Page 21 of Bittersweet Redemption

“Hello?”

“Hi, it’s Willa,” I say in a shaky voice. “Um, a tree just fell on the house. A really large branch snapped off in the storm.”

“Oh my god. Are you ok? Was anyone hurt?” He seems genuinely surprised.

“No, no. Everyone is fine. We actually weren’t home. We were just pulling into the driveway when it happened.”

“Oh, thank god. Have you called the police?”

“No, I called you first. I wasn’t sure what to do.”

“Ok, I’m headed your way now.” I hear a jingle of keys through the phone. “Call the police. They’ll need to file a report for insurance. Don’t go in that house until it’s been checked. There could be a gas leak or something. We need to make sure it’s safe.”

“Ok, I understand.” I hang up and call nine-one-one. I explain the situation, and they dispatch police and fire to the scene.

I sit completely still in the car. Roman is silent, too, listening to the audiobook I was playing on the drive home. He unbuckles his seatbelt and sits with me in the front while we wait for the police.

The rain has calmed to a slight drizzle by the time the police and fire show up. My landlord arrives soon after.

I stand in the driveway holding onto Roman’s hand as we stare at the house. He’s probably trying to understand what’s happening, and I’m trying to figure out what the hell we’re going to do.

“What happened?” a husky voice from behind us asks. Roman lets go of my hand and runs to Kai.

“Mr. Kai, a tree fell on our house,” Ro explains as he points to the house. The branch and the fact that the roof has caved in are clearly visible from where we’re standing.

Kai’s eyes shoot to mine. The emotion in them takes me off guard. He almost looks worried, but it’s gone in a flash.

“I see that, kid. Everyone ok?” He focuses back on Roman.

“Yeah, we were in the car when it fell.” Kai nods to my son, and I can’t take my eyes off the two of them together. Roman left my side to stand by Kai, a man he barely knows. I don’t know if I should be worried he’s getting attached to this man or happy he can still trust so freely after everything his father has done or, rather, hasn’t done.

“Willa, do you have somewhere to stay while we get the house fixed?” my landlord asks. “I’ll get someone out here as soon as possible once I talk with the insurance. But it’s not safe to stay here.”

“Oh, um, yeah.” No. I have nowhere to stay. “We’ll figure something out.”

“Alright, sorry about this. I’ll keep you updated on the timelines.”

“Ok, thanks.”

He walks over to where a few police officers are standing and talks to a firefighter who went through the house.

“Mommy, where are we gonna sleep?”

I draw small circles on my temples to soothe my building headache. We could stay with Kayla. I’m sure she would let us, but she only has a one-bedroom apartment, and I’d hate to put her out like that. Ro and I don’t take up much space, but still, it’s her space.

“I’m not sure yet, buddy.”

“We don’t have to go to Daddy’s, do we?” My eyes flick to Kai, who’s looking down at Roman. My cheeks heat with embarrassment that we’re having this conversation in front of him. Nick is my only other option. I know he’d let us stay with him. I’m more worried that he’ll try to stop us from leaving when the time comes.

“We might not have a choice,” I tell him in a lowered voice, ignoring the weight of Kai’s golden eyes on me.

“No!” Roman whines. He’s not usually a whiner, and it catches me off guard for a second. He must really not want to go to his dad’s. I get it. I don’t want to go there either.

“Don’t you have family you could stay with?” Kai asks, his eyes still focused on my face.

“No, it’s just me and Ro.” I avoid going into details about my family history.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Kai’s hand balls into a fist before, “You guys can stay with me,” is forced out through clenched teeth. It sounds strained like he’s trying to stop himself from saying it.