Page 67 of Honey Bun
We hung up a minute later, and my heart was empty. Bob’s abuse had held me back, and now, it was like I’d been robbed of slapping him in the face. I rocked on my feet.
I refuse to ever, ever, ever think about him.I headed into the kitchen, and Arman handed me a coffee. “Is everything okay?”
I had to tell him. “My husband…”
“Ex.”
I sipped my delicious coffee that tasted so unlike what I made at home. “Doesn’t matter. He’s dead.”
He put his cup down. “What happened?”
I took a deep breath. He wouldn’t have a clue about how I felt because he’d never been used and disregarded. “I’m confused, to be honest. Part of me is so angry that this didn’t happen years ago. And part of me is in complete shock.”
Arman reached for my hand and lowered his head. “Is there anything I can do?”
Part of why my daughter thrived in New York wasn’t the money. It was because for the first time, she had more than just me. Without even trying, Arman had been more of a father than Bob had ever been. “Just be here for us. I have to tell Aurora, but I love you, and I… I’m different now.”
“Yeah?”
I finished my coffee and put the cup in the sink. We were late to the family meeting, so I pointed to the door. “I can tell you anything, and I don’t have to worry what I look like or what people might think. I can be myself, and my daughter is going to be fine because you’re here.”
His smile brightened my mood. “I wish we had more time so I could kiss you properly,” he said.
I went to my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Soon, we would be in our room alone. “We have the rest of our lives.”
He opened the door, and I walked out with the perfect man. I was lucky to have him.
Arman
My arms ached to hold Maddie and comfort her, but she hardly seemed affected. My brain screamed that she must be. The news about her ex had come out of left field, and based on the past few months, I knew that Maddie tried—and failed—to compartmentalize and ignore her feelings. The night before, she’d made me happy. I just wanted to do the same for her, so I decided I would wait to see how I could help.
The elevator opened, and we stepped in. As the doors closed, she said, “Now that Bob is dead, we’ll have to go to Montana to collect whatever Aurora wants.”
I placed my hand on her lower back. “We can fly in on the family jet.”
Her eyes widened. “You want to come?”
My heart beat wildly for her. I nodded. “I want to be there for you.”
She cupped my face as the doors opened on the first floor. “You already are. I think I need to go by myself, but the jet will be fast.”
I took her arm, and we headed out. “Done. If there is anything else…”
“No. I’ll settle whatever and come right back to you.”
The second we made it outside, her mother, Catherine, stepped in front of us. “Madeleine.”
She let go of me, and immediately I felt the lack. “Mom. What are you doing here?”
Her mother fixed her gray hair. “I came to find you and Aurora.”
I wasn’t sure what to do other than stand tall. Maddie’s mother had never said anything overtly rude to my face, but I had no idea what she’d said behind closed doors. Just in case, I’d send her a present for the holidays to help her warm up to me.
Maddie crossed her arms. “Why?”
Catherine lowered her head. “Because first I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and it makes me this angry person that needs religion to stay sane, and then when I’m calm, all I want to be is to be your mom and to help and be accepting. I love you and your daughter.”
Maddie’s eyes teared up, and she hugged her mom. I smiled. Forgiveness and family were beautiful.
