Blended Love

Chapter 14: Tiana

When we got home from dinner and shopping, it was so weird to enter without being bombarded in hugs from Ainsley and Travis.

"Hmm. I miss the kids," I say pouting at Steve.

"Awe babe. This is great!" He laughs. "I love having them around but a few days with the grandparents never hurt anyone." He said setting the bags on the kitchen island.

"You know, I've never asked you, what about the kid's other grandparents?"

Steve's lips form a thin tight line. "Our relationship is really strained right now. The kids haven't seen them in a while."

"Why?" I asked softly. I couldn't imagine the kids grandparents not wanting to be part of their lives.

He sighed. "They still kind of blame me for their daughter's death. I pulled the plug, you know? They say it's hard to look at Ainsley sometimes, because she looks just like her mother and- and, yeah they kinda hate me," he whispered looking down at his feet.

I didn't even know what to say. I couldn't fathom losing my wife and being the one left with that huge decision. Or imagine having two kids whose grandparents hate me for losing their baby girl. Tears began to well up in my eyes.

"Hey," I said softly grabbing his hand. "I'm sorry."

He grabbed my hands softly, barely holding them. I squeezed his hands tightly.

"We can try to fix this. They deserve to know how great Travis and Ainsley are. They've probably missed out on so much already."

"Yeah," he scoffed, "almost 3 years of their lives. They don't want anything to do with us, Christian."

He let go of my hand walking further into the kitchen. I could tell he was agitated and hurt. I had brought up something that truly bothered Steve, and it hurt me to see him like this.

He leaned against the kitchen counter, not facing me. He looked like he was fighting tears.

"I'm really sorry I brought this up, Steve."

"No, it's okay. You didn't know," he whispers.

I paused for a moment as I tried to assess his state. A part of me couldn't fathom how Steve McCormick could stand the idea, that his late wife's parents, wanted nothing to do with his kids.

It just wasn't him.

Not the guy who fought about my deadbeat ex coming into the picture of our lives. This guy would never stand for that, especially for people that he loves.

"Well, you have to fix that bond for the kids. They-"

"You don't think I've tried!" He said exasperated as he rubbed his temple. "This topic haunts me almost as much as my wife's death does. This event would have never occurred if she hadn't died."

"Well you just can't give up either. And sorry, Steve, your wife passed, tragically. You lost your wife, the kids lost their mom, and they inevitably lost their daughter. But you shouldn't- No, you can't, let that stop you."

He looked at me earnestly. "I love you for trying Christian. But it's more than what I've told you."

"Then tell me. Help me understand." I want to know everything.

I'd never said it out loud, but there weren't too many pictures of Steve's wife around the house. Even in family portraits, most pictures are of the kids and Steve in their recent years. If there were old ones, it was always them alone or together.

The kids didn't talk that much about their mom either. I never thought too much of it though because Travis would've been 2 and Ainsley 4. They probably can't recall that much about her.