#6 - Elephant In The Room
1334 คำ
Jade
The silence was killing me.
Not the cold, suffocating kind.
This one was warm. Safe. Accepting.
It wrapped around me like I belonged there.
And that was what scared me, what made me want to draw lines before I softened.
"Look, I know what you both must be thinking," I said with a sigh.
"You do?" Elaine asked, eyes darting to her husband as she bounced my son, Aiden in her arms.
Grayson hadn't said a word. He'd been too busy staring at the twins like they'd hung the moon. He couldn't take his eyes off of Aria as she slept peacefully in his arms.
It was the most bittersweet sight.
They had invited themselves over the moment our reunion lunch ended. And they'd stayed. Spending every moment gushing and fussing over the twins, smiling through the mess of snack time.
I could count on one hand how many times Mara and I had tended to the twins the past two days.
My eyes had nearly popped out when I found Grayson changing Aiden's diaper. I'd offered to take over, but he'd simply said, "I've got it," and carried on like I wasn't even there.
But I had been there.
Watching.
My heart breaking at how easily he did it. How natural he looked. How he resembled his brother standing at the changing table, murmuring nonsense while my son stared up at him, fascinated.
It was impossible not to imagine Asher in his place.
I didn't want to.
Even though I'd done it before. In my weaker moments. When I had to look at my son, a perfect miniature of his father.
And now Grayson was making it worse.
I looked away.
"This is nothing like your story," I said, finally addressing the elephant in the room.
They exchanged a look.
"O-of course, it's not," Elaine stuttered.
I snorted. They absolutely thought mine and Asher's story would end like theirs had. Sweet, and happy, and full of that love they seemed to drip every single moment.
"It won't. I don't need anything," I forced out. "We are doing just f—"
Grayson's phone rang.
He grabbed it quickly, jaw tight as he glanced at my daughter. My heart clenched at how careful he was already.
Then his eyes widened, and I knew exactly who was calling.
I was on my feet before I realised I'd moved.
"I'll put her to bed," I muttered, avoiding his gaze as I practically snatched Aria from his arms, fear drumming in my chest.
What if she cried?
What if Asher heard her?
"Jade, wait!" They both called.
I didn't stop. I kept walking, cursing myself for thinking I could do this. For believing them.
Elaine had assured me they'd say nothing. That my secret was safe for as long as I needed.
But safe had never lasted as long as I needed in my life.
I slipped inside Aiden and Aria's room, hands trembling as I laid my daughter down in her crib.
Elaine was right behind me. "I've got her," she said gently, settling Aria before looking up at me.
Her empty arms made my panic flare.
"Where's Aiden?" I squeaked, feet already moving towards the door, needing to get to my son. I couldn't risk Asher finding out.
I got yanked backwards before I stepped out of my kid's room, and pulled right into my best friend's arms.
"Will you stop?" Elaine huffed.
I wanted to fight her. She didn't understand. But then I knew she did.
The reminder drained all the fight in me. I slumped into her open arms. And for the longest time, we stood like that.
When I pulled back, which she reluctantly let me, a self-deprecating smile found my lips. "I should be better than this."
"You're allowed not to be," Elaine shrugged. "I mean, it's not every day you bring the most precious gifts in the world into it, and have to share them with the world's most insufferable father."
"He's your perfect brother-in-law," I snorted.
"Yeah," Elaine said softly. "But he hurt my best friend."
That did it.
I couldn't stop the tears even if I tried.
"I'm sorry I didn't trust you. This. Us." My voice broke as everything poured out. "I—I just didn't want to make you choose. You'd finally gotten the life you always wanted. A loving family. I didn't want to be the person who took even the smallest piece of that away."
Elaine pulled back, shooting me the most incredulous look. "You are my family, and you could never—"
"Not like them," I cut in.
"Of course you aren't like them." A rueful smile made its way to her lips. "You are Jade. My awesome best friend."
More tears fell.
"You are not supposed to make me cry," I sniffled, wiping them.
"Well, it's the truth, and you could never take anything away from me. You only ever add to my life." Her gaze fell on my daughter.
My chest warmed in a way I hadn't let it in a while.
"I can't believe you kept them all to yourself all this while—"
"Again, I'm sorry," I muttered, shame burning my throat.
"No, it's not that." She waved me away. "I meant they are just so... beautiful and adorable and perfect. I don't think I'd have been able to keep my mouth shut about it."
I arched a brow at her. We both knew she'd done exactly that for six years. Successfully if I may add, but then I'd gone ahead and ruined it all when I asked her to work with Frame and Flame. It put her right in the path of her daughter's father.
"Fine, to you at least." Elaine pulled me back in. I held tight.
"And, I hate to be the one to say this, but maybe you should—"
"Don't say it," I groaned, laying my head on her shoulder. "No need to. I already see how Grayson looks at them. And I swear Aiden already loves him. And I think I understand how hard it was thinking you were keeping Claire to yourself."
"That's the absolute worst."
"I'm not ready to face this... him," I confessed, suddenly feeling tired as I walked back to the crib. Aria still slept soundly even though her face crinkled in a familiar way as always. She looked more like Asher in those moments.
"You can take all the time you need." Elaine came and stood next to me. "Grayson and I meant what we said, Babe." Her gaze snapped to mine, panic written on her face. "But we do get to see them anytime, right?"
"If I say no, will that stop you?"
"Probably not," she grinned.
"There's your answer then," I smiled as I stared at my daughter again. I could do this all day.
"So who's the guy?" Elaine asked casually when we both knew she'd been itching to do just that.
I didn't need to ask who she meant either.
"Took you long enough." I rolled my eyes. "But if you must know, Leon is a friend."
He'd been more than that in the last two years. More family than friend, but I didn't need to tell Elaine that. Couldn't risk making her feel replaced.
"My replacement?" she pouted. "Okay, don't answer that," she sighed, stopping me before I could defend myself. "Why don't you spill how the hell this happened instead? And I need all the details—"
"Uh... there's nothing to tell." I said, quickly shoving my left hand behind my back. I'd forgotten about the little piece of jewellery adorning my ring finger. Apparently I wasn't done lying to my best friend.
Elaine's eyes narrowed at me, but before she could say anything, a door opened and shut loudly, a voice filling my house right after.
"Adi boy! Why the hell are you ignoring me?" The voice slurred.
I froze, mouth dry.
I'd know it anywhere.
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