Page 100 of Together Is Where We Belong

“You’re safe now, firefly. He can’t get to you or Luke anymore,” I softly whispered as I rubbed my hand up and down her leg.

“You don’t understand,” she said through her sobs.

“What don’t I understand?”

“He wanted our son too, Leo. You heard me tell the deputies that. But you didn’t hear the sound of his voice when he said it. It’s all I can hear on repeat in my mind,” she cried.

“What do you mean?” I hated that she had been in that psycho’s grasp for even a second.

“It sounded like an obsession warped with a taunt. He wanted us to be this family, and I can’t for the life of me understand why. I didn’t do anything to even hint that was a possibility. I just don’t understand,” she said as she uncovered her face and finally looked up at me with confusion.

I took a deep breath and reined in the anger I felt at hearing what she’d said.

“Maybe it’s not for you to understand, firefly. He had something mentally wrong with him. He was delusional. That’s not on you. That’s on him,” I said to her in hopes that she found some comfort in my words.

“I’m scared to let Luke leave,” she admitted as she picked at her nails.

“He can never get to you or Luke, firefly. He’s behind bars. Luke doesn’t understand why he can’t go. Your parents aren’t goin’ to let anythin’ happen to him,” I promised.

“I know. I know I can’t smother him, but I’m just not ready yet,” she looked up at me and pleaded.

“I understand. I know it’s still fresh in your mind. But your parents just want to help. And Luke seeing you so upset without understanding isn’t good for him either,” I explained to her.

“I know. I’m trying to hide it, but it’s hard,” she said and sniffled.

“You won’t get better overnight. It’ll take a while, but why don’t you let him go, and if you feel like you can’t handle him bein’ gone, I’ll make up an excuse and go get him. Just try. You look exhausted, but you won’t rest with him here.”

She took a long moment to think about what I’d said before she nodded.

“I’m goin’ to go get him packed and ready to go stay with your parents. Do you need anythin’ when I come back?” I asked as I moved her legs to stand. I put her legs back on the couch after I stood and made sure she was covered before I leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

I found her parents, Luke, and my parents around the kitchen island.

“Who wants to go to grandma’s and grandpa’s?” I said with a clap of my hands.

“I do,” Luke said as he climbed down from the barstool and ran over to me. He wrapped his arms around my legs and squeezed tight before he looked up at me with a bright smile.

“Thank you, Dad,” he said before he let go and ran around the corner and up the stairs.

“I’m goin’ to go get his clothes and blanket. She agreed to let him stay, but I told her if she felt like she had to have him here, that I’d make up an excuse to come get him,” I told her parents who both had worried expressions on their faces. They nodded in understanding before I left the room and raced up the stairs to gather Luke’s things.

I found Luke sitting on his bed looking at the floor with his blanket in his hands as I entered his room.

“You okay, little man?” I asked as I approached the bed and knelt in front of him.

“Is Mom okay? She looks sad,” his tiny voice whispered, and it broke my heart that he’d noticed his mom’s demeanor when she’d tried to hide it so well.

“Yeah, your mom’s okay. She’s just got a lot on her mind. You don’t need to worry about her, okay?” I tried to reassure him.

“And you’re sure she’s okay with me going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house?” he asked as he looked up at me with worried eyes.

“I’m sure, bud. Why don’t we grab your pajamas and clothes for tomorrow? It’s gettin’ late, and you still need to get a bath,” I said as I ruffled his hair before I stood and walked over to his dresser.

He hopped down from the bed and followed. I held out two choices of pajamas and outfits to allow him to choose. He pointed at which ones he wanted, and I put the others back before he raced out of the room, dragging his blanket behind him.

Once we got downstairs, I walked over to the table and grabbed Luke’s backpack and checked to make sure his EpiPen was inside before I put his clothes in the bag and zipped it.

I walked to the back door where Carolina’s parents stood with Luke as they waited to leave.