Come to Me Softly (Closer to You #2)(36)
Author: A.L. Jackson

But I knew in my gut that walking away from Aly would break her.

As if I ever could, even if I tried.

Because there was no walking away from her.

Not now.

Not ever.

EIGHT

November 1995

“Jared, where are you?” Christopher bellowed from down the hall.

Jared ran on his toes through the small family room of his house, keeping his footsteps light. No way was he gonna let Christopher find him.

He slipped into the kitchen. Steam spilled from the pots on the stove, and the smell of heaven filled his nose.

His stomach growled, but his mom, Helene, told him it was still going to be a couple of hours before they ate. She’d offered him a snack, but he wasn’t going to waste any room because he was saving it all up for pumpkin pie. It was his favorite, especially when his mom let him put on his own whipped cream.

He tried not to make any noise when he maneuvered around the butcher block island that sat right in the middle of the kitchen.

Both his mom and Karen stood around it, talking and laughing while they chopped and prepared, just like they always did. Jared’s mom’s belly was big and round, like a ball. It looked so funny, but his baby sister was in there. He was getting her for Christmas, at least that’s what his mom told him, but he wasn’t so sure that’s what he really wanted.

“No fair, Jared!” Jared heard Christopher shout from somewhere in the living room over the roaring noise of the football game their dads were watching on the television. “I’ve been looking forever. It’s your turn to hide.”

Jared snickered. Christopher had it comin’. He was always cheating and Jared was determined he was gonna win this time.

Listening to Christopher’s footsteps approach, Jared got onto his hands and knees and scrambled to the other side of the island. He hid in the long sway of his mother’s skirt.

Christopher burst into the kitchen. “You seen Jared in here?” he asked. Jared peered through the baskets and bags piled under the island. Red sneakers peeked out from just the other side. Christopher shifted his feet.

“Nope . . . he must have disappeared,” Karen teased. Jared held in his laughter when Christopher turned away and opened the pantry door, sticking his head inside. “You in here, Jared?”

Jared’s mom sneaked him a playful glance before she looked back at Christopher. “Well, I bet he’s around here somewhere. You’re just going to have to keep looking,” she encouraged, her face all soft and caring.

Jared’s belly felt warm as he rested against her leg.

He loved the smell of the turkey in the oven, but he loved the way his mom smelled best.

Soft fingers fluttered in his hair, and Jared leaned into them. His mom was the best person in the world. He was sure of it.

Christopher took off through the archway, running toward the back of the house.

“Whatcha doin’?” The little voice beside him made Jared jump. He fumbled back and met the wide eyes of the tiny girl crouched beside him. Her face was all round, her cheeks as chubby as her little fingers. He should tell her to shoo, to get away before she gave him away and her brother found him, but Jared liked her best, too.

He lifted his index finger to his pursed lips, pushed out a low, “Shh. I’m hiding from your brother.”

Her green eyes grew round with delight as she caught on to the game. Aly grinned, showing off her tiny teeth. “I wanna play with you, Jed.”

She always said his name wrong too, but that didn’t make him mad, either. She was only three, and all her words came out funny.

Softly he wound her hand in his. “Okay, but you have to be super quiet.”

She nodded vigorously, stringy locks of dark hair flying.

Jared got to his feet and tugged at her hand. “Come on, Aly Cat.”

Aly giggled, scrambling to keep up with him as he led her by the hand.

And Jared liked the way it sounded, like the softest song, just like his mom sang to him at night.

NINE

Aleena

I watched in horror as Jared escaped out of my parents’ house. Every part of me wanted to run after him, but I knew he needed his space. He needed time to process what had just occurred.

The door slammed behind him.

A charged silence took over the room.

Slowly, I turned back to my parents. Trembling, my mom climbed to her feet. I knew she’d been shocked into silence, her own disappointment and worry so clear. But above it all, I could feel her compassion. Her worry for Jared was just as thick as mine.

I took a single step toward my dad, who still stood there glowering over the table. Although maybe it was he who now appeared smug, like he was satisfied with the outcome.

I was so angry I wanted to pound it off of his face.

“How could you?” I whispered, taking another step toward him. “How could you say something like that?”

“Aly . . .” My name was uttered like a harsh appeal, like he was trying to get through to me, to make me see.

But it was my father who was blind.

“I just want what’s best for you. Don’t you know that? That’s all I’ve ever wanted it.” It was said as if it could excuse him from what he’d just done, from the pain he’d inflicted.

I glanced away, at the floor, wetting my lips before I forced myself to look back at him. “I can’t believe you could be so cruel.” Disappointment rushed from me in the quiet accusation.

He flinched.

I stumbled over the emotion in my throat, feeling those tears I couldn’t hold in earlier resurfacing. Because I knew they’d be disappointed, that they’d envisioned a different path for my life, and I could accept that. But I wouldn’t stand for him treating Jared this way.

“Maybe I let you down, Dad, and you can be angry over that. I get it.” I placed my hand on my stomach. “I didn’t expect this, either, and there were some nights when I didn’t know how I would handle this all. But this is what I want. Jared is what I want. I love him. He is a good man, and what you just said to him . . . I don’t think you have any clue how much you hurt him.”

“Aly, that kid has never cared about anyone but himself.”

I pounded my fist at my side, every cell in my body straining for control. “You are so wrong.”

“What happens when you find out I’m right?”

I backed away, unable to grasp my father’s reaction, the spite that bled from his mouth.

“Aly,” he begged, starting around the table, “sweetheart, I’m just protecting my family.”