We suddenly stopped and Hunter pulled off the road. He rolled down the windows and smirked to the twins, "listen." They sat quietly before gasping as I finally heard it. My heart swelled as I looked to Hunter and smiled.
"Beach waves!" The twins cheered together before Hunter began driving again. He parked in a driveway of a large stilted house and turned it off. I looked to the front staircase and saw Elijah waiting with a large smile.
Everyone piled out of the car and I stayed back with hesitation. The twins rushed over to greet him as Cam carried Addie and Sean got the luggage. I finally got out of the car and followed the group inside. The gigantic home suddenly made my heart race and my stomach ache, so I went over to Cam.
"Can you watch the twins for a minute? I gotta step outside for a minute." Cam glanced to me and nodded before I snuck out the front door.
I rushed to the small deck railing by the staircase and grabbed onto it. My legs were going weak as I felt foggy and sick. A large hand touched my shoulder and I went into full panic. I slapped it away, jumped back, and crouched down.
"NO!" I begged as I fought not to cry and tried to lessen my shaking.
"Will...I..."
I looked up to Hunter and rushed to look away as tears began down my face. I let out a large sigh as I wiped my face and stood up. "Sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you."
He embraced me tightly and I couldn't stop shaking, "you're safe, Will. He won't touch you ever again if I can do anything about it."
I pulled away slightly and fought out a smile, "I'm okay. I just got startled." I went past him but could feel his gaze locked on my back. I went back inside and smiled to the twins as they rushed over.
"Momma! We got bunk beds!" They cheered before each taking my hand and pulling me with them further into the home.
My body was trembling as I saw more of the home. The majority of my experience with lavish homes was from him, our home and the one from the vacation. Just relating something to him was too much with how overwhelmed I was.
I followed the twins and hid my emotions as they gave me a tour of the house. When they finished, we met up with the group in the living room. The twins played with Addie on the floor as I strategically sat in the only single chair in the room. I pulled my legs up and sat crisscross to try to comfort myself as much as I could. Elijah suddenly came over and placed his hand on my forehead. I tensed and fought not to yell out.
"Seems like you don't have a fever."
I tilted my head slightly, "why would I?"
"Alex called and told me to check. He knows you must be stressed and is worried about how the medication might affect you."
I smiled, "I'm fine, I swear."
He crouched in front of me and pulled up my jacket sleeves. "The bruises have faded well." He stood and walked behind the chair. I lurched out of the chair when his hand grazed the back of my neck. I was on my feet and halfway across the room before anyone realized it.
"Don't touch there."
He sighed before gesturing for me to come back. I came and sat down in the chair before I could feel Elijah visually examining my neck. "Its faded quite a lot considering you had stitches not long ago."
I glanced back to him, "I told you, I'm fine now."
Elijah looked to me with worry, "we can talk more later." He stood fully and smiled to the kids, "so do you like your surprise?"
They both nodded, "the water is right outside the back door!" Ashley replied.
"And there's a pool!" Archer added before looking to me, "can we go swimming now, Momma?"
I chuckled, "well you have to do something first."
"What? What?!"
I laughed, "decide if you want to go to the pool or beach first." They both laughed before running off into the house towards their room. I got up and went to Addie before setting her in my lap as I sat on the floor. "Trey paid for a hotel room, you know."
Elijah nodded as he sat back down on the smaller couch beside Asher, "I told him about this and he cancelled it."
I nodded, "thank you for this. You made it so the twins could relax a bit."
Shannon sighed as she leaned on Hunter, "they must be scared to meet that monster."
"He's not a monster," I retorted, catching everyone off guard. "He's their dad and loves them. That's all they need to worry about. My relationship with him isn't going to get in the way of their connection to him."
"He doesn't deserve to even meet them again! He chose to ditch them!" Hunter hissed.
I looked down to Addie as she took ahold of my hands and began walking around near me. "This isn't a black and white situation, Hunt. They didn't get a chance to talk to him, to say goodbye...for now."
"For now?!" Cam yelled as he sat up straight, "you're getting back together?!"