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She was headed in the direction of the kitchen, but she draws up short, glancing at me over her shoulder with a small confused frown.
“Oh, but he’s been in bed for so long, it’d be a shame to disturb him when you both can just sleep over and leave in the morning, like you always do.”
That’s the problem. I always did it because they subtly insisted and I would feel like an asshole if I declined. But there were many nights after getting off that plane that I wanted to spend my firstnight home from an away game in my own bed. But I put their needs above my own.
That stops here. Tonight.
“I know. And like I said, I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but after spending the past six days in hotel rooms, I’d like to go to sleep in my own bed tonight.”
“Oh. Okay.” Concern darkens the eyes Kendra inherited from her. “Well, I can go get him up ...”
“No need. I’ll do it. But I do want to speak with you and Nate first.”
She hesitates, tilting her head, still frowning.
“Okay,” she says again. “We were just in the kitchen. I was preparing a plate for you when you arrived.”
“Thanks.”
Another flash of irritation, even though the gesture is kind and considerate. But still, they just assumed instead of asking me. Not that I can place all the blame on them. This is my fault, too, because I’ve given in for so long.
What’s the saying? Putting the cow back in the barn after the doors are open? Hell, I don’t know, but this situation with Nate and Caroline is going to be like that. Placing boundaries when I haven’t established any up until now is going to be tough for all of us. But they’re needed.
“Nate,” I greet my father-in-law, entering the kitchen.
“Hello, Solomon.” He looks up from the slice of apple pie and coffee set in front of him at the table. “Tough game.”
His perceptive gaze holds a note of concern and of censure.
“Yeah, it was.”
Caroline rounds the large island in the middle of the room and walks over to a cabinet, opens the door, and pulls down a container. She crosses back to the oven and moves the food there into the clear bowl.
“What’re you doing, honey?” Nate asks her, frowning. “Solomon can eat down here.” He switches his attention to me. “You plan on taking your dinner up to the guest room?”
“No,” Caroline says before I can. “He’s taking it home. He’s decided to head home tonight instead of staying over.”
There’s hurt in her even tone, and the me that climbed on that airplane prior to my talk with Ken would’ve caved and saidNever mind. Nah, that old me would’ve just carried my bag up those stairs and not protested at all.
This ain’t him, though. And the sooner they realize that—the sooner they accept that there will be changes—the better we all will be. And if not? Well, that’ll be their choice.
I’ve made mine.
“You’re taking that baby out this late?” Nate demands. “Why? What’s going on?”
Instead of answering his questions, I pull out a chair across from him and wait until Caroline sets the to-go container on the table and sits next to her husband.
“I need to speak with both of you.” I inhale, silently ask Kendra to guide me in the words needed to speak to her parents and not hurt them. “I love and appreciate both of you. Since Kendra’s ...” I inhale, hold that breath, then slowly, so slowly release it. “Since Kendra’s died,” I say, my voice trembling on the word that I haven’t uttered since she’s been gone, “I’ve leaned on you two heavily, and you’ve never complained, have always been there for both me and Khalil.”
“Of course we are. That’s our grandson, and you are family too. Kendra wouldn’t have it any other way,” Nate gruffly says.
“Yeah, I know she wouldn’t.” I smile. “That said, I’ve been unfair to you and to myself. And to Khalil. I’ve allowed you to coparent when you are not his parents, and crossing those lines has made boundaries nonexistent. I can’t allow that anymore. If the last few weeks have proven anything to me, it’s that I have to be Khalil’s parent—his only parent left. And you have to fall back and be his grandparents.”
“What’re you saying?” Caroline whispers, her fingers floating to the base of her neck.
“Are you trying to cut us out of his life?” Nate snaps. “Because I won’t allow that to happen.”
“See? That right there.” I lean forward, settling my arms on the table. “Youwon’t allow. I’m your employee at the arena, not here in your house or mine. Not when it comes to my family. You can’t allow anything, because he’smy son. We’re your family, but I make all the decisions regarding Khalil and hope you support me. When it comes to decisions about him, about me and my life, you have no control.”
