Undefeated (Unexpected Book 5) (39 page)
“AJ, this is Mackenzie Brooke,” I say after the beep. “Call me whenever you have time. I made a decision, and I need your help to find an apartment in Seattle. I have a few questions about the area. I’ve been thinking about the kids’ future, your offer to help with Finn. Starting another chapter might be the last push I need to find our new normal. Anyway . . . Please, call me when you have time, thank you.”
After hanging up the phone, I look at my list one more time.
- Find a job.
- Find an apartment.
- Find schools for the kids.
- Send the transcripts from the old school to the new one.
- Get boxes.
- Pack.
Am I doing them in the right order? I hope so. My phone rings, AJ’s name appears.
“AJ, thank you for calling back,” I answer.
“Mac, how are you? Are the kids alright?”
“Yes, we’re fine. Better,” I say looking at the written list and reading possibilities in between the lines, not chores, or extra work. Possibilities.
“I heard your message, Pops, my brothers, and I are puzzled. When do you plan to move?”
Hmm, I wanted this to remain between the two of us until I was ready to move and my life made sense. Does it matter that they know? No. Maybe between all of them we can find a place faster. “It’s a slow process. But I’m actively searching for a job.”
“You’ve been doing some admin stuff for the flower shop and you can handle the office, right?”
“Yeah?” Her question doesn’t make sense and all I hear are muffled voices in the background and I wonder if I made a mistake by calling her.
“Let’s figure out housing . . . No, Mattie, my other house is occupied and Porter is living at Arthur’s.”
“Tell her that we’ll call her in a few hours, baby girl. Let’s finish this track and then organize the move.”
“Pops says—”
“No worries, I heard. Thank you, but, I don’t want to burden you guys.”
“You
are
part of our family, and if you could, you’d do this for us too. Wouldn’t you?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then it’s settled, we’ll see you in a few days.”
A few days?
New life, take two.
“Welcome home.” AJ opens the door, Harper zooms by without saying hello. Finn follows right behind. “How was the trip?”
“Exhausting,” Chris answers, walking right behind me. “I’m no longer in shape to move my children around.”
“I said we should split the move into two days,” Gabe complains, climbing up the stairs. “You chose not to wait for the weekend so the boys could help and to do everything in one day.”
“My mistake,” Chris grumbles, following his husband. “Ainsley Janine, take them to your house for an hour. We have to decompress.”
She shakes her head and we all leave the house through the backyard.
“I wish my old house had been available for you. Though we’ll love having you here,” she comments, as we walk through a stone trail. She suddenly stops and points at the house in front of us. “The house next to my parents is mine, the next one is Jacob’s, the small cottage is where my grandparents live, and at the end is Matt’s. We all have room for you guys, but my parents wanted to have you with them.” We stop in the middle, where there’s a small, fenced in play area. Harper and Finn go inside and we sit on a bench that’s outside.
“Thank you for answering my call and helping me settle in.” I study the area. There are trees, a pool, a greenhouse, a pond, and a lake surrounding most of the property. “You guys didn’t have to go through all this trouble, but I appreciate the hospitality.”
After spending a couple of days with Porter and his family in California, I kept thinking about my life. They were offering me a chance to start a new chapter. Guidance to navigate the next stage. Finn needs more help than I can give him. AJ offered me a job, and as an employee, I get free classes for my children. That means Finn’s preschool fees, therapies, and music lessons for Harper will be taken care of. Looking for a place to stay was out of the question, seeing as how their homes are big enough to accommodate us. Chris called to offer his house, saying that it’d be an honor for him and Gabe to have us.
“I still think you should’ve told Porter.”
“Soon. I’m planning to talk to him before we bump into each other at work. Right after we settle in.”
We have to unpack and meet the new counselors. Thea sent me a list of therapists in the area who are also pro bono. We all are going to go to grief counseling. Seattle might be our final destination. If everything works out for us, I might use the money I have in the bank for a down payment on a house. Aunt Molly was sad to see me go, but relieved because she found a great place in San Diego to settle down. My parents are supportive about this step, but I didn’t mention Porter because I am not sure if I’m ready to deal with that part yet.
Mac:
I’m making a few changes.
Porter:
I’m happy to hear that.
I stare at the screen, wishing I could see more than the picture I have of him with the kids.
Mac:
You already did a lot, but I might need moral support. Today I start a new job. I began therapy yesterday.
Porter:
The kids?
Mac:
Harper is starting a new program, Finn a new preschool and therapies. Plus, both began grief counseling too.
Porter:
Sounds like a great start to a new life.
Mac:
I hope so . . .
Mac:
I’m not sure how you’ll fit into our lives, but I hope we find a place for you.
Porter:
Me too, Mac. Me too.
Mac:
How about if we start slow?
Porter:
How slow?
Mac:
Lunch?
Porter:
I can’t today. I’ll drive to Portland next weekend and take you out for a nice dinner—no kids.
Mac:
Do you know of any place where I can have lunch that is close to Decker’s Art Academy?
Porter:
Many, but where are you?
Mac:
The reception desk, covering Sonny’s lunch. She comes back in ten minutes.
Porter:
I’ll be there in nine.
Porter rushes through the sliding doors. “How?” His large frame hovers over the reception desk. His features soften as he gazes down at me.
“I took a small leap, for the kids—for me,” I offer, not sure why suddenly I’m feeling shy.
“Where are the kids?”
I grab my purse when Sonny arrives back from lunch, wave at her and join Porter on the other side where he gives me a quick hug.
“Finn is here. AJ opened up a space for him in the preschool program,” I explain, walking out of the academy and wishing our hug had lasted longer than it did. “He’ll be going to therapy right after. Harper is with Chris at the library—I’m unsure about sending her to school. Maybe they’ll help me homeschool her.”
“Fuck. I can’t believe you’re here.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Let’s go around the corner, you’re going to like this place.”
We arrive at a bistro within minutes. Porter opens the door for me, asking the hostess for a table for two. Several women turn to look at him while we walk to the booth, but his eyes are focused on me. I scoot down to the end of the booth and he slides next to me. As I look around, it hits me. This is the first time we’re out without the kids. Just the two of us. It feels different, intimate. All his attention is on me, but of course not having the kids doesn’t mean that we don’t talk about them. He listens to every word I say about my decision to move, Harper’s joy finding out that she can use AJ’s pool every day, and Finn’s love for AJ’s cat, Toby.
“Harper wants a pet and twin sisters.” He chokes with the chicken soup. “Or at least, another brother or sister.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I ignored her because anything I say will be used against me,” I remind him of my darling girl.
“I miss them.”
“Porter . . .” I shrink, wanting to disappear under the table. “My therapist thinks that until I know what I’m doing, I should keep them stable. What if things between us don’t work?”
Changing the subject he asks, “Tell me what you do at the Academy.”
We talk about the admin stuff I do on a daily basis, also the project that AJ has been planning.
Grow a garden
, while the kids are learning. He shares his newest project with me. Along with Matthew and Jacob, they’re opening auditions to discover the next big band. Matt might make it a reality show, but he’s working on the details. When his phone buzzes, I realize that somehow we’ve been talking for a little more than an hour and we barely touched our food.
“We have to go back, Mac.” He signals the waiter. “Let’s plan on doing this tomorrow, but only for an hour.”
I shake my head because that’s not giving me space. He places a finger on top of my lips. “You have to eat; I have to eat. Unless you bring food that we can share to my office, I’ll take you out to lunch.”
“Only for tomorrow,” I agree, but he grins, and I can feel the battle about lunch just beginning.
