“I don’t know if you can ever outgrow Life,” I joked.

“I agree, but they think they are way too cool to be playing board games with old mom, I suppose,” she twittered.

I led Ms. Brown into the living room and introduced her to Jake, who looked like he was going to be super shy until she started talking to him about his science teacher at school. I guessed that since he loved science so much, that was good enough for him. He started to open up rather quickly, which was good since the questions she had were tougher than the ones before, and much more in depth. I was proud of Jake though, as he sat down next to Ms. Brown and talked to her like a miniature adult, shaking his head in understanding when she asked him about whether he understood why she was there. His answer kind of took us all back, but she kept going, trying not to show Jake she was affected by it.

“You are here, well, my mommy says you are here because my daddy isn’t a good daddy and you are trying to prove that I shouldn’t be here,” he said. “But I think you are wrong.”

“Well, your mommy is completely wrong,” she said, glancing up at us. “I am here to make sure you are healthy and happy both at her house and here at your daddy’s house. I don’t think your daddy is bad at all. In fact, I came to visit them before, and I thought they were very good people.”

“Oh, good,” he sighed. “I was worried.”

“Well, there is no reason to be worried,” she replied with a smile.

She continued on, probing into what type of relationship that Jake and his father really had. After that, she carried on with questions about me and how he felt about our relationship. Jake was a pro, coming through all of it with flying colors, just like we knew he would. He didn’t have any reason to lie because in this environment, he was a very happy little boy.

“Well,” Ms. Brown said. “I am very impressed by all three of you.”

Luke walked up next to me and smiled big, putting his arm around my shoulders and squeezing me hard. I could tell how excited he was to hear those words, and so was I, though I was having a hard time mustering my excitement over the heartbreak that was still throbbing inside of me.

“I think I have seen all I need to see here,” Ms. Brown said, standing up. “You guys are a very healthy and vibrant family, something I don’t get to see very often. I can tell you now that Jake’s mom is very mistaken, and I am hoping for Jake’s sake she comes to that conclusion on her own, as she doesn’t want to be in a position where the judge has to tell her that himself. I am going to make my recommendation to the court that your joint custody be permanently approved, and that Jake should spend as much time with you as possible under the circumstances.”

“Thank you,” Luke said, letting out a deep breath.

“I just want you to understand, Mr. Thompson, that I will immediately investigate any allegations that are made against you in the future,” she said, pointedly. “But I think that you have a very warm, inviting, and happy home. I can only hope that Miss Smith provides the same kind of care and comfort that you and your fiancée do for little Jake. He deserves everything that the world has to offer him, and that includes stability and support in his life. He is just a child, a child who has had to grow up faster than normal. Maybe we can slow things down in that department from now on.”

“Absolutely,” Luke said, shaking Ms. Brown’s hand vigorously.

I smiled at her and then looked up as Luke excitedly turned toward me and walked forward. He reached his hands out and cupped my cheeks, pressing his lips against mine and holding them there for several seconds. As he released my face, my heart sped up, and he looked me dead in the eyes, taken back by the flow of emotions exchanged during that experience. Slowly, he began to back away, his eyes still firmly locked on mine, an expression of confusion running over his face. It was all too much for me, and at that moment I couldn’t control myself anymore. Between the look of excitement and the look of confusion on Luke’s face, I was done for. I could feel the pain surging through my chest, and immediately I burst into tears. I knew that I would have to play this off to the social worker who quickly looked over at me, but I couldn’t hold it back any longer.

Inside, I couldn’t rationalize everything that was happening. I knew that everything on Luke’s part was nothing but an act, he had told me that directly. Somewhere inside of me I hoped that it wasn’t true, but now I was facing the end of our time together, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I looked down as tear flowed from my eyes and down my cheeks, a soft sob taking over my demeanor.

“Miss Mallorie,” Ms. Brown said, rushing forward and putting her hand on my shoulder. “Are you all right? What is wrong?”

I sat there for a second, trying to decide what my answer would be, but once I looked up and saw Jake’s concerned face, I knew what I had to say. I took in a deep breath and sniffled, trying to collect myself enough to speak. I leaned my head back and laughed through my tears, hearing Luke let out a deep breath beside me.

“Nothing is wrong,” I said, smiling. “I am just so happy that this is all finally over, and we get to have our Jake here. It has been a very trying situation with his mom being so hard on everyone.”

“I understand,” she said, with a laugh. “I am glad you are so happy; it is a testament to your feelings for these two.”

“Thank you, Ms. Brown,” I said, shaking her hand. “I am so happy that you have come to a definitive conclusion.”

When Ms. Brown was gone, I had to get myself together since I was still being watched by Jake. He obviously hated to see me upset and spent the rest of the day trailing me, trying to make me laugh. I went through the motions of cooking and eating dinner with the family, helping Jake get in and out of the tub at bath time, and I was the one who put him to bed, figuring this might be one of the last times I was able to do so. He was sweet when I tucked him in, and I didn’t even get halfway through the story before he was out like a light.

I stood in Jake’s doorway for several moments, watching as he slept, wondering if I would ever feel whole again after this. Sure, Jake would be sad for a little while, but his life would go on, and he would be introduced to new people, pushing the memory of me far from his mind. I, on the other hand, would head back to my quiet townhouse, with my tiny little planters out front. No husband, no child, and no man I had fallen in love with through all of this. I would be completely alone again, and the thought kind of terrified me.

I walked out of the bedroom and down the hall to the kitchen, shuffling along the floor and stopping at the counter. Luke opened the fridge and took out a beer, twisting off the top and handing one over to me. He clinked the neck of his bottle against mine and gave me a huge smile. He took a deep breath and moved closer to me, causing the pain in my heart to increase ten-fold. Just being near him right then was more than I could stand, and I just wanted to get away. If I couldn’t be with him, then I needed space in order to heal.

“Quinn,” he said, lifting his bottle. “I want to thank you again. Without you, I don’t know where Jake and I would be. You made all of this possible with your selfless sacrifice, and your love for Jake. I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay you for the kindness you have shown us. You are an absolutely amazing woman, and we are all better people for knowing you.”

I didn’t know what to say; he made no sense to me. If I was such an amazing person, then why was he kicking me out of their lives? Why was he rejecting the obvious passion and emotion that existed between us, and not just during sex, but all the time? I wanted to be thankful for his words, but all I felt was pain and anger. I nodded my head up and down, not wanting to ruin this moment for him by unleashing my anger and fury onto him. He clinked my bottle again and took a big sip, his eyes glued to mine. I stood there grasping the beer in my hand, not kno

wing what to do. I set the bottle down on the counter and looked up at him, hurt clouding my face.

“I’m tired,” I whispered. “I’m going to bed.”

His face went from happy to sad very quickly when he realized just how hurt I really was. Before he could say anything, I turned and walked back toward the bedroom, disappearing into the dark and closing the door gently behind me. I couldn’t celebrate with him anymore; the pain was all too much.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Tags: Claire Adams Romance
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