Protecting Peyton (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha) (Eagle River Response Book 2) by Amber Kuhlman & Operation Alpha

Author:Amber Kuhlman & Operation Alpha [Kuhlman, Amber]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aces Press, LLC
Published: 2022-09-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Peyton

“Hello, sweet pea,” Mom said as I stepped through the door and shut it behind me, stopping near the closet to kick the heels from my aching feet. Outside in the driveway, I could still hear the low purr of Korbin’s truck, but after a minute or so I heard him pull away, and the tears that had threatened to spill the last half hour or so finally erupted.

“Peyton,” Mom said with alarm, getting up from her recliner to cross the room to me. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Did something happen?”

I shook my head and wiped away the tears before they were unstoppable, going to the kitchen for a glass of wine. My mom followed me, the concern etched in her features.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said, and my mother’s face fell. I poured myself a glass of wine and took a long drink, then turned to face my mother. “How are you feeling, Mom? Still doing okay?”

“I’m doing great, Peyton,” she said softly. “But I have a feeling that will cost me, won’t it?”

“Cost you?” I repeated, taking another drink from the wine glass. My mother was silent for a moment as she stared at me, her worried eyes scanning my face, hands wringing together anxiously.

“I’m going to lose you all over again,” she said, and the pain in her voice was evident. I sighed and set the wine glass down, reaching out a hand to take hers with a gentle squeeze.

“No,” I said softly. “Not like before. I’ll be here for the holidays, okay? I’ll be back to visit as much as I can. I promise.”

“I don’t want you to leave, Peyton,” my mother said, trailing after me as I walked upstairs and into my childhood bedroom, going to the closet for my suitcase. As I dragged it onto the bed to pack my stuff, I texted Rem, letting him know that I’d be coming home in the morning. And staying home.

“I need to get back to my life, Mom,” I said patiently, unable to meet her gaze as I flitted around my bedroom, packing my stuff. “I only came home to take care of you. And—and you’re better now, hopefully better for good—so I need to go. I have an apartment to go back to and job to work.” I stopped packing briefly to turn and look at my mother. The expression on her face shattered me from the inside out, but I couldn’t let it detour me. I couldn’t do this, not here, not after I’d already made my mistake and paid for it. I wasn’t about to do that again.

“I understand, sweetie,” my mom said softly, stepping up to me and reaching her hand out to place it on my arm. She gently pulled me around to face her, and an eruption of emotions overcame me. I fell into my mother’s arms as the tears started again, drying my skin and smearing the makeup I’d worn to the wedding. I was a little girl again, sobbing into my mother’s arms over a bleeding scratch or a broken heart.

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