“P-Parrish. April Parrish,” I repeated to make sure I was hearing things correctly. The word “Mom” ricocheted in my skull. I’d played this scenario over and over again in my head, but I never truly believed I’d ever hear from her again. Now that I had her on the phone, I didn’t know what I wanted to say first, if anything.
“Yes, baby, it’s me. God, it’s been such a long time.”
“Mom?” Someone answered. It took me a minute to realize the small sounding voice was my own.
“Mom?” Liam repeated. His hand tightened on my hip. I covered it with my own and squeezed, needing the reassurance his strength provided.
“I know. I can’t believe it either,” she said. I had to close my eyes to focus on the sound of her voice. She was right. I could recognize my own in hers. “I was at work and I came across your application for the volunteer trip. I almost couldn’t believe what I was reading. It took me weeks to work up the courage to call you.”
“You work for the volunteer organization?”
“Sort of. It’s hard to explain, but I’d love to meet you in person. If you’re up to that, I mean. I want to help you.”
“Help me?”
“With the application. I know some people and thought I might push it along so they see it? If you were interested, I mean.”
The happiness I’d felt waking up to Liam had leached away the moment I answered the phone and realized who was on the other line. “Why would you want to help me now?” I asked.
Liam’s hand tightened on mine. I squeezed back for dear life, a little more at ease knowing that no matter what happened, he was there for me.
“I know nothing I say can ever explain away what I’ve done, but I thought, maybe it was a sign. Maybe enough time has passed that we can talk again. Nothing I say will ever explain away what I did, but I’d like the chance to give you my side of the story.”
“Why should I?” I asked bluntly.
There was a pause before she said. “I thought you might like the chance to get to know your family.”
“My family?” My throat closed around the words.
“Please, Charlie. Just give me a chance.”
I hung up a few minutes later and slumped against the headboard, unsure of what to think. My mom. I’d just talked to mymom. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. I wanted a million different things and didn’t know which one of them I should do first.
“Are you okay?” Liam asked quietly.
I shoved my face in my hands and sucked in a deep breath, but it didn’t help. “I honestly don’t know.”
He kissed my shoulder and his breath fanned over my still-bare skin. I’d forgotten I was naked, but as soon as I realized it and how close he was, my body heated. Despite the shock, it still wanted him. I wanted him.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
I turned to lean my head against his chest and my muscles relaxed as his warmth seeped into my clammy skin. “Just stay with me for a while, please.”
“Of course.” His hands traced my body, causing me to shiver. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I shrugged. What was there to say? I still couldn’t believe what had happened. “She wants to meet me. To talk.”
“Are you gonna do it?”
I closed my eyes and fitted my face into his neck. As though we’d done it a thousand times, he shifted to make room for my body. “I’m not sure.”
“Whatever you decide, I’m sure it’ll be the right thing.” How he could be so certain, I’d never know. What I did know was he was my rock. The solidness of him beside me quelled the panic that threatened to rise.
Silence surrounded us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Then I tilted my head back to look at him. “Will you do me a favor?”
He brushed the hair away from my face. “Anything,” he said.
“Will you help me forget, just for a little while?”
