“You can’t see him,” I say firmly.
He grinds his teeth. “I understand I have issues. I’ve taken classes. But I am also that kid’s father, so I should get to know him.”
“You signed away your rights,” I tell him.
“I’m contesting that … it won’t hold up in court.”
“You never cared about him before, so why start now?” I bite back.
Anderson shakes his head. “Because I’ve come to realize he’s all I have. And I will fight for him, Jacinta. No matter how far you run, this time, I will fight for him.”
“Maybe you should leave. This is most definitely not the way to go about this.” I take a step back, and he looks to the house. “I know I have fucked up, but I want to be a part of his life.”
“You’ve come to this conclusion after what … a few months in prison?” I laugh at him, but my laughter is forced. “No, it takes longer than that.”
“My father sees him, does he not?”
“Maybe you should ask him that. I will not discuss your father with you.”
Anderson smirks. “He’s an ass and tells me to grow up and fuck off.”
“Well, he’s right. You have always had everything handed to you, so it’s about time you tried to grow up and do things on your own.”
Just as he’s about to say something else, August pulls up with a screech. He jumps straight out of the car and walks to me, his hand coming in front of me to block me from Anderson as he pushes me back.
Anderson holds his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t come to cause harm.”
“What the fuck are you doing here?” barks August.
“I came to see my son. You should know what it’s like not being able to see your child.” August does, but that’s because he wasn’t aware he had a child because back then, he moved away and cut all contact with Rylee. Until one day, he came back, found her, and the rest is history for them.
That will not be Anderson and me.
We will not get a happily ever after.
It’s not in our cards.
“Glenn lives down the road. Should I call him and tell him you’re in the vicinity of Rylee when you know you aren’t meant to be?” August growls.
“How the fuck was I meant to know she was here?” Anderson says to August, then looks at me. “I came to be civil and talk to you. I’ll be back.” He turns and heads for his car.
“You aren’t welcome here, Anderson. Don’t ever show up like that again.”
Anderson stops with his hand on the door then turns back to me. “Do you think you can keep me away from my son, Jacinta?” The way he speaks, it’s like a threat, and August touches my shoulder because he knows it as well. I watch as he starts toward Anderson, but I grab his arm and pull him back.
“I can. It’s my right as a mother to protect him from those who would cause him harm, and you will, Anderson. Fuck, you absolutely will. Maybe not physically, but if he turns out anything like you, that will be the same way your mother harmed you.”
He doesn’t say anything to me in reply, simply shakes his head, and gets in the car.
We watch him leave, and it isn’t until I can no longer see his car that I feel like I can breathe again.
How does he even know where I live?
I moved and ran away from him for a reason.
I changed my name.
Started a new life.
All because his family has power.
They have the money to fight me for my son, money I could never dream of.
I was too afraid they would win to come back here, but then I had August, and we came back. And though it may not have turned out the way I had hoped, I still have Oliver, and he’s my main concern. He is my everything.
“Do you want to come and stay with us?” Rylee appears, and I turn to her and try to stop the tears that leave my eyes, but I can’t. They fall, and there’s nothing I can do to stop the torrent. Her arms wrap around me and hold me tight.
We are very unlikely friends. I’m not even sure how it happened, but I’m glad it did. People are drawn to her, and I am, for sure, one of those people.
“No, no, I will be fine. I’ll call the police if he comes back.”
Rylee pulls back and goes straight to August. “He isn’t stable. You never know what he’s going to do,” Rylee says.
“I know, I get it. But I’ve lived enough of my life running from him and hiding. I don’t want to do that forever.”
“Okay, well … you know where we are if you need us.” August kisses the top of Rylee’s head, and he sniffs her. It’s as if he has to embed her smell into him. It’s subtle and cute, and I love how much they mean to each other.