Page 110 of The Rest is History

I drop Pippin off at home late. After helping her settle Ezra down, I check her fridge and the pantry to make sure she has enough food. Baby Ezra is running out of diapers, so I make a mental note to get some as soon as I get my check at the end of the week.

She assures me she’s alright. She’s always like this after our visits to see Faye. Sad. Withdrawn. If there was a way to not love Faye, that might be easier. It’s hard not to love someone who did such bad things when you know who they were before.

I’m grateful to be back home. I’m not that much different from Pippin. Asher pointed it out once. You’re sad when you come back.

And then he just lets me be. I prefer it that way. It’s hard to talk about Faye. Not because of where she is right now and why, but because talking about her reminds me of the vibrant, sweet, strong girl she used to be. And remembering who Faye used to be hurts.

Reece is in the kitchen when I arrive home. He’s trying to make dinner, I think. A pile of mushrooms sits in a bowl on the counter. He drops the knife he’s been using and rushes to me.

“Hi,” I say, my arms coming around him as he launches himself into me.

He kisses me. A welcome home kiss. It’s sweet and lovely, and the rightness of it settles me. I’m home. Faye is getting along. Pippin is okay. We’re all okay.

“Hi,” Reece breathes into our kiss. “Did you miss me?”

I chuckle against his mouth. “Yeah, I did.”

“Asher’s not home. He said you guys ran out of heavy cream, so he went out to get some.”

“Us guys?” I run my nose along his jaw, my hands settling loosely around his waist.

He nods, not having the slightest clue how naturally it comes to him to exclude himself from things.

My eyes travel over his face. God, I missed him. “Say we ran out of heavy cream.”

His breath hitches, and my chest hurts for him because he doesn’t know how to be happy. So, I kiss him to give him courage. “Say it,” I tell him softly.

“We ran out of heavy cream,” he says, dropping his sad-boy eyes, and his words come out a little breathlessly, like he can’t believe he’s uttering them.

I lift his chin. “You belong here, Reece. I don’t care that it’s been only six months. You belong with Asher. You’ve always belonged with him. And you belong with me.”

He nods again, a childlike movement. “I belong with you.”

I press my lips to his. “Yes, you do.” And then, “What are you making?”

“Creamy chicken . . . or something?”

Ash’s car comes to a stop outside. I give Reece another peck on his lips and then head to the front door.

I meet him outside, as he’s getting out of the car. He grabs me in his arms and kisses me hard and deep.

“How’s Faye?” he asks.

“Good. Healthwise, she’s okay. She said she had some low levels recently but they’re okay now.”

He nods. “Let’s go inside. There’s something we need to talk about.”

I follow him. “What’s wrong, Ash?”

“Come.”

We enter the house. I take the grocery bag from him and set it down on the kitchen counter.

“Reece, are you doing okay there?” he asks lightly.

“I browned the chicken. I think that’s what I was supposed to do,” Reece says.

My concern increases tenfold as I watch Asher get into the kitchen with Reece to continue with dinner. I stand on the other side of the counter, reaching over for green and red pepper. I chop, watching Asher carefully. I manage to catch his eye several times, but he gives me nothing. Is this about Reece?

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