Misery & Fate

Chapter 19: Estelle

"What's his name?" Cain asked in a whisper

"Orion." I said looking down at my sons sleeping face

"He's beautiful." he said almost silently

"He is. I've been hoping he's yours." I whispered back

"Since I first felt him kick I hoped, pleaded and wished he was yours. I want him to be yours so bad. Even if you don't want him. Want me." I said sniffling, trying to hold back tears and failing

"I fought them everyday. Every chance I got. I never got a moment, an ounce of peace and they never got one from me. I promise I fought them Cain. I wanted you, only you." I said snuggling Orion closer as I cried

"Darlin." he started, he rubbed my cheek with the back of his finger

"I know. I know you did. You're my fighter. I believe you. And I want you. And Orion, even if he's not mine. As long as you guys want me, here is where I'll be." Cain said smiling at me

"You promise?" I asked finally looking at him

"I promise." He said holding up his pinky finger

I giggled at his silly seriousness and held up my own pinky.

We intertwined our fingers and promised to forever.

*****

After another hour of questions and repeating details they finally let us go.

"Now what?" I asked Cain as we walked to his car, he helped me scoot in with Orion in my arms

"Well first, we put him in his seat." Cain said gesturing to his backseat

I turned and looked over my shoulder to see a baby seat buckled in next to the bag of our clothes.

"You got a seat? When?" I asked as he slowly took Orion from me

"Amy ran home and got it. Said she was going to throw it out cause her kid is too big for it. It still has a year left on the warranty." He said smiling as he gently buckled my son in

"That was sweet of her. When we have to get another one I'll pay you back for it." I said as he got in the driver seat and buckled up

"Darlin. There's no need. I will get you guys anything you need. You will never have to pay me back. Promise." he said as he started the car and pulled out the parking lot

*****

It turns out that I was four states away from home. So the trip to Cain's house was long and was a little tricky keeping a baby entertained when he wasn't sleeping. But we made it.

"Estelle."

"Honey." Cain said gently shaking me awake

"Yeah? We making another pit stop?" I asked rubbing the sleep from my aching eyes

"No. We are home. Grab essentials and I'll get the rest in the morning." He said as he unbuckled

I got out and stretched before grabbing Orion and his seat to carry into the house.

"Are you sure you want us to stay here? I don't want us to change up or make a mess of your house." I said as he unlocked the front door

"Yes I'm sure. Come on in. Definitely make yourselves at home. I'll show you to your room in a minute." he said as he walked in and greeted a dog

"This is Lilly. I promises she's the sweetest dog ever." he said smiling as he bent down to pet her

Lilly walked away from Cain's loving touch and came over to me.

She made little circles around my legs, smelling as she went. When she saw Orion's car seat I had set off to the side just in the dining room she slowly crept towards him. She scrunched down to the ground and army crawled to him. She sniffed his feet and snuggled in between them, whined and then laid her head down and closed her eyes.

"I guess he's hers now." Cain said chuckling

"As long as she's willing to share that's fine with me." I said laughing back

"Come on. I'll give you a tour." Cain said as he walked more into the house

Cain's house was a cute farmhouse. Black, white and dark green decor enhanced the beautiful two-story house.

The kitchen was a big open room with a giant marble island in the middle. The kitchen and living room flowed together into a giant space. The dining room by the front door was a little more closed off.

I checked on Orion one more time before we went up the elegant winding staircase.

Lilly was still asleep in between his feet snoring away.

As I followed Cain up to the second level I looked at the black and white photos that lined the curved wall along the stairs. I was surprised when I saw the family photo my family and I took two years ago.

"Where did you get this?" I asked him pointing at the framed picture

"Your cousin Jessica. That's how I found out you were missing. I texted you and never got an answer. At first I thought you had ghosted me because of what happened in your cousin's kitchen... I have to admit I can be a bit impatient sometimes." he said looking down sheepishly

"Anyways, after a month of not hearing from you I went back to your cousin's house to ask her what was going on. That's when she told me you were missing. Your family and I spent a lot of time together trying to figure out what happened to you." he said smiling at the photo

I grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

"You were looking for me?" I asked smiling down looking at our hands

"Angel, I'll always look for you. Till the end of time. To every corner of the world. Always." he said as he used his finger to lift my face up so I was looking at him

He looked my face up and down tenderly before meeting my eyes.

"I've missed you." he whispered as he leaned forward

"I missed you too." I said before our lips met

He broke the kiss and just looked at me. It was a brief kiss, but he still felt and tasted the same as he did the first time I kissed him.

"Come on, your room is this way." he said pulling me behind him to the top landing