-eyed and walking like zombies into the living room. Kyle pulled my feet into his lap and massaged them as I moaned and sank into the cushions.
“You were amazing today,” he said.
I blew out a breath. “I don’t feel amazing.”
“It’s not easy,” Kyle said, and I knew he understood. “But… I wish my mom would have had the strength you do. I wish she would have saved me from…”
His voice drifted, and I sat up, my brows inching together.
God.
I hadn’t even thought of this piece of it.
Of course, it would hit close to home for Kyle. Of course, he would see himself in Sebastian, see the possible future of what Bas could have faced had I not stepped in, had we not fought for him.
“Kyle,” I breathed, reaching out for his hand.
He slid his palm over mine, squeezing once and lifting my knuckles to his mouth for a kiss before he dropped my hand and went back to massaging me.
“I know it wasn’t easy, and I know there will be many other battles we have to fight. Who knows what will happen in a year or two. We may have a time where Marshall has partial custody again, or at the very least, visitation. The stepparent adoption may not go through.” Kyle shrugged. “But one thing I do know is that you are the most incredible woman I have ever met in my life, Madelyn.” His blue eyes held mine steady. “What you did today, what you do for this family every day…” He shook his head. “You’re amazing. And I love you. And I’m so thankful for you, I want to write a fucking poem or something.”
I laughed at that. “Oh, God, please don’t. I remember your notes from high school. You couldn’t even spell restaurant.”
“Hey, to be fair, that’s a really fucking hard word to spell.”