Page 65 of Small-Town Secrets
"But he's Santa!" Tyler was nearly shouting now, and before I knew it, the words I'd told myself I wouldn't say slipped out of my mouth.
"Santa's not real!"
Tyler gaped at me. Then, he turned to look at his daddy.
"He didn't mean that," Laurence shot me a sharp look.
But at least Tyler forgot that he'd been fighting with his brother as he puzzled over whether or not Santa was real. I had no idea what conclusion he came to, though, as Laurence announced that we were going to the ice cream place now if we were all done arguing and that worked to shut the twins up for a little while.
I knew Laurence wasn't going to forget as easily, though. "We'll talk at home," he said to me under his breath before taking the children by their hands and leading them to the escalators.
Great. I was in trouble now, wasn't I?
* * *
Laurence waiteduntil the children were in bed before bringing up our day at the mall. "So our first family outing. Not a great success, I would say."
"No." I had to agree with him there. "But who could have known they'd have such opposing wishes?"
Laurence let himself fall onto the living room couch with a huff. "In a way, I'm glad for what Chris said."
"About never wanting to see your ex again?" To be honest, I'd been more than a little pleased to hear that too.
"I worry about Tyler," Laurence admitted. "He's too much like me."
"Too much like you?"
Laurence touched the scar on his face. "He saw what Howard did to me."
"What exactlydidHoward do to you?" I sank on the couch next to Laurence, needing to hear this story even though a big part of me didn't want to. I didn't like to imagine my mate in pain, and whatever had caused that scar, it looked like it had been painful.
Laurence turned his head to meet my gaze, uncertainty shining in his eyes.
"You don't have to say if you don't want to," I said.
"It's not like there's much to say." Laurence dropped his gaze to the floor. "He was angry. We were fighting. I don't even remember what we were fighting about. I was ironing his clothes. Then suddenly he walks up to me and grabs the iron from me and..." Laurence shrugged. I winced. "Tyler was in the room with us when it happened, you know. And yet... He's just like me. He's scared of Howard, in a way, but he can't help wanting his love."
"Do you want Howard's love?"
"No, but I used to feel that way about my parents for a long time. I never wanted that for him. He's like..."
"Like a puppy," I finished for him when words failed him.
"Exactly. And Howard is the kind of person who would kick a puppy. Tyler deserves better than that. It's why I left, ultimately. I couldn't let Howard treat me like that with the kids watching."
I laid an arm around Laurence's shoulders and drew him to me as he started to tremble. He was always so strong for our children, but I wanted him to know that he could let his guard down with me. I kissed the side of his face as he burrowed into my side. "I'll always be here for you, okay? You and the kids."
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me."
He nodded, and for a while, we sat in silence, taking comfort in each other.
"I'm sorry for that thing I said," I apologized.
"What thing?" Laurence sounded almost sleepy, but then, it had been a long day.
"About Santa?" I reminded him. "I was pretty sure you were going to tear me a new one about that."
