“You won’t keep Kayla from us?” David asked.
“If you’re safe, healthy, and I can trust you, then no. I won’t. You have many misconceptions about my family and me. Family is extremely important to me. Keeping Kayla from her brings me no joy. But I also have no problem doing what I must to make sure she has a childhood that far exceeds what mine was.”
Biting her lower lip, Patricia nodded. “You aren’t what I thought.”
“I know that, ma’am. Remember that when you’re working through your issues. It won’t be easy, but it will probably be the most important thing you ever do. Both for yourselves and the sake of your family. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m about to crawl out of my skin with the need to see your daughter.” Christ, how he wanted to be near her.
“Take good care of them,” she whispered.
“I promise you, I will.”
He had the sense she wanted to say more. Maybe explain herself, or say sorry, but today wasn’t the time. Hannah’s parents had so much to work through. Trauma that stemmed back to their own childhood. There’d be plenty of time for explanations and apologies in the future. Today, his mission had been accomplished. They knew he wasn’t going anywhere and would remain Kayla’s primary caregiver. They knew Hannah wouldn’t put up with their bullshit any longer. And they knew they could have a bright future that involved both their daughter and granddaughter.
If they followed his terms and put in the work. He had no illusions it’d be all rainbows and sunshine from here on out. There’d be hard times and tears ahead. Probably some progress followed by setbacks, but that didn’t scare him.
What scared him was the prospect of losing Hannah.
Which led to the second part of his plan.
Win Hannah back.
EVERY MOVEMENT FELT as though it took a hundred times more energy than normal. Even lifting her hand to push a stray lock of hair out of her eyes seemed a Herculean task.
She’d lost her family.
Poof, all gone.
Her sister died.
Poof.
She’d left her niece in Vermont.
Poof.
She couldn’t be around her parents in a healthy way.
Poof.
All. Gone.
Yet all she could think about was one man. Being without JP was tearing her up inside. She’d read poems about love and loss where the poets talked about the sun no longer shining, food no longer having flavor, and life no longer holding joy when referring to lost love. She’d always assumed it was hyperbole; over-the-top words to paint a vivid picture.
Now she knew better.
The consuming agony of a broken heart was all too real.
And she was living it.
At some point, she’d need to collect herself off the couch, throw away the empty ice cream cartons, and find a way to move forward. But not today. Today was for wallowing and more ice cream.
A knock at the door had her groaning.
If she mustered the energy to open it only to find one of her parents standing on the other side, she’d likely lose it. What a waste of her entire day’s worth of motivation that would be.
Another knock, this time more insistent.
“Coming,” she yelled out without moving from where she lay sprawled on the couch.
Blowing out a breath, she forced herself to sit up.
Part way there. Way to go, Hannah!
Next step, stand. She did, creaking and cracking the whole way. Crap, she was way too young to be feeling this ancient. Maybe lying around the house for so long hadn’t been the wisest idea.
She managed to put one foot in front of the other enough times to get her to the door to her apartment. After unlocking the four—yes four—deadbolts her father had installed, she pulled the door open.
“If you’re selling something, I’m not”—time stood still as her gaze encountered JP’s— “interested.”
Her heart pounded so loudly that if he said anything, she missed it. “Y-you’re here,” she said as though he wasn’t aware of where he stood. “With Kayla.” She sucked in a breath. “Oh, my God, is everything okay?” If something had happened to Kayla after she left, she’d never forgive herself. But the baby looked beyond happy to see her, squirming and making the cutest coos of delight.
“It is now,” JP said. “It is now.”
“What?” She shifted her gaze back up to him.
He chuckled. Why was he there? How was he there? At her door. In Colorado. With Kayla.
She blinked. Maybe she was dreaming. Maybe she fell into a sugar coma and was now dreaming the sweetest fantasy.
He laughed again, snapping her out of her stupor. “I’m sorry. I’m just…stunned. What did you say?”
“Can we come in?” He raised an eyebrow. Any anger or frustration with her seemed to have dissipated since she’d last seen him.
“Yes, of course. Please.” She stepped back, allowing them in.
God, he looked good. The sun shone to the side, giving his skin a golden glow and making his ink stand out even more. Was it possible for him to have gotten hotter in the three days since she’d last seen him? And she swore Kayla grew an inch.