When We Collide by A. L. Jackson

had not said one thing to me since I’d been back. She
was still questioning my reasons for being there, and I couldn’t
blame her.
    At the tug of my sleeve, I looked to my right.
    “Look it, Uncle William.” Holding up her coloring
sheet, Emma showed me what she’d drawn, pointing with her chubby
little finger as she traced the rainbow connecting her house to her
gramma and grampa’s house. She was grinning, animated, no question
excited to be holding my attention. She looked up at me for
approval, and for the first time since I’d come home, I didn’t feel
like a complete outsider.
    I smiled down at my niece, thinking this was
where I’d start, begin again, a second chance at knowing my family.
“This is really beau…”
    I stilled, contending with the overwhelming desire I
had to look up from the drawing when I felt the shift in my world.
A rush of freezing cold air singed my cheeks when the door was
opened, mixed with the undeniable flame of her presence. The
shocking intensity of her eyes pinned me in place as the bell
chimed again when the door closed.
    My mind clouded, and again, I cursed this little
town. This was why I’d left in the first place, unable to face it,
but unable to look away as I gave in and stole a glimpse at the
three who’d walked through the door. Maggie’s eyes locked with mine
for the briefest second, but it might as well have been an
eternity.
    During that time, my anger was suspended. I couldn’t
remember that I’d been betrayed or that she’d lied.
    All I could think of was how much I’d missed
her—wanted her.
    It flooded me in desire and warmth, the memory of
how perfect this girl had felt in my arms. How I’d been her
sanctuary and she’d been my everything.
    She dropped her gaze and broke the spell, the moment
passing just as quickly as it had come, sending reality crashing
down over me. With it came the smoldering resentment that had
stolen the last six years of my life.
    Troy led her by the hand. She kept her head down and
her hair fell around her face—hiding. It was the same fucking
unbearable scene I’d had to witness time and time again through
that summer. The rage it derived, the stabbing pain it’d caused as
I had to sit and pretend that her heart didn’t belong to me.
    Only now it was worse.
    A child clung to her leg, timid and scared.
Hiding.
    I dug my fingers into the table, held myself back
while fury exploded, completely leveling the walls I’d constructed
to keep her out.
    He was exactly like his mother.
    Except he was mine.
    The little voice that had me lying to myself all
week was gone—the one that had tried to convince me there was no
possible way that child could be mine. It was silenced in those
wide brown eyes that seemed to be drawn my way by an unknown
recognition. The boy stumbled along behind his mother who trained
her attention on the ground. Over his shoulder, the child strained
to maintain eye contact with me as he was steered across the
floor.
    I almost expected him to call out to me, to giggle
and run.
    And I’d chase him, helpless to do anything else,
because I recognized him too.
    Led to a booth toward the front of the restaurant,
the boy climbed in first, moving far enough inside to be cut from
my view. Maggie scooted in next to him. Troy slid into the opposite
side, facing away, concealed by the high-backed booth, apparently
unaware of my presence.
    Thank God.
    I wasn’t sure I could control myself if Troy were in
my line of sight for the entire night. I doubted Troy could control
himself, either.
    I could feel her spirit pulsing against me, wrapping
and coiling around my being while she tried to withdraw from me at
the same time. I knew then Maggie couldn’t escape me any more than
I could escape her.
    She hazarded me another fleeting glance, another
plea. Let it go . I saw it as another lie. I minutely shook
my head. It felt like an apology.
    There was no chance I’d simply let it go. All
I’d ever wanted to do was protect