Done (Harmony Haven #1)

Chapter 33

Chapter Thirty-Three

JESSE

The frenzy and fear I felt as I pulled into the clinic blinded me from the fact that I had parked right next to Easton’s truck. The rain had also started falling so I kept my head down as I ran toward the door. It wasn’t until I rushed down the hall and skidded into room seven that I even knew he was there.

With my son sleeping soundly on his chest, Easton’s head was turned toward the window. He did turn toward me when my heels clicked across the tile, but it wasn’t until I was next to the bed that I realized he was also asleep.

“They’ve been that way for about fifteen minutes,” the nurse whispered behind me. “Max was clear of a concussion and once Easton got here, he relaxed enough to rest.”

I didn’t know what to do, or what to say. On one hand, I was thankful Easton was there and that Max wasn’t alone, but on the other hand, I wondered why he didn’t answer his phone or call me.

“Maybe we can give them a few more minutes and you can come sign some papers for me,” the nurse whispered again behind me.

Nodding, I started to back up toward the door, my eyes staying on Max. Then I disappeared into the hallway once again and took a deep breath. “Tell me what happened and if he’s okay.”

“Yes ma’am,” the nurse spoke gently, but louder since we were no longer in the room. “According to the teachers and Max himself, he was playing on the playground when a storm started to blow in. The teachers were calling for everyone to hurry inside, and maybe he tried to rush? He told Easton that the wind blew him down. I’m sure the gusts made him a little unsteady and he fell.”

“Is anything broken? Is his head okay?”

“The teachers called 9-1-1 as a precaution and everything checked out, Miss Olsen. Max may have a little headache, but he’s going to be as good as new tomorrow.”

He may be good as new, but he wasn’t going back to school. Not until I had a day alone with him curled in my arms, making sure he was safe. No matter what the nurse and the doctors said, my heart wouldn’t be able to let him go.

“We just need you to sign some papers and then we can wake your two boys up.”

“My…? No, Easton isn’t…”

She smirked and turned around, waving for me to follow her to the desk as I continued to try convincing her that Easton wasn’t a part of “my two boys.” He was just a friend. I had already decided we had to be just friends. Seeing Max in his arms made me feel better, but not because I wanted Easton. It was just knowing Max wasn’t alone.

When the papers were signed and I was told I could take Max home, I slowly walked back into his room and looked at how content he was with Easton. It wasn’t the first time Max had slept in Easton’s arms, and since I had also slept in those arms, I couldn’t blame Max for how safe it felt.

“Hey buddy,” I patted Max’s back. “Mommy’s here.”

He shifted a little and turned his head away, his eyes staying shut. But Easton had heard me and his eyes were open, staring at me intently.

“Where were you?” He whispered.

“I had a meeting in Atlanta.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He was upset, and I could reason that his feelings were valid. But I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to ease his concerns.

“I don’t have to report to you, Easton.” I spoke calmly, pointedly. But I knew it still sounded like I was being a bitch.

He blanched and snarled his nose a little, then shook his head until his face was once again passive. Regret seeped into my veins making me feel the need to apologize, but before I did, he grabbed my hand and held it.

“You’re right,” he sighed. “You’re not obligated to tell me anything. But I’m glad Daniel called me from the station and told me. I’m glad I could be here with Max.”

My smile was tight and remorseful, but I didn’t want to make a conversation out of it. I wanted to get Max home, I wanted to feed him, and I wanted to watch his favorite shows together. Easton seemed to understand that just by looking at me and sat up, waking Max up as he did.

“Hey little guy, Mommy’s here.”

Max turned his head back, his eyes trying to open all the way, and he smiled. “Eas told me you coming.”

His tone was happy, and with five words put together in a coherent sentence, I had to bite my bottom lip to keep it from trembling.

“Eas was right,” I put my hands out, waiting for him to climb toward me, then kissed his head. “Mommy was coming, and I’m ready to take you home.”

“You comin’?” Max asked, curling his finger toward the palm of his hand, motioning for Easton to follow us.

“Yeah—”

“No,” I cut him off, then looked between their two faces. “I just need some time with him,” I explained to Easton.

He nodded and laid back on the bed, as if he was just going to linger at the clinic all night. Max said a few goodbyes and Easton grabbed my hand to caress it for a second. But then he let go, and Max and I made our way home as the rain got harder. Thunder and lightning made the short drive scary, and I pulled into the garage for the first time ever, hoping to shield Max from being soaked.

“The car is inside,” Max laughed.

“I know,” I giggled with him. “Maybe I need to always park here. We can hide and pretend we aren't home.”

“Silly.”

“No you’re silly.”

We got inside and kept laughing, and I instantly felt better. Like it had always been, it was just Max and me, spending time together and giving him the attention I was always afraid he lacked by his father not being around.

A bath, two movies, and a bag of popcorn later, Max was asleep on the couch next to me. I marveled at his little lips, the way I always did when he looked so peaceful.

“No more meetings in Atlanta without you. I promise.”

My phone chimed for the first time all night and I looked at the incoming text. It was Francesca, who had no idea that when I left her at the diner, I had ended up speeding to Harmony Haven.

Francesca

Guess who stopped by the shop this evening?

Jesse

Chris Hemsworth? ;-)

Francesca

Clay.

Jesse

Shopping for his new girlfriend I hope.

That way he would finally stop trying to get back together with me.

Francesca

He told me he knew you were in Harmony Haven. He’s always known and wondered why you didn’t stop by his office to say hi while you were in town today.

Chills ran up my spine. Clay never scared me apart from the one time he let himself inside my apartment. Clay had never been menacing or threatening, but how was I to know who he really was?

Knowing I moved to Harmony Haven didn’t bother me. But knowing I was in Atlanta early made my skin crawl. How would he know?

Jesse

What did you tell him?

Francesca

I told him to get out of my shop.

There was no reason he should have cared about me or Max anymore. Not unless he was on a power trip. Our relationship had been nothing to him, and he had never even spoken to Max a day in his life.

He didn’t need us. Clay was good looking, had a good job, and had the kind of charm most women fawned over. I could never understand why he continued to pursue me.

Another text came in and I looked down, expecting it to be Francesca again, but feeling somewhat relieved when I saw Easton’s name.

Easton

How’s my little dude?

Jesse

He’s good. Sleeping after an evening of me doting on him.

Easton

I drove by and left some things on the porch since you weren’t home.

Jesse

I’ve been home since I left the clinic. You could have knocked.

Easton

Your car wasn’t in the driveway. Plus, you didn’t seem like you wanted company when you left. I just wanted to bring y’all some stuff to make you feel better.

Guilt at how I snapped at Easton once again had my stomach turning. Protecting myself was never supposed to be painful or unfriendly. It was supposed to be mutual and satisfying. We found comfort with one another, we shared ourselves and our stories, and we had to end things before it went too far.

But Easton had the right to ask why I hadn’t told him about my meeting. We were close enough that I should have told him the moment I thought about it despite the feelings those rumors gave me.

What right did I have to be angry if he was seeing someone else, when I was the one that kept telling him we had to end things one day?

Jesse

Between you and me, the car is in the garage. The rain was heavy when we got home.

Easton

Ah. Well, I’m glad you two are okay tonight and just maybe grab that stuff off the porch before you go to bed.

With a smile, I stood and made my way to the door. A huge bouquet of yellow roses sat at the top of the stairs and next to it was a basket with Max’s name handwritten on a tag. I grabbed everything and brought it inside, taking a quick picture and sending it to Easton.

Jesse

Thank you *image sent*

Easton

Feel better Jess. Take all the time you need with Max, and call me when you’re ready.

Sifting through the basket he sent Max, I found a few toy fire trucks, his favorite cookies with a label saying they were “baked by Grams”, and a silver fire department badge that said Harmony Haven FD. It looked like something they gave to kids that took field trips to the station, but to Max, it was going to rock his world. He would probably wear it every day.

With a long look at the yellow roses, it dawned on me that Easton may have been more aware of my intentions than he let on. Yellow was the color of rose you sent to signify friendship, and it must have meant he was accepting that we had to be just friends.

I should have felt a smidgen of relief, but a shooting pain laced my heart, and it felt like my soul was breaking in half. Selfishly, it was easy to act like I needed to push Easton away while I was trying to maintain some control over my life. Knowing he was giving up his fight as well was unexpected.

Fair, but heartbreaking all at the same time.

Had we had met at any other stage in my life, we may have been able to see how far we could go. But for now, and maybe forever, we were done.