I love these girls with my whole heart. I would love nothing more than to be a part of their lives, but I can't stay around Dalton because my feelings are too strong. Watching him move on and conquer the next girl would break me. While the girls are at school, I pack my bags and then take a nap so I’ll be ready for later. After the girls are in bed that night, I load my bags into my car and move it to the side of the house where Dalton won't see it when he gets home.
I called my eldest brother and told him I'd be there sometime tomorrow. He's always been my protector and the least judgmental of my life choices. To say my other brother and parents weren't happy I decided to randomly take some job is an understatement. But Eric and his wife, Jenny, have been so supportive, and Jenny is the one I've been talking to about Dalton.
They told me they don't care what time I get there and they'll have a room ready for me to crash. I like that they didn't pepper me for details like my parents would. I know they’ll let me talk about it when—or if—I'm ever ready.
So powered with my nap, I wait until he gets home, turning off my lights and lying in bed. I wait until I hear him settle in bed before heading downstairs with the note I wrote for him earlier. I place the note on the refrigerator, knowing he'll see it when he makes his coffee in the morning.
Taking a final look around, I head out to my car and leave behind the mansion that felt more like home than any place I’ve ever known.
I make it to the Interstate before the tears start. I held it together all day in front of the girls, but now I'm putting miles between us, I can't stop them to save my life.
At about 4:00 AM, exhaustion hits, so I pull over at a rest stop. I text my brother my location and tell him I'm pulling over for a few hours of sleep. No sooner do I close my eyes than my phone rings. A glance shows it's Dalton, which means he's realized I’ve gone and gotten my letter. I sigh, turn off my phone and sleep for a few hours until dawn breaks on the horizon.
As the sun rises, I get back on the road. I hate every bit of distance I’m putting between us, but I know it has to be done. I know I made the right decision.
Chapter 9
Dalton
It'sbeenonehellof a week. I wake up before my alarm with a desperate need to see Mari. She's been asleep when I get home every night, and I've been up and gone before she and the girls' wake.
I peek in on the girls, and they're fast asleep. I head to Mari's room, but she's not in bed. Maybe she’s downstairs getting some coffee and preparing to wake the girls? But it's dark and quiet, and there’s no sign of her when I get to the kitchen. A piece of paper is pinned to the refrigerator, folded in half, with my name scrawled on the front.
Before I even open it, my gut knows what’s waiting for me. Mari’s beautiful handwriting breaks my heart.
Dalton,
I tried not to, but I fell for you. I knew it was only temporary, but I guess I hoped you were different. After a week of being completely ignored, not even a text message or a phone call, I can't stay here and continue like this.
You got what you wanted—someone to help with the kids and keep your bed warm. I'm sure it was the thrill of the chase for you. A game. I'm not upset, but I can't stay.
You're more than capable of taking care of these girls, and I know you’ll do great. I wish you all the best.
Mari
How the hell did I screw this up so bad? She was falling for me like I was falling for her, but I fell into old habits and pushed her away.
She never once left my mind. I thought if I pushed harder and longer, I’d be done sooner, and we could go back to the way things were. But I guess I was stupid to think a woman like Mari would wait around for me.
I pull up my phone and call her. It rings a few times and goes to voicemail. I call back, but this time it doesn't ring and goes straight to a voicemail, telling me she's turned off the phone. She intentionally turned her phone off after seeing I was calling. That thought alone rips my heart out. I never wanted to hurt her. I was so focused on the bigger picture, and this is what my sister knew would happen. It's why she made the rules, and I’ve failed her and the girls. I’ve failed Mari.
I pull up her phone tracker I had installed last week without her knowing and check her last known location. It looks like she's going to her brother's house.
I head back to the girls’ room. "Come on, girls. No school today. We're going on a short trip," I say as I open their curtains, waking them up.
"Uncle Dalton, what are you doing here? Why aren't you at work?" Hope asks sleepily, clearly not amused and already used to my bad work habits.
I'm putting a stop to that.
"There was a work emergency, and I didn’t handle it properly, especially considering you guys are here now. It took me longer than I wanted to fix everything and set up a new process and plan, but I did, and I'm back. Mari left because she thinks I don’t care about her, but I do, and we need to get married." I try to be as truthful as possible while explaining in a way they can understand.
"We know she left you because you ignored her. She tried to hide it, but she was so sad," Fawn says.
"You’re right. I messed up, and Mari left. But I want her back. Do you girls want her back? Do you want her in our lives?" I check with them to make sure because as much as it would kill me to lose Mari, they come first.
"Yes. She's the only one who can do my hair how I like it, and she promised to show me how to use makeup after my next birthday. She knows how to calm Zoe when she gets overtired and needs a nap but refuses to go to sleep. Mom was the only one who could do that," Fawn says.
"She lets me put that cheese on my broccoli so it doesn't taste like dirt, and she knows how to fix Bunny when her stuffing falls out, and she builds the best movie forts," Hope says.