Wide Open Spaces (Shooting Stars #2) - Aurora Rose Reynolds Page 0,12
tell my kids what to do!” Tina shouts, leaning around Zach and pointing her finger at me.
“Tone it down, Tina.”
“Fuck you, Zach. Your ex-girlfriend comes back, and suddenly you’re traipsing around town with her and our kids? I do not fucking think so.”
“Mom,” Hunter says quietly, and my stomach pitches when I see the look in his eyes.
“Honey.” I reach out for him, but he takes a step away from me.
“I’m taking you back to court, asshole,” Tina continues loudly, while my heart cracks open. “Steven’s already said he wants to move in with me, and when I tell the judge about how you gave up you and that bitch’s kid fifteen years ago, who do you think he will choose then?” She’s shouts at the top of her lungs, shoving Zach in the chest. Whimpering I, take a step back, not believing she just said that with the kids and a group of at least ten people watching.
“Dad,” Aubrey whispers, as Zach barks, “Outside now.”
But it’s too late. The damage is done.
“One warning, Tina. That’s all I’m giving you before I call in Arney. Don’t think I won’t have you arrested,” he whispers low, getting in her face.
Seeing them distracted, I move toward the kids and say quietly, “Guys, set your stuff down.” They each hurry and do as I instructed them to do then I lead them out of the store without looking back.
“Do you guys want to wait for your dad, or do you want to walk with Hunter and me back to the house?” I ask once we’re in the parking lot, and Aubrey looks at her brother, waiting for him to make the decision.
“We’ll wait for our Dad,” Steven says, and I nod, giving them a shaky smile.
“I’m gonna take Hunter home. Stay near your dad’s truck until he gets out, okay?”
“Sure,” Aubrey says, and Steven lifts his chin towards me then wraps his arm around his sister’s shoulder.
“I’m really sorry,” I whisper, and with that, I walk away with Hunter walking a few steps in front of me with his face towards the ground.
“Honey,” I say, reaching out to touch his shoulder when we’re close to the house, but the shake of his head lets me know he doesn’t want to hear whatever it is I’m going to say. Not that I even know what to say at this point.
I’ve thought a lot over the years about how I would tell Hunter about Samuel’s adoption, and in my head, I knew all the right things to say and envisioned what Hunter’s reaction would be to the news. I never in my wildest dreams imagined he would find out about it in the middle of a grocery store with Zach’s children present.
As soon as I have the door to the house open, Hunter pounds up the stairs, leaving me standing in the entryway at a loss. Taking off my jacket, I toss it on the couch in the living room then take a seat in my granddad’s chair—one of the few things of his still remaining in the room—and put my head in my hands.
“What do I do now?” I ask, then jerk my head up when a knock sounds on the front door. Swiping the tears off my cheeks, I head for the door. Opening it just as Zach’s hand is hanging in the air, getting ready to knock again.
His eyes are filled with concern. His hair is a disheveled mess, as if he had been pulling on it on the way over here. “Are you okay?” Without giving me time to answer his question, he puts his hand against my stomach and pushes me back into the house. As soon as the door is closed, he pulls me into his arms. “I’m sorry, Shel,” he whispers, running his hands over the top of my head then down my back.
“I can’t believe she did that.” Realizing where I am, I push against his chest and take a step back pointing at the door. “You need to leave.”
“Shel—”
“No.” I shake my head frantically while wiping my cheeks. “I can’t do this.”
“Don’t.” He takes a step toward me, and I take another step back, not wanting him to touch me again. Never wanting him to touch me again.
“You should go talk to your kids. I’m sure they’re upset,” I whisper, pointing at the door once more.
“They know about Samuel. They’ve known about him since they were old enough to understand what adoption is.”