Page 123 of Feels Like Home

I scrub a hand down my face and tug on my hair, something I’m doing way too oftenlately.

“I… shit, boys. I didn’t want you to find out likethat.”

Aidan gives me a look that basically screams he thinks I’m stupid. “You think we didn’t already know? We’re not idiots, Dad, so stop treating us like we are! We can’t go anywhere in this stupid town without someone whispering about us. But you know what? Finally, it stopped. When we were with Christine? It wasn’t happening. No more whispering. No more people making fun. Well, except for Preston,” he scoffs and shakes his head. I glance over at Reece just as his eyes roll back down. “Christine always stood by our sides. She was always there for us. And I knew she would be there for me today. Not mom. Iwantedher there. You know what? Screw that. Ineededher there, and guess what. I still do! Reece still does!Youdo!”

Shocked, I sit back in my seat and rub between my eyes before pinching the bridge of my nose. I didn’t realize they knew so much. I should have known. No. I should have told them myself. I shouldn’t have let them find out anything from someoneelse.

“Boys…” Isigh.

“No. Enough already. It doesn’t matter what you think is such a big deal. She loves us, Dad. And if you don’t want her anymore then you’re stupid, too. But we aren’t going to give her up. And not just because she’s pregnant, Dad. Because we love her.Youloveher.”

Reece stands up and storms away, leaving me staring after him, wondering how they knewthat,too.

Aidan clears his throat, and I look over at him. His left is eye starting to swell just slightly. “Dad, he’s right. We love her, and I don’t know what she did or what you did, but please fix it.” His voice starts to waver right along with my conviction. “We need her, Dad. And you’ve been miserable without her.We’remiserable withouther.”

“I’m notmiserable.”

“Yes, you are, Dad. You’re cranky, and I hear you up in the night. You don’t sleep. I know you want her back. Fixit.”

“So, I just go overthere?”

“Dad. I’m fourteen. How the heck should I know? I assume you should probably start by saying you’re sorry because I saw the look on her face today when she left the school, and she was super pissed. And not just at Preston. At you. But we already built that thing, so it’s not like you weren’t planning on winning her back. You just need the courage to doit.”

“You caught that,huh?”

“Uh,yeah.”

“How’d you get sosmart?”

“You just got lucky, I guess.” He smiles and shrugs hisshoulders.

“I’msorry.”

“Forwhat?”

“Screwing up. It seems that’s all Ido.”

“Dad. You didn’t screw up with us. Yes, we’re mad because we want Christine back and we want her here with us so we can help with the baby, but we’re not mad at you. Just fix it. Or maybe we willbe.”

“Love you,kid.”

“Love you, too,Dad.”

He gives me a little boy grin and pushes on my shoulder lightly. I pretend he hit me harder than he did, causing me to fall back down onto the couch. He shakes his head, laughing at my antics, then trudges up to his bedroom. I shift my gaze to the window. It’s a cloudy day, gray clouds covering the skies. The threat of rain in the forecast. My knee bobs up and down, a nervous habit. I stand up, anxious, and move to thewindow.

I wanted to give her the grand gesture, but I don’t think I can wait. I just want to be with her again. These last several days without her in my arms, in our home, it’s been too much. She deserves my admittance to my ignorance and stupidity sooner rather thanlater.

Decision made, I whistle loudly. “Boys! I gotta go see about agirl!”

“Did you just use a line from Good Will Hunting onus?”

That stops me in my tracks. “How have you seen thatmovie?”

Their footsteps come bounding through the house. Aidan skids around the corner on the wooden floor in his socks, and Reece bounces into him. “Netflix, Dad. Chill.” They bothgrin.

“Punks!” I point my finger at them but can’t hide the grin of my own. “No Netflix and chilling for you!” They both give me an odd look, and I hope to God they have no clue what that means. Chances are not good onthat.

“Go gether!”

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