“Are you sure? Because the last time I saw him he was behind two fucking assholes trying to knock my door down with Lily inside.” The anger I feel with the memory bubbles up.
“I’m sure. He’s good.” I scoff at his response. “He’s the only reason they didn’t knock your door down, Aubs. I promise.”
“Whatever. I don’t have the time to argue, but if something happens to me, just know I have people that will look now.” My threat is semi-empty. I don’t know if they actually would, I just feel like my absence would be questioned.
I hang up with Ryder and immediately get online to book my ticket while going back into the wedding to find Emma. I find a flight leaving in three hours from Portland and book it without even asking anyone to watch my kid.
Could you be more irresponsible? What if this is all a play to get you back to Montana to collect? No. Ryder wouldn’t.
Emma is in the small kitchen at the back of the. Arm wrapping up the leftover cake for the couple.
She looks over at me and the concern laces her face immediately. She drops the to-go boxes and rips off her gloves. “What happened?”
“My friend. She was beaten by her fiancé. She’s almost…” I choke up. “I need to leave now. I just booked a ticket. And I have to get Coop to watch Lily, and call Aggie.”
Emma reaches over, grabbing my arms and stopping me from my spiral. “Hey, whatever you need, you do it and we’ll figure it out.”
I take a deep breath as she does, letting my lungs fill with air, and pushing out all the worry. “You’re right. It’ll work out and there’s no lack of sitters around here.”
“Go. Call me if my brother is being an idiot.”
“Thank you.” I pull her in for a tight hug. I’m so grateful for the friendships I’ve gotten since coming to Balsam Cliffs.
I haul ass back to the cabin and find it empty.
Grabbing my bags I go throw them in the truck and head out to find Cooper.
I find them at the inn, playing down on the cove, building sandcastles by moonlight.
I stand at the top of the stairs, watching them for a minute.
“Mommy!” Lily catches me watching. Standing they come up to meet me by the fire pit.
I collapse into one of the Adirondack chairs, hanging my head in my hands until I feel the soft wind of someone moving next to me.
“Where’d Lily go?” I look up, missing my daughter.
“She went to see Mimi K for her cookie. What are you doing here?” He sits on the edge of the fire pit, forcing me to look at him. “What’s wrong? Why do you look like you’re running from a ghost?”
I lean toward him, and he grabs me by the shoulders. “I need you to keep Lily. Sophia… she… her fiancé, he beat her to the point she almost… died.” The last word catches in my throat.
“My God. I’m so sorry.” He stops keeping me at arm’s length and pulls me flush against him for comfort. “What can I do?”
“Can you keep Lily? I’ll call Aggie, but I got a flight and it leaves in…” I look at my watch. “Two and a half hours.”
“Yeah, no worries. I’ll keep her. You don’t need to call Aggie. She can stay with me.”
Lily runs in between us, pushing us apart with her chocolate covered hands. “I wanna stay wif Coopa!”
He picks her up, swinging her into his arms. “You want to stay with me and have a sleepover while Mommy goes somewhere for a bit?” She nods her little head vigorously. “Let’s ask Mommy if it’s okay.”
“Mommy, is it otay?”
I smile at my sweet girl. “Yes, it’s okay. You can stay at the cabin as long as you’re an extra good girl for Cooper, okay?”
“Otay, Mommy. I’ll be a good girl and no cryin’ bedtime.” I kiss her forehead before Coop puts her down to go run again.
“Are you sure about this?”
