Page 79 of Breaking Point

The door opens, revealing a shorter woman with inky black hair that’s streaked with silver. When she sees us- sees me- her eyes blow wide. “Oh, dear god. You’re gorgeous too,” she whispers, and when Crew clears his throat, I blush furiously.

“Ma.”

“Sorry,” she shakes her head, eyes crinkling with a wide smile. “Sorry. You must be Olivia. I’m Theresa.”

“Hi. It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Warden.”

She chokes on a laugh, opening the door wider. “Please. I don’t think anyone’s called meMrsin twenty years. Come ‘ere, girl.”

She opens her arms, and for a moment, I pause until I realize she’s talking to Chesna. I sheepishly hand her over, and Theresa softly pets her as we step inside. Chesna wanders out of her arms to sniff the place out, and when Theresa stands, her smile widens as she takes in her son.

“There’s my boy.”

Crew drops his bag and scoops her up, swinging her around in a big hug. My heart warms at the sight. “Hey, Mom.”

“You’ve somehow gotten taller since I last saw you.” She says into his neck as he sets her back on her feet. She gazes at him again. “Your hair hasn’t been this long since you were little.” She tugs at the strands peeking out from under his hat.

He smiles again. “Missed you too.”

She pats his face, something like tears filling her eyes before her attention swings back towards me. “Are you hungry? Want a coffee? I’m sure the drive was horrid.”

“Coffee sounds wonderful.”

She leads us further inside. The living room comes into view, complete with hand-stitched quilts and books I’m sure are just as old as I am. Or older.

“Tessa?” A deep voice calls from the stairs, and when I look up, I see a man standing at the top. His back is hunched, salt and pepper hair tousled from sleep. His eyes widen in shock when he sees us.

“Son,” he says, the word filled with relief and anguish. “It’s been a long time,” he says, and even I can feel the weight of the words. Jimmy Warden’s eyes find me, gaze hardening. Part of me wonders if he even knew I was coming.

Crew steps in front of me, drawing his father’s gaze. “We should unpack,” he says. “Then we’ll have a bite to eat.”

Theresa replies: “Of course.” She strolls up the steps, concern clear in her voice as she meets Jimmy halfway. “Honey, what are you doing out of bed?”

“The guest house is around back.” Crew directs me through the living room which opens to a patio. Just past that lies the smaller house we saw from upfront.

Upon stepping inside, the place is warm and airy, opening into a kitchen with marble counter tops and sleek silver appliances. The stairs lay beyond that, everything simple with robin blue paint dutifully carried throughout the space. Tarps cover almost every surface, and it’s clear that the house is under some type of construction.

Crew leads me upstairs, and the loft style bedroom comes into view. Complete with an attached bathroom and onlyonebed. Crew realizes when I connect the dots because he smirks.

“Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll take the couch.”

A cushioned couch is perched in the far corner, but that doesn’t exactly stop my mind from wondering how exactly we’ll get through an entire night together. Let alone an entire week.

Those are problems for later, I decide because as soon as Crew sets down our bags, he sighs.

“I should probably talk to my dad alone,” he surprises me by saying.

“Okay,” I say with a smile. “I might change and help your mom with food.”

His eyes flicker over me for a moment, tracing down my face, my body, before meeting my eyes again. He nods, clearing his throat and looking away. “I’ll meet you downstairs then.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Crew

The last time I stepped foot in this house, I was a boy. Reckless, without a care, hellbent on doing things my own way...

Everything looks the same. Which isn’t surprising. Mom told me once that when they began fostering, keeping the house the same gave her peace. I never really understood how until the moment I walked through the front door.

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