Page 57 of If You Stayed

Because a boy like him deserved to be remembered.

Even if that meant Gabriel would never speak to me again.

***

When I woke in the morning, Henry’s side of the bed was messy, but he wasn’t there. I heard a commotion in the kitchen and pulled myself out of bed. He must’ve come and gone quite quickly, only resting a few hours.

When I reached the kitchen, I found Henry sitting at the counter with Ava. Lena was scrambling up breakfast at the stovetop.

I raised an eyebrow, walked over to Ava, and kissed her forehead. “Morning, Sunshine. I thought you were staying at your grandmother’s until this afternoon.”

“It is afternoon, Mom,” she said. “Lena’s making us brunch.”

Was it already noon? Had I slept in that long? “I could’ve made brunch,” I urged, looking over to Lena, who had enough nerve to smile at me as if she wasn’t sleeping with my husband.Husbandbeing a term I was using very loosely.

“It’s not a problem. I love spending extra time here,” Lena said. “You’re my favorite family that I’m able to cook for.”

I bet we are, Lena.

I walked over to the coffeepot and filled a big mug for myself.

“Get me one, too, will you?” Henry requested. I did as he said and slid it over to him. He looked up toward me with a biggrin. “You look like shit.”

“Dad,” Ava said, “that’s mean.”

“Yeah, that’s mean,” I echoed. “I was up late.”

“Doing what?”

“Sketching,” I said.

“Are you making more fashion sketches?” Ava asked. “You haven’t done that in a long time.”

“Yeah. I guess watching you sketch your architectural designs inspired me to get back into it.”

“But hers could lead to a profession. Yours are just doodles,” Henry said, undercutting her. That was his favorite pastime—downplaying whatever I loved.

“Hey now, be nice. Kierra is an amazing designer. I’m hoping she makes me an original piece one day,” Lena said, winking my way as she headed around the corner to the pantry.

I wanted to vomit from her wink. The last person I needed to back me up was the woman who was sleeping with my husband. Oddly enough, what bothered me most was that they used my bed. We had a whole guest room where their scandal could’ve taken place. I bet Henry got off on the idea of it though—having another woman on my side of the bed.

Henry and Ava headed out of the kitchen to give Lena space to cook. While she was in the pantry, I hurried upstairs to grab the jewelry I’d found. Then I headed back to the kitchen.

“Thanks for making brunch, Lena,” I said as I walked toward her.

She turned my way with a vibrant smile. “Not a problem.I was going to make maple-glazed bacon for you. I know you love that.”

“Wow, thank you. That’s so sweet. Also, I think I found one of your earrings.” I held it out toward her.

Her eyes widened with excitement. “Oh my goodness, I thought I lost this. Thank you, Kierra.”

“Not a problem at all,” I smiled sweetly. “I found it in my bedsheets.”

Lena’s facial expression filled with shock as the words rolled off my tongue. She parted her lips to speak, but nothing came out at first.

I kept smiling, even though a part of me was breaking. Sure, I didn’t love my husband, but I really, really loved Lena. I felt blindsided by that betrayal.

“Kierra…” she whispered. Seeing her eyes flood with tears was enough of a confession for me. I didn’t need to hear more, but I deserved to hear more. “I’m so sorry about that. We… I–I don’t know what to say.”

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