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Colton nodded.
Eris walked into the other room and put Zane in the middle of the bed, repeating the process. She rubbed his back gently and sang softly to him.
“My Pooh?” Zane volunteered, holding it up for her.
“Yes, Daddy went and got you a Pooh bear.”
“Das my Pooh,” he agreed. “Das my daddy…”
“Yes, that’s your Daddy.”
“I wike my Daddy.”
“I like your Daddy, too – he’s a really nice guy sometimes. Now, go to sleep, okay? Mama will sing to you if you shut your eyes.”
“M’kay…” Zane yawned. “Das my Pooh…”
“Yup, Pooh Bear loves you, now shhh…” she whispered again softly, rubbing his back and singing softly once more. It took less than a minute for him to let out a shuddering sigh as his little lips parted, and she smiled. It had been a big day for him, and it was exhausting to be in a new place with so many things to explore or take in.
“I love you,” she whispered, kissing his forehead.
Eris got up gingerly, preparing to go apologize to the man who ran out into the night to get his son a Winnie the Pooh bear without prompting. Colton was a really nice guy and deserved so much better than how she was behaving or treating him.
As she walked into the living room, she saw him standing in the kitchen making two cups of hot tea and he barely looked over his shoulder, tensing immediately. She didn’t even question why he’d picked tea over the beer and was glad. They both needed to keep their heads clear for whatever conversation they were about to have.
“He’s asleep,” she volunteered quietly.
“Your tea,” he replied simply and handed her a cup – and she touched his forearm, causing him to stop immediately, but he wouldn’t look at her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered and saw the surprise on his face as he glanced at her for just the briefest moment before nodding and looking away. “Colton, the last few days have been awful… and I’ve never felt so low or scared.”
“I know.”
“I’m not trying to make things hard or be difficult, but I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop – afraid that this nightmare I seem to be stuck in isn’t over yet.”
“I’m sorry that staying with me or being here is a nightmare.”
“It’s not,” she breathed, taking a deep breath, “but we are having trouble communicating because it’s a lot for both of us. You didn’t expect me to show up on your doorstep with a child – and I didn’t expect you to be so…”
“What?” he said, looking at her now for the first time. “Go ahead and say it. Stubborn, pushy, overbearing because I want to be that kid’s daddy. Go ahead and tell me how horrible I am, Eris. If you want a fight, then pick one, and let’s get it all out in the open finally.”
She shook her head, still looking at him and feeling tears sting her eyes because she had done him so wrong. He’d been nothing but giving and kind and tried to be a parent to Zane, stepping into a role she’d taken from him out of fear and frustration.
“You’ve been wonderful,” she said tearfully, breaking down as everything seemed to hit at once. The fire, him, the kindness, everything. “And I’m so grateful that you’ve not lost your temper or thrown me out because I’ve been a complete and total…”
“Shhh…” Colton interrupted, pulling her close and hugging her. His hand smoothed her hair as she wept against his shoulder, feeling so lost yet so safe at the same time. “Shhh. I’ve got you, and you don’t have to do this alone anymore – you never had to, Eris.”
“Just don’t give up on me or push me away again.”
“Never,” he murmured against her hair, holding her close.
Eris couldn’t tell you how long they stood there in the kitchen hugging, but eventually, Colton walked her to the bedroom without protest. She was emotionally drained. There wasn’t a second thought, not an ounce of hesitation, as he told her gently to lie down.
He treated her like she was fragile – and she was there for it. It was so nice to have someone reach out to take care of her for once, and she barely felt the mattress move as he climbed onto the other side of the bed, putting Zane between them once again.
“Good night,” he said simply, and she replied back quickly, her voice so laced with exhaustion that she even heard it.
“Good night, Colton… and thank you.”
