Jesse’s heavy footsteps thundered up the stairs. “What the hell’s going on?” He burst into my room but stopped dead when he saw my face and the fact I wasn't in here alone. Nate and Kaylee were curled up on either side me of me, both of them sound asleep.
“Shhhh,” I reprimanded him and he nodded sheepishly and backed out the room.
I carefully untangled my body from theirs and slid off the end of the bed trying my best not to wake them. They were both so upset when Rob left it took ages for me to calm them down. I’d still not processed anything that had come to light with Nate’s confession. I was waiting on Jesse for that. He’s my rock, he would help me and the kids through the rough times ahead.
I smiled up at him as I gently pulled the bedroom door shut. He was eager to know what was going on but I wasn't looking forward to having to tell him, to having to repeat it all.
“You're worryin’ me, Willow. Phone call outta the blue, then I find you three curled up like someone has died-” he trailed off then a horrified expression coming over him. “It’s not Betty? Damn, Will. Tell me she's ok?” He reached for me, pulling me into his warm embrace and for the first time in hours I felt like I could breath, that I didn't have to be the strong one for once, that no matter what I told Jesse he would be strong for me, for us all.
“No, baby. I’m sorry for scaring you like that. Nan is fine, she's just down the road with a neighbor. She gave me some time alone with Nate and Kaylee. I think it was hurting her to see them so upset and she felt helpless,” I confessed. Nan hated feeling like she couldn't help in some way but in this instance she couldn't do anything but give us space.
“What’s got my little people so upset that it chased the fearless Betty off?” Poor man, he really was confused.
“Come on, baby.” I broke away from him and took his hand. “You're not gonna like what I’m going to tell you,” I warned him as we both took a seat in the lounge. He wasn't going to like this one tiny bit.
“That motherfucker,” Jesse roared as he jumped from his seat. He looked ready to murder Rob. “That lousy fucking bastard.”
I jumped from my seat to position my body in front of his so he’d have to move me to get past and out the door.
“Move, Willow,” he ordered me.
I shook my head and pushed back against his chest. He wasn't going anywhere. I wouldn't let him risk his freedom on Rob. It wasn't worth all the hassle and it would hurt the kids more if anything happened and Jesse wound up locked away.
“Move out the fucking way, Willow!” he roared again but again I shook my head and pushed back on him. Jesse was big and he was built. If he was inclined he could get passed me, but I knew down deep he wouldn't risk hurting me in any way.
“Jesse?” A timid little voice called out as she entered the room and I saw the anger drain off his face. Kaylee had him wrapped around her little finger. My man was head over heels in love with my daughter and he would die protecting her.
As he dropped to his knees, I stepped out of the way so my daughter could see her best friend.
“C’mere, pumpkin,” he told her as he held his arms open for her. Kaylee didn't need to be told twice as she launched her tiny body into his arms and hung on for dear life.
“You ok, baby?” he asked her and she clung to him harder than before.
“I am now that you’re here, my bestest friend in the whole wide world.” Her voice was full of honesty that only a child could possess. I saw Jesse’s eyes move to behind me, his grey eyes filled with pain before they cleared again. He removed one of the arms he had wrapped around Kaylee and held it there.
“Come here, son,” he said and I turned in shock when I caught sight of Nate hovering just by the door, he too witnessing the scene between Jesse and his baby sister.
Faster than I thought possible Nate dove for Jesse as he gathered them both close to his body mumbling something to them that I didn't have chance to catch. They both nodded and hugged him harder. My eyes filled with tears at the scene playing out before my eyes.
This man had made a bad day better.
This man loved us dearly, any fool could see that.
And we happened to love him too.