Page 59 of Carry Me Home
She bit her lip and tilted her head, looking exactly like her mom. My chest ached even though I still wanted to strangle her a little. “Do you want one too? A sugar cookie?” Because even if she was willing to make peace, she wasn’t going to be a martyr about it.
“Yes, thank you.” I didn’t really, but I couldn’t say no to the first nice thing she had said to me all day.
She didn’t smile but she looked a little happier as she reached into the bin with the tongs and pulled out the last chocolate chip cookie.
And then everything happened so fast. A boy—maybe four years old—grabbed the tongs from Maya before she was ready,and his mom took his shoulders to redirect him with a gentle “Wait your turn, Andy,” but it was too late. The chocolate chip cookie fell to the floor and ended up under his foot.
Mayascreamed.
The boy’s mouth flapped open in shock. He clamped his hands over his ears and stared wide-eyed at Maya. Maya kept right on screaming like a tornado siren. Her arms flailed at her sides.
“Maya!” I reached for her. She fuckinghitme. I recoiled in shock.
The mother looked at me. “Your child is out of control.”
Out of control. That was exactly what this was. Maya wasn’t in control of herself right now. She was having a meltdown.
I sank to my knees and enveloped her small frame in a full-body hug, pinning her flailing arms to her sides. Her teeth sank into my trap muscle, but I held on tight.
“What’s wrong with her, Mom?” the boy whispered.
“She’s having a tantrum, honey. Thank you for setting a better example.”
Hot rage prickled the back of my neck.Judgmental bitch. But I tuned them both out and focused all of my attention on Maya. Right now, Maya needed me to hold us both together. Nothing else mattered.
“Maya,” I said softly in her ear. “Maya.”
Her body slackened and she pressed her damp face into my neck. I braced for another bite, but she just let out a deep, shaky breath. I pushed to my feet with Maya still in my arms and found the cashier two feet away.
“My nephew is the same,” she said. “If you want to carry her to your car, I’ll bring your cart.”
“Thank you,” I said I said over the thick lump in my throat.
I got Maya safely to the car, where I held her for another ten minutes before I decided it was safe to drive home. The whole time, I had one thought in my head.
I have to fix this.
“Where’s Maya?”Janie’s voice was calm but brisk as she jogged up the porch steps, her gaze flicking around like she expected her daughter to pop out from somewhere.
“Inside. She fell asleep on my bed while watching the tadpoles. I know she doesn’t nap, but I thought she needed one after everything.”
“I’ll wake her up. I want her to be able to sleep tonight.” She didn’t pause as moved past me to the door. “I’ll be right back after I check on her.”
I took that to mean she didn’t want to have this conversation in front of Maya. I had figured as much. That was why I was waiting for her on the porch. I rubbed my palms on my jeans. Shit, shit, shit.
“Maya’s up.” Janie pushed through the screen door, startling me. “She’s playing her video game in the living room now.”
I slowly got to my feet, my heart in my throat, as she faced me.
“I’m sorry,” I said, at the exact moment she said, “You okay, soldier?”
We blinked at each other.
Her forehead furrowed. “What are you sorry for? What—” She reeled back a step. “Are you quitting? I told you?—”
“No, I’m not quitting.” I grabbed her elbows to steady her. “I just need you to know, it was my fault. The meltdown. It was my fault.”
Janie cocked her head, her gaze traveling over my face. “Walk me through it.”
