I try to think, but nothing makes sense. Emma was back? How the hell was that even possible?


    When she left, she’d sworn never toe back. Mother, Father, and Travis used to visit her, but she


    never


    came home. Not even for the holidays.


    In fact, my family used to go and spend Christmas with her. I never got invited. Before Noah was old


    enough to understand things, I used to spend Christmas alone. While my family went to be with Emma,.


    Rowan and Noah spent it with his family, and as usual, I wasn’t invited.


    Seeing her here in my home is aplete shock. He used to tell me that if he ever got a chance, he


    would get back to Emma immediately. It confused me even more. If she was back, why the hell was


    Rowan kissing me? Why the hell was he still with me?


    I steppletely out of his hand. He curses, though I don’t know if it’s because I stepped away from him.


    or because Emma saw us kissing.


    Wrapping my hands around myself, I continue to stare silently at Emma. I try to push back the pain and


    hurt I’ve endured during my marriage to Rowan.


    Sure, I might have hurt her when I slept with her boyfriends, but I’ve paid dearly for that mistake. Her


    pain


    at losing Rowan is nothingpared to the ones Rowan, my family, and his family have put me through.


    “Ava,” he calls my name in a hoarse voice.


    I shake my head. Walking around him, I start to head out of the kitchen just as Mother and Travis walk in.


    I ignore them and rush up the stairs.


    I get inside Iris’s room and lock myself inside. She was still asleep. Careful not to make a sound, I slide


    down the door and put my head between my legs, I fight the tears that threaten to fall.


    Seeing them, especially Emma, just brought back the pain I’ve tried to hide. The hurt I’ve tried so


    desperately to move on from.


    A while ago, I’d thought that this was a chance for me and Rowan to start over. Now? Now I’m not so


    sure. Not when I know that his heart has always belonged to Emma. Not when she was back in our lives.


    Hearing footsteps approaching the door, I tense. They stop outside the room, and secondster, there is


    a gentle knock.


    I don’t open. I don’t want to face Rowan. I don’t want to face any of them. Not yet, anyway.


    1+15 BONUS


    Ava, please open the door. His voice is pleading.


    I don’t answer. I just needed a minute before I could face whatever was awaiting for me on the other.


    side. I’m used to this. It shouldn’t be affecting me like this.


    AVE


    “Just give me a minute and I’ll be out.” My volcees out stronger than I actually am.


    He whispers an okay, and then I hear him leave. I force back my emotions. I can deal with themter.


    When I feel moreposed, I leave the room and head to the master bedroom.


    I shower and then change. When I’m done, I go back to Iris’s room, only to find her awake and fussy. I


    change her diaper, then sit in the rocking chair and feed her.


    “Morning Mom,” Noah walks into the room, rubbing his eyes, just as I’m straightening up my top.


    I smile at him. “Morning too, Noah.”


    “Is she already awake? I was hoping to feed her.”


    1


    “I already fed.”


    He looks around the room before his eyes finally settle on us. “But I don’t see a bottle.”


    Well, this is going to be awkward to exin. I swallow before starting.


    “When she’s with me, she doesn’t need a bottle. I supply the milk for her,” I exin as best as I can.


    This is probably new to Noah. I mean, he has been the only child in both families for years. He has never


    been around babies or breast–feeding mothers.


    “I’m confused. Why doesn’t she need a bottle when she’s with you?”


    “Because I breastfeed her,” I reply before asking quietly. “Do you know what that means?”


    He shakes his head. “No”


    “It means your mom feeds her with milk from her breast” Rowan supplies, making us turn to him