I don’t waste any time bending and scooping her up in my arms and settle her on my hip. She throws her arms around my neck and we’re off. I help her into her seat in the back of the Durango. “I’ll see you in the morning for our test. And if Mommy says it’s okay, we can go to the store tomorrow night and get more building sets.”
“Yay. Bye.” She waves.
I force myself to pull away from her and shut the door.
“You spoil her, you know. She’s going to have you carrying her all over the place.”
“I’m good with that. I owe her a few.”
“No.” She rests her palm against my cheek and steps into me. I snake my arm around her waist, holding her close. “You don’t owe us anything, Kenton. You didn’t do anything wrong. You made a mistake, one you tried to correct, but my mother, she conspired against you.”
“How did it go?”
“She didn’t deny it. I told her to leave. I can’t stand to look at her right now.”
“I’m sorry, Laney.”
“Don’t be. I’m sorry. She kept us from you, and you missed out on things that you will never get back. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for that.”
“We look toward to the future.”
“Yeah, what does that look like?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but I do know that it’s the three of us together.”
“Yeah?”
I nod. “Drive safe, babe. Call me when you get home?”
“I will. You too.” Her hand falls away and she retreats, forcing me to release my hold on her. I step back and wait for her to get behind the wheel and drive away. I don’t notice the cold, or the snow that starts to fall—just her taillights disappearing into the night. I hate that they’re driving away from me. I look forward to the day that we’re both headed in the same direction. To the same house. To the same bed. The odds of our past are against us, but our hearts and our future are front and center.* * *My phone rings just as I’m walking through the door. A quick glance at the screen tells me it’s Delaney. “Hey, you,” I greet her.
“Hey. We’re home.” I can hear the irritation in her voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She sighs.
“Delaney.”
“Fine. She’s still here. Apparently, she thought I didn’t mean what I said. I just… hate the thought of being around her right now. I hate that Kendrix is around her. She stole so much from us.”
“Come here. Or I can come there and make her leave. Call the cops, something.”
“Don’t tempt me, but I can’t call the cops on her. No matter how much I wish that I could.”
“Then come here. Pack a bag for you and Kendrix and come and stay with me.”
“The renovations, and then the tests are tomorrow.”
“Ridge and the guys can handle themselves, trust me. I’ll take the day off, and the three of us can spend it together.”
“What about the tests?” She didn’t toss out my spending the day together. Not yet.
“I have the number for the tech who’s coming in the morning. I can call him and tell him to come here. It’s not an issue.”
“It’s so soon, and I don’t know. I just… I don’t want to be here with her.”
“I have a spare room. The two of you can sleep there, or better yet, take my room and my king-size bed. I’ll take the spare. I want you here, Laney. Both of you. Please. I hate that you’re there and miserable. Please come and stay with me.” I’m not above begging her to get them here. I hated leaving them, and this is the answer to that.
“Thank you, Kent.” She shortens my name, and although small, it means that she feels more comfortable with me. I’ll take all the small victories I can get. “We’re not in danger. I just can’t stand looking at her. I appreciate your offer, but right now, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I believe you when you say she’s yours. I see it, but until we know, until we tell her, I don’t think it’s a good idea that she and I stay with you.”
My shoulders deflate, and the hope I had of spending more time with them, of having them here with me where they belong, collapses. “I understand. Doesn’t mean I like it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Hey.” I soften my voice. “There is nothing for you to be sorry for. You’re innocent in all of this. Can you promise me something?”
“Yes.” There is zero hesitation in her reply.
“Will you come to me? If things get bad there, if you and Kendrix need to get away, you come to me. Let me be the place you run to.”
“My mother doesn’t fight. She’s the silent-treatment type. But I promise you, if we need you, if anything changes, it will be you I call.”