Find The One (Original book one)

Family Only

Jermaine

I canceled the tour, and as soon as I landed, the first stop I made was the place Stefany used to call home.

The once familiar home was now a wasteland and a reminder of loss and destruction.

The lingering smell of smoke clung to the air as I stood in front of it, thinking of all the things that could've gone wrong for this to happen.

None of it matters.

The biggest loss is the thought of Stefany being gone forever.

By the time I make it to Kade's house, my eyes sting from lack of sleep and from tears I shed.

I help relieve them with eyedrops before I knock on his door.

I never felt this sick and weak. Like a newborn baby that's helpless.

The door opened, and Nancy's familiar face poked out of it. "Hey." She says in a weak tone.

I can tell she's been crying. I give her a hug before I step inside.

I hear little thump noises of shoes hitting the floor and my son's voice.

"Daddy!" He yells happily as he runs towards me.

"Hey, son." I say as I crouch down to lift him off the ground.

I hold him tightly in arms with relief that he's okay.

"You're back from tour already? Mommy is going to be so happy." He says he wraps his arms tightly around my neck.

I swallow hard at his words. How do I break it down to a three year old boy?

Xavier pulls away from me to study my face.

I don't have to say anything for him to know that something is wrong.

Teaching children about death and other tragic events are the toughest things to get them to understand. It's not an easy conversation.

I don't have it in me to tell him yet.

"Daddy, what's wrong? Why is everyone sad? Why are Uncle Kade and Nancy so sad?" He asks.

Before I can prepare myself to come up with an explanation, Evelyn pops up out of nowhere. She runs to me with excitement and tugs at my jeans.

I crouch down and force a smile for her.

Anytime I come over, she's always happy to see me.

I greet her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Kade appears and sends them off to play.

"I just talked to the detectives. They haven't had a chance to get an identification yet.“

I shook my head. "It can't be her. There's no way she's gone.“

“We have to be ready for the worst J. I don't want it to be true, but if it's not her. Then where is she?“ He asks.

Kade has a point. If the body they found is not Stefany, she would've shown herself by now.

I feel the tears start to form.

I step into the backyard to let them fall again.

If she's really gone, it's hard to forgive myself for how I left things between us.

I went off to tour mad at her.

I didn't get to kiss her and tell her that I love her.

That's what hurts the most, and I have to live with that for the rest of my life.