Page 75 of Kiss Me Ever After
“You leaving us, buddy?” Alex eyed my luggage as I walked into the kitchen.
I made eye contact with Sonya. “Your Mum made me see sense. It’s time I went home and made amends.”
Sonya pulled me in for a hug. “I’m proud of you, Justin. You’re doing the right thing.”
“I’ll miss your face being around here the whole time.” Amber grinned at me through a mouthful of breakfast cereal. “Feels like I’ve seen you every day this past summer.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll still be around to bother you.” I grinned back, wishing I could ask her about Lennon.
“Make sure you don’t bring Candace with you though,” she added.
“Got it. See you all later.” With a heavy heart, I turned and left.
The walk back home felt longer than it ever had before. While in my heart, it was the right thing to do, my head wasn’t so sure. Ted certainly wasn’t going to get the flags out for my arrival.
I put my key in the lock and turned it, opening the door a smidgen to see if I could hear signs of life. Morning television blared at some ungodly volume. Mum was definitely home.
“Hello?” I called.
Mum rushed into the hallway; arms outstretched. “Justin! What a lovely surprise! I had no idea you were coming over.” Her gaze fell to my bags. “Are you coming back for good?”
“If you’ll have me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I heard about your girlfriend, such a shame that things didn’t work out between you.”
If she’d heard about Lennon, had she also heard about Candace? I wasn’t sure how she would react to the news she was going to be a grandmother.
“I’ll dump my bags, then maybe we can talk? I don’t have to be at work until this afternoon.” I hovered awkwardly in the hall. “Um, is Ted here?”
She shook her head. “He’s working this morning. Back around lunchtime, I think, so we’ve got the place to ourselves. Do you want a cuppa?”
“Mmm, please.” Relieved it would be the two of us, at least for a short while, I went to my room and pushed open the door.
Little had changed. I don’t know why I expected it to. If anything, there was a slight musty smell to the room, as if no one had been in there over the past few months. I pushed the curtains back and opened the window to let some fresh air in, breathing deeply.
I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about being back. Mum seemed pleased to see me, but we hadn’t spoken properly. For all I knew, she could kick me straight back out when I told her of my impending fatherhood. Then again, I wasn’t abandoning Candace like my dad had me, so surely that had to be some points in my favour.
Only time would tell.
* * *
“I seeyou finally came crawling back.”
I’d been watching TV before heading out to meet Alex and Curtis that evening when Ted rocked in. Mum wasn’t home, she’d gone to see a film with a couple of her friends. This was the moment I’d been dreading. We hadn’t seen each other since the fight in the pub car park.
“Could say the same about you.” I sucked in a breath.
“What d’you mean?” He crossed the room in a few strides and loomed above me.
“Surprised to see you still here after what you did to Mum.” I paused a beat. “Correction, what you’re still doing to her.”
“You know nothing,” he spat.
“Really? I know what I saw.”
He grabbed me by the t-shirt and hauled me up, so we were face to face. “You sawnothing.” Spittle landed on my cheek.
I pulled away. “You were all over another woman when you should have been with my mother. What did you expect me to do? Walk away?”
