Page 90 of Turning Back

“Mmm-hmm,” Rochelle says. “But it’s not nearly as hot as the one in this room.”

“Stay home and let me fuck you,” Bric moans.

“Later,” I say. “We need this night.”

He knows it’s true. I have a lot of things to say to Rochelle and I need to do that away from Adley and away from Bric. Away from this house. This family, I guess. It’s something between us, and only us.

“Are you ready?” I ask Rochelle. Bric backs away, shaking his head like it’s a damn shame. It probably is. But we’ll be back, and he knows that.

He leaves Rochelle and I alone and a few seconds later we hear Adley squeal as Bric greets her in the hallway.

“Should I be nervous?” Rochelle asks me in the mirror.

I turn, get her coat off the bed, and then hold it open so she can slip her arms inside.

I lean into her ear, the same way Bric was just a few moments ago, and whisper, “No.”

This settles her.

She knows I have something to say, but she also knows I won’t lie to her. Would never lie to her. So she trusts me.

That’s all I’m hoping for at the end of this night. Just a little more trust. On my part, not hers.

We need this night.

I take one more look at us in the mirror, decide this requires another picture, and pull my phone out again. I want to look at both those pictures right now. Compare them. Weigh the merits and pitfalls of each scenario in my head. But it’s premature and we have a night planned anyway, so instead I say, “Ready?”

Bric is sitting on the couch holding Adley in his arms. She’s slapping his cheeks as he makes funny faces. “She’s got bottles in the fridge, Bric,” Rochelle says, slipping into mom mode. “She should only want one, but we might be late. Feed her, give her a bath, and then put her down in about an hour. There’s a jar of baby food on the counter if you want to give that a try.” She laughs, picturing it, I think. “But it’s not necessary. She likes the bottle at night. Call me if you have any questions.”

“I got this,” Bric says through lips being pinched together by Adley’s little fingers. “Go away now. We’re having fun without you already.”

Rochelle lets out a long sigh as I call for the elevator. Whatever was holding it up a few minutes ago has passed, because it comes immediately. We step in and watch the doors close.

Bric and Adley disappear.

“This is the first time, isn’t it?” I ask.

Rochelle nods. “First time leaving her behind. I have a little pain in my heart, Quin. Hold my hand.”

I smile, but take her hand. When the doors open, I lead her to the Suburban and open her door. It’s not classy, and she practically has to climb into it, it’s so high off the ground, but it’s me. It’s us. We’ve done so many fun things with this fucking truck.

I go around to my side, get in, and start it up. Rochelle is biting her finger, like leaving Adley behind really is causing her pain.

“Are you OK?” I ask.

“Yes,” she says. “I’m not worried about Bric. It just… it feels weird leaving her behind. She’s been my little sidekick for six months, you know?”

“We’re coming back, Rochelle. We can even come back early if you like. But I do have something special planned for after dinner.”

“What?” she asks.

“It’s a surprise.”

“Give me a hint,” she begs.

There is a recognizable brightness in her hazel eyes. Something that has been mostly missing since she came back. Something I’ve missed as well.

So I give in. “Well,” I say, backing the ’Burban out of the parking space. “You’ve never been to my house. Bric brought you here back when you first met. But I never took you home. I’ve always regretted that.”