Page 50 of Balance

No one wanted to be with me for my personality.

I was fond of Brittany after she delivered Avery. She's the mother of my children. But she’s a rotten, sick woman. I dofucking hope she’s in rehab on her own accord and wants a real relationship with the girls.

So far Malek and Andy haven’t told me anything about her stay there. Or I just haven’t been checking my emails as frequently as I used to.

I race across the room when my phone starts to ring and I furrow my brows when I see Andy’s name flashing. Maybe his ears were burning. I answer and step out into the backyard and collapse down onto a chair, staring out at the dark lake through the slats of the fence.

There’s a slight breeze, I close my eyes and breathe in the chilling air.

“Hey.”

“I’m trying to get in touch with Lillian, can I speak with her?”

I grunt. “She left earlier, she’s probably staying at a hotel. What’s up?”

Andy sighs. “I need to speak to her about it first. It’s… a lot. She asked me if I was able to find anything on her birth parents. I wasn’t even going to check until after our meeting this week but I decided to start on it anyway… and there’s an update on the Wilder children, Betty’s kids. It’s all important.”

I tap my fingers against the metal table and let out a long breath. “I’ll try to call her.” I hang up and immediately try calling her over and over until she finally answers.

“Jesus, Morgan. Are the girls okay?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Yes… yes. Call Andy back… he says it’s important and he’s been trying to get ahold of you.”

She grumbles and sighs. “I told him we would go over everything at our meeting once I pay him and sign the paperwork, what the hell did he already come up with?”

“Something about your… birth parents and Betty’s kids. It’s urgent.”

She hangs up on me right away and I stare up at the darkening sky. I already miss the sound of her voice. I wish that I could be with her right now. What if she needs me?

I’ve gone about this the wrong way, I was an idiot. I was trying to protect her, obviously forgetting how much this woman has been through.

How she was controlled, sold… had to grow up at such a young age. Hell, even losing the ability to have children and then being cheated on, being fired from her job, and moved across the country, then everything with Betty.

It feels like I’ve been along for the ride and have known her for so much longer than I have. I feel like shit.

She’s magnificent and I’ve been treating her as if she’s still too young to make her own decisions. I told myself that I was just shielding her, but I think I was just protecting myself. The last time I let a woman into my heart she fucking scooped it out, ate it, then burned it in the backyard.

I wish she was here so that I could comfort her.

As soon as I step inside, I hear the doorbell ringing incessantly. Avery and the girls are in the kitchen drinking some water and eating some crackers. “Dad, the doorbell has been ringing for a few minutes.”

I grunt and shake my head, shuffling down the hall to the front door. Why didn’t they knock on the back door to let me know? I glance through the peephole and throw the door open, frowning at Nolan.

“What’s going on?”

He sighs and steps inside, handing me a six pack of beer on his way in. “I need to get out of my head, man. You’re right… I need to talk about Marie and James before I snap and ruin friendships.”

I glare at the ceiling and shut the front door, leading him to the kitchen. Of course, today of all days. “Well, I have the girls.You’re not the only one having… woman issues right now. Lillian and Mackenzie left earlier.”

He snaps his head towards me and frowns. “Who’s Mackenzie and what the fuck did you do? Lillian is perfect for you! How did you fuck this up?”

I send Avery a look and she lightly shoves the girls back towards the playroom. “Have a seat. What sounds good for dinner?”

________________

My phone is silent for the rest of the night. Not a peep from Lillian or Andy. My fingers are itching to call either of them for answers, or even a meager update. Just to hear her voice. Anything.

Nolan is sitting in the backyard starting up a fire as I get the girls ready for bed. Tilly and Nessa are on one tonight, not listening to anything I say. Refusing to get in the bath. Tilly pissed on my shoes when I asked her if she was ready for bed.

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