Page 14 of Finally, Our Forever

Reece

I’m sitting on the floor next to Bennett, who is cool as shit if the last couple of hours are anything to go by. We’ve been watching cartoons, playing puzzles and coloring. I sure didn’t think I’d be spending my day with a four-year-old, but it feels right, and my chest feels a lot lighter than it usually does. I don’t think I’ve smiled so much since before I went off to college.

I haven’t spent too much time with Maci though, because she’s been running around doing laundry and cleaning her house. I tried to help at first, but she shooed me away and told me that the boys needed to stay away from her. I shook my head and laughed, then continued playing with Bennett. She walks in to talk to us as she’s going from room to room, and then I won’t see her for twenty minutes. Eventually, she pops up again.

“Hey, Mom. Mooom.”

Bennett is in the middle of showing me some karate moves. He multitasks quite well, considering who has raised him. That girl couldn’t focus on more than one thing if it killed her.

“Yeah, bud?” she peeks her head out of the bathroom she’s busy cleaning.

“Mom, it’s lunch time,” he says in the middle of a move.

Maci comes into the living room, knee-deep in cleaning.

“Okay, watcha want? You can have grilled cheese, PB&J, or a hot dog.”

He stops his moves and stands still, then taps his finger to his chin, just like his mom does, thinking through his choices.

“I think I want…What do you want, Reece?”

He looks at me and waits for my answer. I look to Maci, who just shrugs and gives me a small, shy smile. I smile back and shake my head at my shy girl.

“I’m thinking PB&J. I have to know, my man, what kind of jelly are we talking here?”

He looks at me, like, Duh, there’s only one kind that will do. “Strawberry jam, jelly is yuck!”

I look to Maci, who I thought would be laughing, but is giving is her son a fist pound. “You, my dude, are so right. Jelly is yuck!” she says.

I laugh and go to the kitchen, looking through her pantry and fridge to get what I need to start lunch.

“Watcha doing there, Reece?” she asks.

“Making lunch for the little man.”

Her eyes go all soft like.

“Okay,” she whispers.

“You hungry, baby?”

“Nope, I’m just going to finish cleaning the bathroom. Reece, he uh, he likes milk and apples with his sandwich. Use the apple corer for the apple, also a cup with a lid, so it doesn’t spill. Sit at the table with him, please. Bennett doesn’t like to eat by himself.”

I stare at her a minute, knowing this is a turning point for us. She needs to know that I can take care of Bennett without her help. I walk up to her, grab her chin, and lift it, so her eyes are on mine.

“Maci Kate, I’ve got this. It’s just lunch.” I want to tell her that I’ve got him whenever he needs me, wants me—I’m here. I’m not just here for today, not next week, or next month. I don’t want to scare her off, so I simply add, “Baby, I’m here, and I’m not leaving.” I hope she knows I mean I’m not ever leaving. “So let me take care of you a little.”

Both my hands are on her cheeks, caressing her softly. Her eyes go wide, and I see uncertainty flash through them. It hurts to see it there, but that’s on me, and I’m going to change it.

“Now go finish up what you’re doing and come sit with us. You’ve been running around here for a while now with no break. I want you to sit and have some lunch.”

“Reece, I’ve got a lot to do and I’m not hun—”

“No, baby. You are going to rest and get some food in you.”

My hands travel down her face to her shoulders and squeeze them lightly to get her moving. I turn her around, give her a pat on her beautiful ass, and push her way.

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