Until the End(57)

Deep down I had always worried that the happily-ever-after life Tawny had wanted wasn’t going to work for her. I just hadn’t imagined this scenario. I never thought she’d leave her daughter. Without a word.

Marcus pulled out the chair beside me, sat down, and slid his hands over my knees. “I need to tell Mom before someone else does. She needs to hear this from me and not a nosy friend of hers. I don’t want to call her and tell her over the phone. And I need to let Amanda know too.”

“Yes, go tell them. I’ll get the kids in bed. We still have cookies left to make, and then we can read a book. Don’t worry about us. Just call me and keep me updated if your dad hears anything. I’ll think of anyone who might know where to find her and I’ll make some calls once the kids are in bed.”

Marcus nodded and slipped his hand into my hair, then pulled my head to him so he could claim my mouth in a kiss. “I love you,” he told me, then kissed me harder.

I enjoyed the taste of my husband but pulled back after a few seconds because he wasn’t letting up. “You need to go,” I reminded him.

He nodded. “Yeah. I’ll hurry. Tell Eli I promise to make it up to him tomorrow. I’ll keep him home from preschool and he can go to work with me.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Tomorrow is party day, and he’s taking the cookies.”

Marcus grinned. “Okay then, movie night tomorrow night,” he said.

“Much better,” I agreed.

He kissed me one more time, quickly. “God, you’re sexy as hell. It’s hard to come home to this and then run off again.”

“Hurry back,” I told him, then slapped his tight ass.

He winked at me, then headed for the door. I waited until it closed behind him to go check on the kids. I wanted to hug Larissa close to me and let her know I loved her. She needed some extra love right now. Tawny wasn’t the best mom, but she did love Larissa. Her father wasn’t the most affectionate man in the world, though.

Eli’s little head turned when I walked into the room. He had Larissa helping him put together his newest Lego set.

“Where’s Daddy?” he asked, looking perplexed. He had thought Marcus would be the one to come get them.

“He had to run to Grana’s. He’ll be back soon,” I assured him. Then I turned my attention to Larissa. “Hey, princess, got some hugs for me?” I asked Tawny’s Mini-Me.

“Hey Lowlow,” she said as she stood up. She ran over to me and threw herself into my arms. She held on extra tight and I squeezed back. She was six now, and she knew something was wrong. “I love you bunches,” I told her.

“I love you more bunches,” she said, and my heart broke a little more. How could Tawny leave her? More than once in my life I had hated my sister. This was one of those times.

“We’re making cookies. You want to help Eli and me finish them up?” I asked her. She pulled back and nodded excitedly.

“YAY!” Eli cheered, and ran from the room back toward the kitchen.

Larissa giggled, and I stood up. Her little hand reached up and slipped into mine. Her little grasp was tight, and I held on to her just as tightly as we followed Eli back into the kitchen.

Marcus

When I pulled into my mother’s driveway, my father’s truck was already there. What was he doing? The jackass comes running to my mom for help when his current wife leaves him? Dammit!

I jumped out of my truck and slammed the door before stalking up to the house. I didn’t knock. I just opened the door and walked inside. I could hear their voices from the living room, so I headed that way. My dad better have had a f**king good reason for coming over here. And when I say good reason, it better be because Tawny’s sorry ass was here hiding in the garage. If that wasn’t the reason, then he was getting my fist in his face.

My mother didn’t need this bullshit.

“I thought she said it was fine. She was good with the divorce,” I heard my mother say. I stopped walking.

“I heard the door. Wait,” my dad demanded, before appearing in the hallway. Our gazes locked.

“I need an explanation. Now,” I commanded.

Dad let out a sigh and ran his hand through his short hair. “I shoulda figured you would be coming over here.”

“That ain’t an answer, Dad,” I snapped.

Mother stepped out into the hall, saw me, and sighed. “Hello, honey. Come on in and sit down, you two. Might as well tell him everything, Jeff,” she said as if this was all normal.