Chapter 14

14

Evenie

A fter a very awkward breakfast, Tyrion and Summer Rose retreated to their rooms to get ready for the day. I found myself in the backyard, sitting in Summer’s treehouse, crying my eyes out. I wasn’t sure how long I could keep this up, and it had only been a few days. I wanted to be with my baby, but I also wanted to be with her father. I loved Tyrion. No matter how upset and disappointed I was, my heart didn’t know the difference in that.

Pulling out my phone, I called my father, knowing that he would be up at this hour. The phone rang twice before he answered.

“Good morning, baby girl,” he said cheerfully.

“Hey, Daddy.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Daddy, I don’t know what to do.”

He sighed. “Is it Tyrion?”

“Of course it is. Daddy, how can he be engaged to someone else? And I know he waited a long time to date. I know it was unfair to expect him to wait, but my heart hurts… it physically hurts.”

“I know, baby girl.”

“I wanna be here for Summer, but part of me just wants to leave this house.”

“I didn’t want to say anything, but I think it was too soon to stay there. I know that’s your house, but there is no need to torture yourself. You can always come home, baby. Summer has a room here, and there is space for both of you. Talk to Tyrion. Tell him you want to keep her for a while.”

“I don’t want to take her away from him. She’s had him every day of her life. I don’t want her to think I’m punishing her.”

“Then, after you talk to him, you both talk to her. Summer is a big girl. She’s old enough to understand. She knows you two aren’t together, so that’s half the job right there.”

I sniffled. “That might be for the best. God, I wish none of this had ever happened. If I’d never left the house that night, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

“None of this is your fault, Evenie. You had no control over what happened to you, just like you have no control over what happened while you were gone. I know you don’t want to hear this, but baby girl, this is hard for Tyrion too. I know he loves you, but he shares a love with Iona as well. It’s not so simple.”

My head knew he was right, but my heart didn’t want to hear it. I would take his advice about moving in with him and my mother. Maybe the less I had to see this man, the easier it would become.

“I hear you, Daddy,” I finally said. “I have to go. It’s almost time to take Summer to school, then there’s a lot I need to get done today.”

“Okay. Well, I love you, and I’m here if you need me.”

“I know. I love you too. Give Mom my love.”

“I will.”

We disconnected the call. I closed my eyes for a moment to get myself together before wiping my face and climbing down from the treehouse. When I made it back in the house, Summer Rose and Tyrion were waiting in the living room.

“Let me go change my shirt and put on my shoes,” I said.

“We’ll meet you in the car,” Tyrion answered.

I nodded as I disappeared down the hall. A few minutes later, I was settled in the front seat of his car with my purse in my lap. Tyrion put on some music, and we were on our way. The drive was quiet and didn’t take long. When we pulled in front of the school, Nina and Jersey were waiting out front. Tyrion told me this was an every morning occurrence.

“Mommy, I want you to meet my teacher,” Summer Rose said as we came to a stop.

“I’ll park and wait for you,” Tyrion offered.

I nodded as I climbed out of the car behind Summer. She ran over to hug Jersey and her godmother.

“Hey, boo.” Nina greeted me.

“Hey, girl. Hey, Jersey.”

“Hey.” She came to give me a hug with a big smile.

“You okay?” Nina asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

“We’ll talk. Summer wants me to meet her teacher.”

“I’ll call you.” She hugged me and kissed my cheek. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

She bid the girls goodbye, and the three of us headed inside. As we passed the front office, I caught a glimpse of Iona. She looked up just in time to see us. The next thing I knew, she was calling my baby’s name.

“Summer Rose!”

She turned to see her, and a smile broke out on her face.

“Hey, Ms. Iona.”

Iona made her way over to us with open arms and scooped her up in a hug.

“I’ve missed you, sweetness.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

Iona looked at Jersey. “Hey, pretty girl.”

Jersey smiled. “Hi.”

When her eyes fell to me, her smile dimmed slightly. “Evenie.”

“Iona.”

She turned back to Summer. “I missed my singing partner this morning,” she said, pinching her cheek.

“I know. But I really wanted my mom to meet my teacher today.”

“It’s okay. We’ll have our mornings back soon enough. You have a good day, okay? You too, Jersey.”

She pulled Summer in for a hug. Our gazes met for a brief moment before she walked back into the office. Shit, I wanted to drag her. I couldn’t be in my baby’s school acting an ass, though. I could feel it in my bones that Iona and I were going to have a come to Jesus meeting before it was all said and done, and it wasn’t going to be pretty.

Summer pulled at my hand. “Come on, Mommy.”

I put on my best smile and shook the thoughts from my head as I followed her.

Summer’s teacher, Mrs. Bird, was very nice. She was an older black woman who had been with the school district for fifteen years. I could tell she loved my baby by the way she fawned over what a good student she was and how respectful and helpful she was in class. I got the opportunity to look at her grades, and my heart soared with pride to learn she was not only an honor student, but she was reading on a seventh-grade level.

Summer showed me around the classroom and introduced me to a few of her little friends before I had to leave.

“You have a good day,” I said, hugging her. “I’m so proud of you, baby.”

“Thank you, Mommy.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

I kissed her cheek and left the classroom. As I headed back up the hall and into the lobby, my gaze crossed paths with Iona once more. She glared at me for a moment before finally disappearing from view. I shook my head as I headed back outside to find Tyrion’s car.

Once we left the school, we headed to the bank. There was still about twenty minutes until it opened, so we waited patiently in an awkward silence. My thoughts kept drifting back to the kiss we shared. That made two at this point. I couldn’t keep doing this. It had only been a few days, and it was a few days too long.

I thought about what my father said about just coming to stay with them. It was a temporary solution to one of my problems. I would be at peace there. I didn’t have to look at Tyrion. Our lips wouldn’t find their way to each other. I didn’t have to deal with Iona popping up whenever the hell she felt like it. It was just the best option right now.

“I’m moving in with my parents,” I blurted out.

Tyrion’s head jerked around. “What?”

“I’m moving in with my parents.”

“Wait a minute. We just came to an agreement this morning, Ev. Can we talk about this?”

“What is there to talk about?”

“The fact that Summer is just getting used to having you home.”

“And she will still have me, but I can’t live with you. I’m going to my parents’, and I want Summer Rose to come with me for a while.”

“Evenie, please—”

“I can’t do this, Tyrion. My mental is going to continue to suffer, and my heart breaks a little more every time I look at you. I understand having a sense of loyalty to the person that gave you a second chance at love. But I’m your wife. You vowed to love, honor, and cherish me. In sickness and in health. For better or worse, until death do us part. I’m not dead.”

“Ev… I’m trying—”

“Just stop!” I yelled, turning to him. “I love you. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved. The only man I’ve ever wanted to be with, and this is killing me, Tyrion. When I came home, all I wanted was my child and my husband. I can’t have both because you went and got a fucking fiancée. So I’m setting you free. File the divorce papers. I’ll sign them.”

I didn’t give him a chance to say anything before I got out of the car. The bank would be open in five minutes, but I couldn’t stomach another five seconds of being so close to him. I paced the parking lot until I saw the open sign being flipped over. Tyrion got out of the car and started walking toward the door. I followed behind him.

Inside, we were directed to an accounts specialist who opened an account in my name. Tyrion had her transfer everything from the savings account he created in my absence into the new account. I was shocked to learn the total was close to thirty thousand dollars. Tyrion had always paid the household bills, so whatever I earned when I worked as an interior decorator was just extra. I used to work for an elite company and made very good money in addition to his salary at the bank.

I wondered if they would take me back? Once upon a time, I’d been highly requested and one of the top consultants. Getting my old job back would at least be a start in feeling like myself again. While I knew I could stay with my parents forever if I wanted to, but since I couldn’t have my old life back, I needed a new beginning.

In the car, Tyrion and I drove in silence for a while until his phone rang. I suspected it was Iona, but it showed an unsaved number on the screen.

He frowned. “It’s the police station in Cayman,” he said, frowning. He answered it on speaker. “Hello?”

“Mr. Lewis? It’s officer Hilbert.”

“Oh, hey. What can I do for you?”

“I was just doing a follow-up call to check in on Mrs. Lewis. How is she?”

“You can talk to her. She’s right here.”

“Hello?” I said.

“Evenie, how are you? Are you settled in back at home?”

“Everything is… it’s decent. Not what I was expecting, but at least it’s not where I was. I appreciate you calling to check in. I know you’re probably busy, and you didn’t have to do that.”

“You were on my mind. Listen, you left before I could give you some information.”

“What kind of information?”

“I know PTSD can be a common result of being kidnapped along with nightmares and other things. Maybe you feel that, maybe you don’t. Maybe being home is a harder adjustment than you anticipated. I don’t know. I just wanted to offer you the number to a counseling service should you need it. If you can’t talk to your friends or family, you should talk to someone.”

I was quiet for a moment. I hadn’t allowed myself to think about my time in that basement. I’d blocked it from my mind so I could give my all to my child, but I knew it wouldn’t last. All it would take was one thing to trigger me and send me back to that place. Maybe talking to a professional would do me some good.

“I appreciate that. I’ll take the number.”

She rattled off the number, and I stored it in my phone. We spoke for a little while longer before disconnecting the call. I turned my attention back out the window as silence fell upon the car once more. If being in his presence didn’t depress me first, the silence was going to drive me insane.

Yeah… it was time to go.