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He scratches the side of his nose. “I was ashamed.”
“You were put in a position no child should ever be in.”
His lips brush against my forehead. “That’s never an excuse for bad behavior. I met dozens of other kids who were in foster care too. I doubt like hell any of them did the shit I did. I broke into Abdons trying to find something to pawn for money to run away.”
“To run away from your foster home?”
He glances toward the closed door of Lloyd’s room. “My grandma lived in Philadelphia. I thought if I could get to her, she’d want to take me in.”
My heart aches for the boy he used to be. I can’t imagine feeling that alone. When I was growing up, I’d wish for moments alone, but I rarely got them. I’m grateful for that now. I didn’t know how incredibly lucky I was to be surrounded by so much love.
“After I was arrested, Lloyd dropped the charges, but I had a sit-down with Peggy before I was released.”
“Peggy? Judge Mycella? The judge who married us?”
“Yes.” He smiles. “She worked in family court back then. She was the one who told me my grandmother wanted nothing to do with me.”
“I’m sorry, Graham.” I step closer to him. “I’m so sorry.”
He drops his gaze. “Lloyd and Sela turned my life around. I was fifteen when we met. I don’t know where I’d be today if it weren’t for them.”
“Lloyd is a good man,” I reiterate.
Graham glances at me. “He’s the best man I’ve ever known.”
“You’re like a son to him.”
He shoves a hand through his hair. “I found out tonight that Lloyd had a son who died.”
My gaze searches his face. “What?”
“The doctor let it slip.” He locks eyes with me. “He said that Lloyd has been going to a memorial park in New Jersey to visit the spot where he scattered the ashes of his wife and his son.”
“I didn’t know,” I whisper.
“Neither did I.”
“He needs us, Graham.” I take both his hands in mine. “He needs us to help him. We are his family.”
“We are,” he agrees. “Thank you for agreeing to marry me, Trina Shaw. You’ve brought so much to my life and Lloyd’s life.”
“Trina Locke,” I correct him. “First thing tomorrow morning, I’m going to start the process to change my name to Trina Locke legally.”
I glance down when my phone vibrates in my hand. The nurse warned me to turn it off, but I wanted to keep it on if Aurora or Eldon needed me.
Graham and I just watched Lloyd being taken to the operating room. He agreed to the procedure and to whatever else he needs to do to get better.
Now, it’s a waiting game.
Dr. Morgan assured us the procedure wouldn’t take long and that he’d have Lloyd back in his room once he spent some time in recovery.
“Is everything all right?” Graham asks from where he’s standing next to me.
“I brought my friend to the emergency department earlier.” I sigh. “She wasn’t feeling well.”
“You brought her into the ER here? Is she okay?”
“She found out tonight that she’s pregnant,” I tell him. “She’s being discharged. Her boyfriend is texting me to ask if I want to see her before they leave the hospital.”
Graham reaches for my hand. “Let’s go.”
“We should wait here for Lloyd.” I don’t move. “I think we need to be here in case Dr. Morgan has to talk to you.”
He shakes his head. “I think Lloyd’s procedure will go off without a hitch. Let’s go see your friend.”
I nod. “Can we do one thing first?”
“Anything.” He perks a brow. “Do you want to find a supply closet for a not-so-quickie?”
Tapping my left hand on his chest, I laugh. “I want that, but the nurse will ban us from the hospital forever.”
His gaze falls to my hand. “I think I know what you want.”
Before I can say it, he’s dropped to one knee in the middle of the corridor.
A collective gasp escapes the three nurses behind the desk.
“Trina, my beautiful wife. Please do me the honor of being my partner in life.” His hand dives into his pocket to retrieve both rings. “Stay married to me forever. Have children with me. Let me do whatever I can to help you live the life you are meant to live. Let me love you every second of every hour of every day until we leave this earth.”
Applause erupts before I can even say yes.
But I do.
I nod, yell out my answer, and cry as my husband slips my rings back on my finger before he dips me into a breathtaking kiss.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Graham
My wife has her rings back on her finger. My heart belongs to her. Lloyd is in surgery, and I’m on my way to meet Trina’s friends.
I don’t know how this night can get better, but it will.
