CHAPTER SEVEN
KATE
After ice cream the boys seemed a bit better. I still couldn’t get Jax to talk, and it was bothering me more and more. Dread filled me as we made our way toward Pasadena, thinking of my utter lack in knowing how to deal with the whole situation. How was I supposed to live in my best friend’s house? How was I supposed to raise her kids there… with Adam. It was all so surreal. I had talked to the boys about moving back into their house and got a mixed reaction. Jax looked at me in shock, while Jace started talking excitedly about going home. The only reason I considered it was for them. There was nothing I wouldn’t do to help the kids heal. It was strange, but Adam seemed to have an innate knowledge of what to do, more so than I.
Pulling into the driveway of the house, I sat there in shock for a minute. Jace got out and ran to the front door while Jax sat there stock-still looking at the house. I could see the tears forming in his eyes through the rearview mirror. Turning around I motioned him forward and he crawled over the seat and into my lap. I hugged him close while he sniffled.
“I’m sorry buddy. I feel the same way.” I rubbed his head with my chin.
“Why?” I barely heard his soft voice through the rushing in my ears.
“Your parents wanted this. They wanted all of us to live in this house together. That’s what the lawyer said. Maybe it will make us feel closer to them, but they wanted us all to be happy and for your lives to be as normal as possible,” I said wistfully. “I know it’s hard for you. It’s hard for me too. But, can we try? Together?”
He nodded his head against my chest and wiped his little eyes. I squeezed him before opening the door and letting him out. He stepped out and then waited with an outstretched hand. We were going in together, and I smiled reassuringly before walking up the path to the front door that Jace left open. Jax paused and took a deep cleansing breath before stepping over the threshold. The entire house smelled of apples and cinnamon. It was Beth’s favorite fall scent. I breathed in deeply and smiled. It was nice. It made me feel closer to her in some small way. It was like I was wrapped in a comforting hug. I looked down at Jax and noticed the barely-there smile on his face. “You okay now, buddy?”
He nodded and walked slowly into the house and down the hallway. I was sure that was where Jace had run off to. Looking around the house, I saw no sign of Adam and decided to go see what there was in the kitchen before checking on the girls.
Half the stuff in the refrigerator was expired, so I grabbed the empty trashcan and started clearing out everything that was past its expiration date. I made a mental note of the brands and what the kids liked. Beth wasn’t as health conscious as I was. It was probably why the kids had barely touched their food while at my apartment. Good to know I was practically starving them.
“Whatcha doin’?” I heard a sexy male voice behind me and jumped. His voice still got to me after all those years. Tingles raced up my spine as I turned to look at him. Big mistake! His face and bare chest were glistening with sweat. He had his white T-shirt slung over one shoulder and I groaned internally, watching a bead of sweat as it trailed between the perfectly muscled pecks. He was as fit as ever in his snug blue jeans that were slung low on his hips. That perfect V was showing and unconsciously licked my lips, dazed.
“Kate?” He chuckled and I snapped my head up.
“I’m… uh… cleaning out the refrigerator. What are you doing?” I stuttered.
“I was working out in the shed. I forgot how nice it was to work with my hands,” he said seductively, taking a step forward. The double entendre was not lost on me. I watched as he sunk his teeth into his bottom lip. Just like he used to when he was getting ready to do something sinful. I shuttered involuntarily.
“Ahhh,” I heard a scream from the back of the house and we both jumped.
“Peyton?” Adam yelled and we both went running.
“You little brats. What were you thinking? I hate you,” she yelled at the twins who looked shell-shocked.
“Peyton. Stop, what’s going on?” Adam scolded and grabbed her just as she lunged for the wide-eyed boys.
“Uncle Adam! They hid a rubber spider in my desk and when I opened the drawer to get a pen it scared me.” Releasing her arms once she calmed down, he turned her to face him.
“Peyton, that’s no reason to try to kill your brothers.”
“They’re little jerks.” She burst into tears and ran into her room.
“Uncle Adam?” Jace said carefully. “We did that before… um… before.”
Walking over, I wrapped my arms around them and walked them to their room. “It’s all right. I know you forgot about it. When Pey calms down I want you both to apologize to her, got it?”
They both nodded their heads and went back to their Legos. I walked down the hall to Peyton’s room and found her crying into her pillow. “Pey? Are you okay, hun?”
“No. Go away. I’m so tired of those little brats trying to prank me.”
“If it makes you feel better they are both really sorry. They did that before everything happened.”
“That doesn’t make it okay,” she muffled, face still buried in the pillow.
“No, it doesn’t but like I said they’re sorry and as soon as you calm down they’re coming in here to apologize to you. You are all going through a rough time right now. You need to band together and help each other through it. Adam and I can only do so much, you all need to lean on each other as much as you lean on us.”
“How do we do that?” She finally turned her head to the side and wiped her tears with her comforter. “They’re all freaking out.”
“You gotta bring them together, babe.” I heard Adam rumble from behind me and shuddered with just hearing his voice. “First things first you, gotta go forgive those boys for the spider. It was a harmless prank.”
“I know,” she sighed dramatically. It was a total teenager move and I almost laughed. She got up and walked to the boys’ room.
“How are we supposed to do this?” I turned to Adam, nearly in tears.
“You did great just now, with all of them.”
“But, I basically starved them for a week. They hated everything I cooked for them. Here, I thought they were just grieving, but what if it wasn’t that? What if it was because they didn’t like the food.” I was rambling and I knew it, yet I couldn’t stop myself. I was as bad as Peyton.
Adam walked over and grabbed my hand pulling me up and into his arms. “It’s all right. You didn’t know. It will be okay. You know what to get now, and I’m here to help. You’re not doing this alone, I’m here with you. Every step.” He held me tightly as he rubbed soothing circles on my back.
“I feel so weak lately. I’m not like this. I’m strong and independent, but I find myself crying at the drop of a hat. It sucks.”
“It’s okay to lean on people, Kate. You can lean on me. My leg might give out, but I won’t let you fall,” he said with a smile in his voice. I had no idea what he meant by that, but whatever it was, I was holding on tight.