I stare at the picture as my mother sits down next to me. "I was so scared." She pulls her arm around my shoulder. "Sadie, I'm so grateful you're okay."
I reach to embrace her. I need to have her arms around me. I can't imagine what would have happened to Cory if she wouldn't have been in the park that day. "Thank you for being there for him."
"He's my grandson." I see her gaze drift behind me towards Hunter. "He will be once you finally say yes."
I nod. "I will."
"Dad and I are going home now." She motions towards where my father is sitting across from us in a chair. His unexpected declaration of love at the hospital when I woke up hasn't been spoken of since. I know that he loves me now. I know that he understands that I love Hunter.
"I'll call you tonight." I squeeze her hand.
My father bends down to run his lips across my forehead before they leave.
"Do you want something, sunshine?" Hunter asks from where he's sitting on the edge of the coffee table. "I can get you some water or juice."
"No." I pat the spot next to me. "Come sit with me."
"I can't refuse that." He snuggles in next to me, carefully pulling me into his chest. "Does this hurt?"
I shake my head slightly. "It's not your fault," I whisper the words slowly.
I feel his breath hitch and his breathing stalls. "It is. I can't stop thinking about it."
"You have to." I trace my finger along his thigh. "It's over. He's in jail again. He's not coming back."
"When I saw his fist." His body trembles. "I just knew. I couldn't protect you. I ran so fast."
"You came to get us," I try to reassure him. "You came to the park as soon as you knew he was in Boston."
"I was so panicked when you didn't answer your phone, Sadie. All I got was that voicemail saying you were taking him to the park." He pulls me even closer into his chest. "I thought he'd taken you both away forever."
"I'm sorry I forgot it." I've felt horrible since I realized that he'd tried to call to warn me that day. He knew Peter was looking for Cory and he wanted to tell me to stay inside with him.
"No." He kisses my forehead. "I wish I had been there."
"I'm okay." I tilt my head back to look in his eyes. "We're all okay."
"We're going to be okay." His finger brushes against my swollen cheek.
I nod before I sink my cheek back into the fabric of his shirt. "Did you talk to your lawyer?"
&n
bsp; "Earlier," he offers.
"Well?" I tap his hand wanting more information than that.
"In a few months, Cory will be mine. I'll be his father, legally. In every way, he'll be mine."
"Ours," I whisper into him. "He'll be ours."
Chapter 23
"Princess, wake up."
I open my sleepy eyes to see Cory's face not four inches from mine. I smile at the sight. "I fell asleep."
"You had a nap like babies do."