Page 145 of Luci’s Lullaby

Chord shifts in his seat. “I have a story, bear with me.”

“Okay.”

“When Silas passed, Sarah was on the verge of giving up on living. I didn’t understand. How would dying honor our son? I, on the other hand, got up and moved. I gave his unopened toys to a children’s hospital and made his arrangements.

“I wanted to honor him in such a way, everyone would know how much we loved him. Sarah loved him so much, she didn’t want to leave him. I couldn’t fathom the concept, and she thought I was being callus by the things I was doing.” My heart hurts for them so much.

“It took some time to understand it’s okay. People do things differently. We grieve differently. We heal differently. We all have our own take on what we go through and grow through.”

“So while Alden was growing through his issues, I was what? Going through them?” Oh my God. The words hurt more than the pain in my chest.

“Charlee? Did you think of something?” Sarah raises her brows.

I swallow hard as I try to rid the bad taste from my mouth. “His leaving made all of my laden feelings about my dad come to the surface. He was right—I have daddy issues.”

“I’m thinking that was the heat of the moment, and he didn’t mean it.” Chord cringes.

“He didn’t. I had said something horrible to him.” I open my mouth with a pop. “Big boom.”

Sarah winces. “Ouch! Do you think you can talk through it?”

“Yeah, I’m not so sure talking’s our best attribute.” My eyes widen.

Chord chuckles. “It isn’t most peoples; sex saves more marriages than therapists like to admit.”

“I know it makes me feel closer to Chord. Like we’re one and can get through anything.” Sarah smiles coyishly at him.

I cock my brow. “Are you telling me to go have sex with Alden and then maybe we can talk this out? Because I’m thinking that’s a no.”

“No, that isn’t what we’re saying.” Sarah snickers.

“But as a man in this conversation I just have to say, you could try it. Nothing wrong with trying.” Chord winks at me, and I blush.

“Men. You can’t live with them and you can’t beat ’em.” Sarah crosses her eyes, making me smile.

“I need to talk to him,” I say on a sniffle.

Chord smiles. “Did you happen to hear the news before you fell out?”

“What news?” My heart pounds in my ears. Surely, he didn’t take another contract.

“Jessica signed an affidavit saying Sam paid her to accuse Alden of being her baby daddy.” Chord quirks his lip.

A tiny ray of light in this wreck of a life. “How in the world did they get that so quickly?”

Chord and Sarah chuckle. “One, he’s dead after Sam over Aksel,” Sarah says.

“He loves his kids so much.” I clutch my chest, thinking of Luci.

Chord side-eyes Sarah. “The boys aren’t One’s.”

“What?” I sit up.

“They’re Lea’s, but don’t tell One. He fell in love with all of them and sees no difference with their kids.” Sarah grins.

“Exactly the way I feel about Luci.”

“Give it some time then talk to him. Don’t. No matter what, take some time and make sure they’re what you want.” Sarah tugs on my hand. “Now, come see our girl.”