Hearts of Despair

Prolouge

*Eight months after the accident*

"Hey, uhm. Sarah is almost out of milk. She'll probably only have enough for her bottles tomorrow.." I hate telling him when something is almost out in this house. Things seem to be low all the time anymore.

"Oh. Thanks, yeah I'll pick some more up on my way home tomorrow." His voice seems gentler than normal.. like he has something on his mind..

I turn away from him and put Sarah's bottle of milk in the microwave. 35 seconds I think to myself. She always seems to know if it's not 35 seconds exactly and then nap time is a nightmare.. For a 2 year old, she sure can act more like she's Tyler's age.

*Microwave buttons beep* I can feel him, William, looking over at me from his spot beside the sink.. If he has something to say to me, I wish he'd just come out with it. Does he not want me to watch the kids anymore? Did he hire someone else?.. "Tyler hasn't had any of his medication today has he?" I ask without turning around.

"No, he hasn-*Microwave beeps*"
I open the microwave and screw the nipple onto the now warm bottle. There's a touch on my left arm, and another on my right. When did he get behind me?.. "Hey.." His voice is warm on my ear. "I haven't gotten a chance to thank you.. for sticking around after the crash. With Steph gone I.. well, it's been a lot easier having you around to help with Sarah and Ty.. So, thank you Kiley."

He did have something on his mind.. just not what I was expecting. He has never touched me. I don't think I've ever even shaken his hand.. "I.. I don't think I could've left the kids after what happened.. it's, its been hard on all of us and they deserve to have as many people love them as possible." I turn towards him, now I can see his eyes.

He squints, like he's trying to hide his emotions. What's going on inside of that head of yours, Will?.. "I've gotta run this up to Sar before it gets cold." He lowers his hands off of my arms and looks at the floor. "Oh yeah, sorry. I'm getting ready to head out."

He grabs his jacket and helmet. He's taking his bike today. I'll have to move my car so he can get out of the drive. "I think I blocked you in.. let me run this up and I'll be back down and move my car." He nods to me and continues to gather his things from the dining table.

I knock on Sarah's door like I always do so she doesn't get scared when I walk in. There she is, standing behind the blinds of her bedroom window looking at the dogs in the yard next door. She turns to me and with her pacifier still in her mouth says, "Hi Kiyee."

I chuckle like I do everyday when she sees me for the first time. "Hey Little Miss, you want your milk?" She smiles and drops her bink. She walks to me and takes her bottle. "Alright, can you lay down for me?" She does, and I turn on her noise maker and cover her with her blanket. "Night night, baby" I say, and I walk to her door. "Night night, Kiyee. See you later." Just like she does every day.

I quietly shut her door and walk down the stairs. My keys aren't hanging up like they usually are. I look outside to see that Will already moved my car. If he was in that big of a hurry he could've told me.. I walk out as he's closing the garage door. "Sorry, I went ahead and moved it. I didn't want you to rush anything upstairs." He hands me my keys and climbs onto his bike. "No problem." I walk back towards the front door.

"Hey Ky?" He's never called me Ky.. only Adrian ever called me that.. "Yeah?.." I turn around and walk towards him again. He kicks the kickstand up on his bike and balances it beneath him. "Earlier, when I thanked you for staying.. you were right. The kids do deserve all that, and they deserve you. They deserve.. a mother figure. So, thank you for being that for them."

He slipped on his helmet and began to back pedal his way out of the drive. I watched him drive off. Mother figure?.. Is that what he's been holding back?.. I could never replace Stephanie. Never. How could he think that about me?.. Why is he being like this to me?..