“I can’t believe you would do this to Dad.” He bolted out of the room and then out of the house, moving past her in a blur.
Peighton, still frozen in place, couldn’t speak. Even if she had wanted to stop him, to grab him and beg him to listen, she had no excuse for what she’d done. She couldn’t make this right and she didn’t deserve the right to try. She took in a deep breath, her chin shaking. She could feel the tears coming but was trying her hardest to hold it together. Frank appeared around the corner, his eyebrows raised.
He held out his hand to Clay, shaking it firmly. “How’s it going?” he asked, his eyes darting to Peighton. He took a bite of the bagel in his hand casually.
“A heads up would’ve been nice, Frank,” Peighton said exasperatedly.
His jaw dropped open slightly and he took in a breath. “How was I supposed to know you’d have…company?” he asked. “You told me to bring him home. I brought him home.”
“No, I know that, it’s just that he was already upset with me. And now…” she paused, dropping her hands to her sides with anguish. “And now, I’ve made it even worse.”
“I’ll talk to him, okay?” Frank said, taking hold of her shoulders firmly. “He’ll come around, Peighton, just give him time. This is a lot to take in all at once.”
She sighed, feeling the tears begin to fall. He pulled her into his chest, rubbing her back. “I’ll talk to him,” he repeated.
Behind them, she heard Clay clear his throat. “I’m going to go, Peighton. I’m sorry about this,” he said softly, his hand brushing her back as he walked past them and out the door. She didn’t let go of Frank, keeping her face buried in his chest as she heard the door shut.
“Will he forgive me?” she asked, finally looking up to meet his eyes.
“He just needs time.”
She nodded, wiping her eyes.
“I think he should stay with me for now, that way we know where he is. I’ll keep an eye on him, and then once he’s calmed down, I’ll make sure he comes home. Just give me a few days with him to deal with everything.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “Just take care of him, Frank. Make sure you know where he is.”
He nodded, walking to the door. “I’m going to go now, before he takes my car and runs.” He laughed, staring out the door.
“Frank—” she called after him as he headed out the door. He stopped, looking over his shoulder. “Are you mad at me?”
He turned back around, shutting the door, seeming to think about it. “What kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t say I’m a little disappointed?” he asked. “But then again, what right do I have to be mad at you? You’re doing what it takes to survive. That’s all we’re all doing right now. I can’t judge you for that.” With that, he opened the door and disappeared.
Thirteen
PEIGHTON
Peighton sat across the table from Isabel, both sipping from their china teacups. Isabel reached across the table, her hand rubbing Peighton’s kindly.
“It’s going to be all right, honey. He’ll come around.”
“Do you think so?”
“You’re his mother. He loves you.”
Peighton took another sip of her chamomile. “I really hurt him, Izzy.”
The housekeeper nodded. “And you’ll do it again, and he you. It’s a never-ending cycle, my dear, mothers and our babies. But it’s filled with love. Kyle knows you love him. You’re all he has left.”
“He’s all I have left,” she whined. “Izzy, I can’t lose him.”
“Shh, shh, now. You just calm down,” she soothed. “No one’s losing anybody.” She rubbed Peighton’s arm. “You just drink your tea and breathe.” She stood up, walking to the stove and grabbing the kettle, returning to the table to refill their cups. “Ms. Peighton, forgive me if I’m overstepping, but have you ever considered telling Kyle the truth? I mean, about everything?”
Peighton looked at her in horror. “Oh, I couldn’t.” Isabel placed the tea kettle back on the stove, walking cautiously back to the table. Peighton grabbed her arm as she sat down. “Izzy, he can never know. Never. You swore that you’d never tell a soul.”
“I’ll keep my word, Ms. I will, I was only suggesting that it could be a way for him to understand why you did what you did.”
“He wouldn’t understand.”
“You don’t give him enough credit. Kyle is a smart boy, a sweet boy, I think if you just—”
“I said no,” Peighton snapped.
“Very well. It was merely a suggestion,” Isabel retorted, pulling her cup of tea toward her again. “I’m going to go finish the laundry, if you don’t need anything else.”
“No,” Peighton said, feeling guilty. “That’s fine.” The housekeeper stood up, walking away. Peighton downed the rest of her tea quickly, though it burned her throat. She stood up too, grabbing her jacket off the back of the chair. “I’m going out,” she called to the housekeeper, who didn’t respond.
Peighton pulled up to the hotel, staring around the parking lot, desperately looking for his car. She’d been to the three other hotels in town already, this was her last hope. If she knew him at all, she knew he wouldn’t have left town, not yet. As she drove through the lot, she spotted it. The dark blue Kia sat in the far corner, tucked in between a red truck and a walnut tree. She recognized its out of state license plate. She sighed with relief. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized just how much she was counting on finding him.
She frowned, wondering how she was going to figure out which room he would be in. For a moment, she contemplated going to each door and knocking, making her way through each room until she saw his face. Realizing how long that would take, she changed her mind. She didn’t want to give him a heads up that she was coming for him.
She climbed out of the car, glancing around and wondering if she were being watched. She looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun. Walking into the lobby of the hotel, she smiled at the young man at the counter. She couldn’t help but be reminded of a bird as she stared at his thick, coal black hair that stood in every direction.
“Hi, can I help you?” he rattled off, not bothering to make eye contact.
“I hope so,” she said. “I’m looking for Andrew Ross’ room, please.”
He frowned. “Mmhmm, I can’t give out guest’s room numbers, ma’am.”
“Oh, of course not,” she said, pulling a twenty out of her pocket, something she’d seen Todd do many times. She had no doubt, had he been with her, they’d get the information she needed. “It’s just, well, I’m his wife and today’s his birthday. I didn’t think I would be able to make it into town to see him, but I moved a few things around. I want to surprise him, and I’d really appreciate your help.” She slid the bill across the counter.
He picked it up, eyeing it suspiciously, and slipped it into his shirt pocket. “Right, well, that’s super sweet and all,” he said, making it obvious he didn’t care how sweet it was, “but I can’t help you, mmkay?”
She pressed her lips together firmly, trying to hide her frustration. “Could you contact him then? Ask him to come down here?”
He rolled his eyes slightly, smacking his gum. “Couldn’t you do that?”
“I want it to be a surprise,” she insisted.
“Okay, whatever, sure.” He picked up the bulky white phone that sat on the counter and placed it between his shoulder and ear. He began typing on his computer, his eyes scanning the screen, before he punched three digits into the phone. “Yes, hello, Mr. Ross? This is Tyler at the front desk. You have a visitor down here.” Peighton stared at him, her brow furrowed. Tyler ignored her. “Well, she said she’s your wife.” He hung up the phone with a snarky look on his face. “Room 613.”