Chapter 2.31

I tapped my fingers on the window sill, causing Jayden to sigh again, "Alright."

A giant smile filled my face as I opened my phone and dialed. I anxiously waited for the ringing to stop and caught my breath.

"Are you almost here? They're all losing it."

"Send them out in about a minute."

"Got it." As Emit hung up, excitement filled my entire body and I fought tears. As we turned the corner and I saw the house, I unbuckled my seatbelt and waited impatiently for Jayden to stop the car. When he did, I jumped out of the car, the twins were already tackling me to the ground. They were both crying and clung to me tightly. I kissed their heads as I cried and hugged them tightly.

"I've missed you," I whispered, "god I missed you." After a few minutes of comforting each other, I looked over to Jayden and then back to the twins. "Go say hi to dad."

They both sprang to their feet and bumrushed him while cheering and hugged him tightly. I smiled up to Chase and he extended his hand. I took it and got up before he embraced me.

I kissed his forehead and looked to him when he chuckled, "you got tan."

I smirked, "how was everything while I was gone?"

"Good, we missed you."

Cora came over and handed Addie to me as Chase let go of me. I held her to my chest and felt relief flood over me. I smiled and kissed Emit's head as he came and hugged me lightly from the side. "How was your trip?" Cora asked with a smile but her face suddenly changed. "Oh! I left something in Addie's room. Will, can you come help me?"

I looked at her curiously, "uh, sure. Yeah, let's go." I followed her inside as I gently stroked Addie's back and we went inside. As we got into Addie's room, I looked to Cora when she shut the door. "What's going on?"

She glanced at me before looking back to the door, "nothing. I just forgot something."

"Something you need me for?"

"You must be tired. You should sit."

I watched Cora carefully as I sat in the rocking chair and she just looked at her shoes. "Cora, what is this? What's wrong? Did something happen while we were gone?"

She went over to the shelf with Addie's books and pulled out a manilla envelope between two of them. She walked over and held it towards me, so I took it. I examined the outside and saw that there was half of a mailing sticker on it.

"I...uh...this came in the mail the day after you guys left."

"And you had to hide it? Or does everyone else know about it?"

She shook her head as I saw her face tighten, "no. I'm the only one that knows about it." She crossed her arms but seemed to get more nervous. "I didn't open it, but when I saw who sent it, I hid it."

"Well, who sent it? Elijah?"

She shook her head, "Asher." I felt my heart stop and Cora's gaze hit the floor. "I don't know much about it, but I know he's someone Jayden doesn't want you to associate with. But....well... I feel like it should be your choice to open it or not." She looked to me slightly, "I don't know if you want it, but I thought I should give it to you."

I stared down at the envelope and my mind spun. Asher? After all that's happened? I haven't had contact with any of them in months. What could he need to send to me? Maybe something I left? But to send it to the house I have with Jayden? How did he even get the address?

I smiled to Cora, "thank you for doing all that for me." I stood and held Addie as I kept the envelope in my hand.

"Are you going to open it?"

I looked to her sadly, "I don't think so. There's nothing left between us and that man. It would just bring up difficult things."

She smiled to me, "we can just keep it between us. Jayden's the jealous type so he probably will blow it out of proportion."

I smirked, "you're absolutely right." I went and placed it between some books, "I'll get rid of it when he can't see. It will only make him worry over nothing."

A knock came to the door and we both jumped. We looked to Chase as he opened the door, "dinners ready."

"Dinner?"

He smirked, "the kids, Emit, and I made it."

Cora chuckled, "they haven't even let me into the kitchen."

I laughed, "so you are denying any responsibility if its horrible?"

Cora nodded before we followed Chase downstairs and into the dining room. Jayden kissed my cheek as he walked by with a stack of plates.

"Take a seat, my love. We're almost done setting up." The kids and Jayden continued bringing in stuff as I sat down and rocked Addie when she began to whine.

I looked down to her and saw a smile reflect. My heart squeezed with love as I noticed how much she looked like the twins at her age. But her life is a different reality than what they started with.

Sitting on the floor of my single room apartment, crying as I kept thinking how alone I was. Wondering if I should have kept them from the moment I found out they were part of me. When the doctor suggested I put them into the adoption system. Being skin and bones, starving every day just so that they could be fed and comfortable. Sleeping with men every night just to keep us alive and fearing that one day they would die because of my choices.

My mind was brought back to reality as a small hand touched my arm. I turned to see Archer with a curious look on his face. His face turned to worry as he rushed to wipe tears that had covered it at some point.

"What's wrong Momma?"

I smiled to him, "I'm okay, baby. I was just thinking about how blessed I am to have our family. How thankful I am for all of you."

He finished wiping off my face before sitting down in the chair next to me. The chair beside me moved and I turned to see a smiling Ashley sit beside me. She rushed to grab a plate that was on the table near us and I saw garlic bread.

"Archer and I made it."

I took a piece and gave both of them a large smile after taking a bite. "I think that is the best garlic bread I've ever had."

Their smiles grew as I passed the plate to Archer so that it could continue around the table. A place of spaghetti noodles and sauce followed before I looked across the table. Jayden sat beside Cora who was next to Chase and then Emit. I saw Chase lean against Emit's shoulder and Emit kissed his head. I then met Jayden's eyes while he mouthed 'are you okay?'

I nodded with a smile and mouthed back, 'I'm beyond happy.' His smile grew before we all began eating. The twins filled us in on what had happened throughout our time away.

My chest squeezed as I suddenly remembered the envelope. I need to throw it away. I'm not going to give all of this up for him. I love him, but I love this more.

But why now? Why send something after all this time? What if it's just something innocent? Something I forgot or something he wants me to have? After everything I did to him...to us...to all of them, I owe him at least enough to just open it. I need to open it or it will bother me for eternity. I have to know what he sent.