Page 97 of Fractured Grief
“Indy!”
“Fuck, Seb.”
We each spoke at the same time, as my release followed his. We were panting and messy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way as Seb held himself above me on his elbows, his long hair forming a curtain around us.
“I love you, Sunshine,” he murmured, kissing me so sweetly I got a toothache.
“I love you, too.”
We got cleaned up and dressed and headed downstairs to prepare for the day.
Seb got the coffee started, and I checked the fridge to see what I could cook.
I decided on omelets with bacon and mushrooms, and got to work getting everything prepared. Seb helped, and being like this, so free and domestic, felt right. Having Seb in my home, in my kitchen, was perfect. He fit, maybe not physically, but metaphorically, as we moved seamlessly around each other while chopping vegetables and preparing our breakfast as a team.
Once everything was ready, we went to sit at the small table when my phone rang.
“Hello?” I asked as I answered. It was Grace. She sounded exhausted and was only about two hours away. She must have gotten up early or driven nonstop. We chatted for a little while, and I encouraged her to have a break and to take her time. We would be here whenever she arrived.
Seb looked hesitant when I got off the phone.
“What is it?” I asked, not liking the look on his face one bit.
“Do you think I should leave? Give you time with Grace.” He rubbed nervously at the back of his neck. “I also don’t want to scare her, like I did with Bodhi.”
“When did you scare Bodhi?”
“When we first met. Looking back, before we knew his story, all the signs were there. I just thought he was shy. It killed me when he told me how scared he was.” My poor Seb appeared so forlorn, I hurried to reassure him.
“You’re big, sure, but anyone who spends a second with you can see how kind and gentle you are. And honestly, if you can, I’d love you to stay. I need you too,” I implored, and it was true.
I’d faced the phone call and jumped into action because Seb was here with me and gave me the confidence to do so. I’m not sure I could face what was next without him by my side.
I was also stressed about her reaction to me beingwithSeb. I’d never shared my truth growing up, and if she had a problem with my being gay, then we’d have to find a different solution to her living with us. Having Seb with me was like dipping a toe in and saying it without actually having to say it. I just hoped she was as open-minded as her sister. I had a good feeling, but only time would tell.
We finished breakfast and cleaned up, and it was time to get Hazel. Seb accompanied me on my walk to pick her up.
Hazel had a great time at her sleepover and chattered away about what she got up to, happy to have a captive audience.
When we arrived home, I encouraged Hazel to sit on the couch as I needed to talk to her about Grace before she arrived.
“Hazel, sweetheart, did Mom ever tell you she had a sister?” I inquired carefully, unsure of what she knew.
“Yes, Mommy had a sister and a mean older brother,” Hazel said as she fiddled with her stuffed fox in her lap.
“Mommy told you that?” I was surprised Lex would mention Jordan. He was six years older and had always been cruel.
“Yes. He spat at Mommy on the bad day and saidbad words.”
I gasped. I didn’t realize Lexi had had to face her vile brother that day. God damn it, this was hard. Every time I thought I was prepared for what came next or the next moment of grief, the world threw something else at me.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that, sweetheart. Well, Mommy’s sister is going to come and stay with us for a while. Someone hurt her, and she has nowhere else to go, so we have to take care of her, okay? She’s your Aunt Grace.”
“Okay. Should I call her Auntie?” Hazel asked. “Like Mr. Seb’s brothers are my uncles?” She asked her question with so much innocence that I didn’t really know what to say.Had she called Lyric her uncle before?I wondered who put that idea in her head? I guess it made sense, though, if Kat was her Nanny-Yaya, then Seb’s brothers would eventually be her surrogate uncles.
“Who told you that?” Seb asked. “Did Lyric tell you to call him Uncle?”
Seb sent me a worried glance.
