Page 121 of Stay Wild Darlin’

Not for a loss.

Not even when Cora’s mother walked out.

I’d cried before, sure, but this was different. I was breaking down in the middle of my parents’ perfectly groomed driveway, holding my daughter in my arms, completely wrecked.

Not from what they said, but from what they didn’t say.

Poppy stood in front of me, her amber eyes catching the light like gold. “Dalton,” she murmured again, softer this time.

I shook my head, tried to turn away, but she stepped in close and held me there, her hands firm on my arms.

“I am so proud of you,” she whispered.

I looked at her, throat burning, everything in me straining not to fall apart.

“You shouldn’t be. You saw what happened in there. I couldn’t even get them to care.”

She slid her hands to my chest, right over Cora’s tiny hand, and she leaned in, her voice breaking like mine. “I saw you show up. I saw you protect your daughter. I saw you stand in front of everything that ever tried to make you feel small, and you didn’t back down. That’s what she’s going to remember. Not them.”

I looked down at Cora, who was sucking on her fingers now, totally content in my arms.

“I meant what I said,” Poppy said softly, brushing a thumb across my jaw where that tear had dried. “I’m proud of you.”

I swallowed hard, shaking my head again. “I shouldn’t need to prove anything to them, and yet it still hurts. It fucking hurts.”

“I know. Of course it does.”

She stepped closer, resting her hand over Cora’s back, right beside mine.

“Sometimes we don’t get the happy ending we imagine, especially not with the people who hurt us. Sometimes, they stay who they are.”

I let out a breath, jaw clenched tight, eyes stinging again.

“They looked at her,” she whispered, “and didn’t want to know her. That’s not on you. That’s on them. You showed up. You gave them a chance. They chose silence.”

I stayed quiet, but I continued to unravel with every word she gave me.

“It’s like when we left my sister’s party,” she said gently. “No one called. No one asked where we went. Not my mom or dad. I could’ve disappeared and they wouldn’t have noticed.” She nodded toward Cora, whose small hand now clutched at my shirt. “I know it’s not fair, but sometimes humans are assholes. They’re selfish and broken and incapable of giving you what you deserve. That doesn’t mean you have to keep bleeding to earn a place in their lives.”

I met her eyes, the truth of her words settling somewhere deep in my chest.

“It’s about boundaries. Not walls. Not revenge. You get to decide who gets access to you and to her. Not because you’re trying to punish anyone, but because you’re finally choosing you.”

I looked at her, fully looked, and for once, I didn’t feel ashamed of the crack in my voice. “S-so what do I do?”

“You drive away. You keep showing up for her. You keep being you, and you let the rest stay exactly where it belongs—behind you.”

As I nodded, wrapping Cora tighter in my arms and reaching for Poppy’s hand, I knew that was my happy ending.

Not the approval I’d chased.

This.

42

Poppy

The ride back to Lindley was quiet. Neither of us said much, and Cora slept most of the way, her head tilted to the side, soft snores filling the silence.