Page 164 of Stolen Fate

“Is that him?” Ethan asked. “Is that… is that your son?”

I turned around and looked at him. Katie and Emilia were standing behind him and I knew they’d heard, because they all let out a gasp, their eyes widening in surprise.

My eyes told Ethan the answer before my lips did.

“Yes. Elliot is mine.”

His shoulders relaxed then, and to my surprise, my six-foot-three, tattooed brother broke down before my very eyes. He pulled me into his arms, and I knew he was thinking about all that happened these past six years, and his part in it all.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. So sorry. Please forgive me. Please.”

I rubbed his back in circles. “I forgive you,” I said, softly. “I think I’d forgiven you for a long time now.”

“Thank God.”

* * *

Jerry droveus home that afternoon.

It had been an emotional day for all of us, except for Elliot, who was basking in all the attention from my family. I knew he didn’t know why they were being extra attentive to him, but everyone wanted to get to know him now that they knew he was my son.

I still wasn’t sure how I would tell Elliot about everything. Nothing would make me happier than to hear him call me Mom, but I wouldn’t ask that of him. I didn’t want to confuse him further, and my feelings would never come before his.

Right now, he was sleeping in his car seat, an open bag of goldfish crackers held limply in his hands. I grabbed the bag and placed it in my purse before looking back out the window, taking Boston in. It felt like I hadn’t been home in years, not months. Boston felt so different this time around.

It no longer had as strong of a hold on me as it did before, and I didn’t know what that said about me.

So lost in thought, it took me a while to figure out Jerry wasn’t actually driving us home. I met his eyes in the rearview mirror when he pulled up to a fancy hotel.

“Room 706,” he said, turning around and holding out his hand to me. I noticed the keycard then, and I knew why we were here.

Nodding, I took the card and stuffed it into my purse before moving over to Elliot to unbuckle his seat belt. He roused a little. “Evelyn?”

“It’s okay, Elliot. We’re here.”

“Oh, okay. Can I have my goldfish?” he asked, holding out his hand. I took the bag of crackers out and placed three of them in his hand. He fisted them and smiled his thanks. I kissed his cheek before getting out of the car and moving to his side, helping him out of his seat.

Elliot held onto my hand as we walked inside the grand hotel, though I didn’t take in the interior design as much as I normally would have. I was trying hard to calm my racing heart. My stomach felt like it had plummeted all the way down to the lobby as the elevator made its way up, and I didn’t even know why I was so nervous.

We got to room 706, and before I could even decide on whether or not I should use the keycard or knock, the lock clicked and the door sprang open. A disheveled-looking Jace stood in front of us, and my hand twitched with the urge to touch him.

“Daddy!” Elliot said, flying into Jace’s arms. “I missed you.”

Jace laughed. “I wasn’t gone that long.”

“But I still miss you. Hey, Daddy, guess what?”

“What?”

Elliot began to tell Jace every single detail about his visit with my dad, but for the first time, I didn’t think Jace was listening to him. Instead, he was staring at me, with a hungry look in his eyes, as if he had missed me as much as Elliot had missed him.

And I knew exactly how he felt, because I had missed him, too.

His head cocked to the side, and I knew what question he was asking me without saying anything.

My eyes softened and I nodded.

He closed his eyes then, and when he opened them, the relief was so clear I was weak from it. He opened his arms for me, and I didn’t hesitate. I flew right into them, burying my face into his chest, letting him hold Elliot with one arm and wrap me into his other.

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