Page 70 of Make Me Trust Again (Bluebonnet Creek #3)

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

ROSE

“Rose Marie Hathaway!” Mom yells the moment she opens the door, her breathing ragged as she takes me in from head to toe. “I’m going to kill you, young lady!”

I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, her arms wrap around me tightly, squeezing all the air out of my lungs. “Can’t. Breathe.”

I glance over my shoulder to Chase and Kyle, who are standing a healthy distance away with both of the dogs, giving them a pleading look, but they make no attempt to move.

“Serves you right!” Mom mutters but finally relaxes her hold and pulls away.

Her stern gaze meets mine, and it feels like I’m five again, being reprimanded for doing something wrong.

“Why the hell didn’t you call me to tell me what happened last night?

Do I have to find out everything regarding my daughter from the town gossip? ”

So much for hoping I’d get to tell her today.

“We were kind of busy,” I deadpan, giving her a pointed gaze. “You know, between Kyle going missing, and then John pulling out a gun and shooting Chase.”

“You should have called me anyway! We would have come,” Mom insists.

“Harriet, maybe you should let the kids come inside before yelling at them,” Dad says, his gray head popping in the doorway, giving me an apologetic look. “Hey, Rosie.”

“Hi, Dad.” Pushing past Mom, I hug him and press a kiss against his cheek.

“Don’t you tell me what to do!” Mom shoots Dad a death glare. “I was worried sick when I found out. From that gossipy Eva as well.” She shakes her head, her gaze zeroing in on Chase. “And you!”

The sharp tone of her voice has the hair at my nape rising. I glance at her, my mouth open to stop her from saying whatever she’s planning to, but instead of the verbal attack I’m expecting, she goes to him and wraps her arms around Chase’s rigid body.

What the hell?

Chase’s eyes meet mine, his stoic expression softening as he glances at me over the top of her head, clearly surprised by her action.

After a moment, she pulls back, but only so she can cup his face and kiss him on the cheek, her softly spoken words making a knot form in my throat.

“Thank you for being there for my daughter and grandson.”

Chase clears his throat, his hand lifting and rubbing at his neck. “Of course.” Those hazel eyes find mine, and I can feel the warmth pool inside my belly from the intensity of his gaze. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Rose and Kyle.”

“Chase saved me, Nana!” Kyle chimes in. “Dad came out of nowhere and told me I had to go with him. I didn’t want to, but he grabbed my hand and was holding me tightly. But Chase and Mom found me, and then Chase jumped at him so I could escape.”

Mom’s smile falls, a trace of worry creeping in as her gaze darts to me, but she quickly schools her features as she bends down. “You never have to go with somebody if you don’t want to.”

“I don’t want to go back to Dad’s. He’s never around, and David is mean.”

I press my lips together. I hate that he’s feeling this way.

Hate that he’s forced to go to John’s. I’m not even sure what the protocol is now.

Will we still have to uphold the custody agreement?

Am I expected just to let Kyle go to John’s after everything that has happened?

I have no clue, and simply thinking about it makes my blood run cold.

I didn’t want Kyle to go to John before, but after everything that had happened this weekend?

I can’t imagine myself letting Kyle out of my sight.

And we still haven’t heard anything back from Nico.

Did they find him? Was he in custody? What will happen when they find him?

There are so many questions swirling inside my brain, but no answers, which is why I messaged my lawyer and asked her for a meeting first thing on Monday.

“ We talked about it earlier, ” I say gently. “I’m going to try and see if we can change that, okay?”

“’kay.” His shoulders slump for a bit, but he shakes his head and turns to Chase. “Wanna go see the backyard? Grandpa and I put together a playground.”

Chase ruffles his hair. “Lead the way.”

“He’s really good with him,” Mom says quietly, her gaze fixed on the living room, where Chase and Dad are teaching Kyle about some card game, both dogs sleeping by the fireplace. Kyle’s brows are furrowed in concentration as Chase explains something to him.

“He is.”

When there is no response, I shift my gaze to Mom to find her watching me.

“And you seem happier.”

“I am,” I admit, my head tilting to the side.

“I love him, Mom.” The corner of my mouth curls at her surprised expression.

“I never thought I’d fall in love again after what happened with John.

Chase seems aloof, even cold, when he’s anything but.

He cares so deeply, and he’s shown me time and again that there isn’t anything he won’t do to make me happy.

And I’m not the only one. Kyle loves him so much.

” My gaze shifts to the duo, taking in the relaxed way they interact with each other.

“He’s never been as happy and as confident as he is since Chase came into our lives.

He was worried about him. Can’t even blame him; I was scared shitless.

Scared that John managed to take away another thing from me. ”

“But he didn’t.” Mom places her hand over mine, giving it a squeeze. “I’m sorry, Rose. I’ve been pushing you so hard to get back with John without realizing how much you were suffering. I wish I could go back in time. I should have done so much better. For you. For Kyle.”

“He’s a master manipulator, Mom. You couldn’t have known. Hell, I was trying to convince myself I was imagining things, and even when I realized what he was doing, I was just too ashamed to say it out loud. To admit I’m a failure.”

“Rose Marie Hathaway! You’re not a failure.

I don’t want to hear you say that ever again.

You got out of a difficult marriage, you’re a single, working mom, you have a beautiful boy, and for the past seven years, you’ve overcome so many difficult situations, even people much older than you wouldn’t know how to handle.

You should be proud of how far you’ve come. I know I am.”

I swallow the knot in my throat, the corner of my mouth lifting. “Thanks, Mom.”

The sound of the doorbell echoes inside the house.

Mom and I exchange a look, but she just shrugs and gets up, going for the door.

I can hear soft murmuring before her footsteps echo against the tiled floors as she comes back, her serious face making my stomach sink.

And then I spot Nico following behind her, dressed in his police uniform.

“Hey, I’m so sorry for dropping in unannounced.”

“Hey.” A shiver runs through me making the goosebumps spread over my skin, so I wrap my arms around myself, rubbing at my upper arms.

Nico’s gaze darts over my shoulder just when I feel a warm body slide behind me. He tilts his chin in greeting. “Hey, how are you doing, man?”

“Still in one piece.” Chase’s hand slides around me, pulling me into his chest. “Do you have any news for us?”

Nico nods, his face turning serious. “There’s been an accident.”