Chapter 213

Aria’s POV

For most of the day, I did my best to avoid Liam, but it was difficult. He seemed to be doing the same, giving me the space I requested, yet every once in a while, we’d find ourselves entering the same room or hallway, or going the same way toward the stairs.

There was an awkward moment of back and forth, where we traded glances and hasty apologies. More than once, I turned and went the opposite direction, giving up on whatever I had been doing originally.

Toward the end of the day, I took solace out by the pool. Out here, I had no worry for running into Liam. If he knew I was out here, he would avoid the whole patio and pool area to give me space. So I made my presence as known as I could, stretching out on one of the chairs.

As evening set in, a chill started to cool the air. At this point, I knew I needed to head inside.

Yet, just as I was about to, Joe opened the door to come out to where I was. Seeing him, and suspecting he wanted to speak with me, I decided to stay in my chair and wait for him.

Joe took his time, hesitating by the door, and then by the gate to the pool. Yet, eventually, he made his way over to me.

“Mom?”

I pretended like I hadn’t notice him approaching. “Oh, hi, Joe. Come out for some fresh air? Sometimes I think you boys spend too much time inside.”

“No…” Joe weaved his fingers together. Staring down at them, he couldn’t quite meet my eye.

Something was definitely going on, but I knew better than to press too hard. When Joe was ready, he would tell me what’s on his mind.

“I… uh… I have a question,” he said, after a little more fumbling.

“Yeah? You know I’m always happy to answer any question you have, Joe.”

“I know…” he said and seemed reluctant to continue. He fidgeted a little bit more, his eyes looking to the side now, still not at me.

This time, worried he might not speak at all again, I did press, though I was careful to do so gently. “Is something wrong, honey?”

“Are you and Dad fighting?” Joe asked.

Immediately my aching, weary heart sunk further down into my chest. Now, not only was my relationship falling apart, but the kids were entirely aware of it. But that wasn’t overly shocking, was it? They had always been attuned with our feelings.

They’d seen us fighting before. They knew we acted differently when things weren’t quite right between us.

I didn’t want Joe to worry, but I couldn’t very well tell him not to believe his eyes and ears. I wouldn’t gaslight this child into disbelieving his own intuition.

“Things are tense right now between your Dad and me,” I said. Quickly, I added, “None of this is your fault, Joe. You and William have done nothing wrong.”

Joe nodded like he agreed, but confusion and discomfort remained on his face. Twisting his fingers around each other, he said, “Can someone marry two people at once?”

Oh, no. My stomach twisted up into uncomfortable knots. “What makes you ask something like that, Joe?”

Joe finally looked at me. “They can’t, can they?”

There was no sense lying. He already knew the truth, and for him to ask that question meant that he knew more than he was revealing.

I’d been foolish to think that the kids would remain in the dark for as long as it took me to think about what to do next. They were intuitive, but they were also clever and mischievous. I didn’t know how they discovered the truth of what Liam had done, but it did not surprise to me to realize that they had done so.

I’d only wished I’d had more time to think about how to properly explain things, or to plan what I was going to do so that I could give them a better sense of what the future might look like for all of us. Right now, everything felt like it was up in the air, which wasn’t a good situation to be in for children.

Joe, and especially William, given everything he’d gone through with Sophia, needed stability.

“You saw the news,” I said.

Joe nodded.

“Oh, honey.”

“Is Dad going to leave us?”

Reaching forward, I traced my hands down Joe’s arms and then held his hands in my own. I wished more than anything that I had a better answer to give him than, “I don’t know. Truly, Joe. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. But I do know that Liam loves you. He will always be in your life.”

“But… we won’t be a family?” he asked.

Tears welled in my eyes once again. I blinked them back, wanting to be strong for Joe.

“You, me, and William will always be family,” I said. “And your dad, you, and William will always be family too.”

“But not together,” Joe said.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “It doesn’t… I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Joe’s eyes turned watery now too. Quickly, I tugged him into a tight hug. He held on for a while, his little tears falling.

Whatever was left of my intact heart fell to pieces.

After a little while, Joe went inside, promising he was okay, and just wanted to play. I stayed outside for a time, even in the cold, not ready to face the house again until I could get my heart back under control.

Joe’s words had set me spiraling once again, and fresh bitterness rose within me.

More than that, though, was a new worry. Liam and I needed to form a united front on this for the kids. Even if we were going to get a divorce, we both needed to make sure that Joe and William knew they would always be cared for and loved.

Whatever drama was splitting Liam and I up, it had nothing to do with them.

Unfortunately, for that to happen, I had to speak with Liam first. As much as I didn’t want to, this was for the children. For Joe and William, I was willing to do anything – even this.

I searched for Liam in the kitchen and then the living room. Neither he nor the kids were anywhere to be found. Even the first floor bathroom as empty.

They must have been upstairs.

When I reached the top of the stairwell, I noticed Liam’s door open and his light on.

Walking down the hallway, I noticed that William and Joe’s doors were both open too, their lights turned off.

That was strange. Were they in with Liam?

Walking down the hall, I checked my room and the bathroom along the way. All empty.

At Liam’s open door, I knocked.

He’d been sitting on the side of the bed, staring down at his hands.

Glancing around the room, I didn’t see the children.

“Liam,” I said. “Where are Joe and William?”

He looked up. “In their rooms.”

“They aren’t.”

“What?”

In a panic he stood and together we walked back. Then, in a rush, we individually searched the entire house.

My heart raced, my stomach lurched.

Both of the kids were gone.