AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I guess,” she sighs, making me laugh. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. How’s your anxiety and everything?”
“I’ve been stable, but I have my days. Are you back in Raleigh?”
“Not yet. I’m working on moving back, though. Are you seeing anyone?” I can’t help but ask. I’m anxious to know, especially since every day I get closer to moving back to Raleigh, the closer I get to being with Idaline if she still wants me at that point.
“No.”
My smile can’t be helped. “After I move back to Raleigh, I think that’ll be it, Idaline. And I have a good feeling it’ll be soon.”
“Raleigh is farther away,” she says quietly. “Why don’t you move here?”
Sawyer and his sweet face pop into my mind. “I can’t.” I don’t want to move away from my family and their help.
“We’re going to be in the same position, FC.”
“You could always move here, Idaline,” I point out.
“That’s true,” she admits. “You’d want me to?”
“Of course.” It sounds a bit crazy to talk about another relationship right now, but this is Idaline. I wouldn’t consider such a thing so soon with anyone but her. There’s an incoming call from my lawyer and my heart breaks a little. “Idaline, I’m sorry, but I have to go. We’ll talk soon, okay?”
“I’ll hold you to that. Bye, FC.”
“Bye.” I switch over to my lawyer. “Hey. How are you?”
“Forget pleasantries. FC, you won’t believe this.”
“What is it?” I don’t know whether to be concerned or excited for whatever he has to share.
“Lila is giving up her parental rights. Her mother came in with her this morning and had me do it. It’s all but done. You don’t even have to fight her for full custody. Sawyer’s yours.”
“You’re not kidding me, are you?” I ask. “Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know, but she did.”
While I feel a shit ton of relief, I’m skeptical. Lila has an ulterior motive. What that is, I don’t know yet. She wouldn’t give up her only link to me unless she has some other plan. I don’t think for one second she’s through with me. Lila didn’t get her way and she must be good and pissed about that. A bud of anxiety plants itself in the back of my mind because she’ll show up in my life at some point and it won’t be pretty.
But my lawyer wasn’t lying and I’m soon able to move to Raleigh. At first, I live with my parents until I can get my feet underneath me, finding a job and an apartment. Sawyer is six months old when I feel settled. I work. My family helps watch Sawyer while I work. And all my free time is spent with my son, watching him grow and learn.
I wake up on June first and my soul tells me it’s the day. A piece of paper and pen call to me. I write down my name, not FC, but what FC stands for. With a smile, I mail it to Idaline. I once told her this is how she’d know I was ready and it seems like exactly what I should do. Not to mention, it puts the ball in her court. I haven’t heard from her in about a month, so I’m not sure what’s going on with her, but I hope she’ll be happy to discover my name and that my life is finally in order.
I pick Sawyer up from his crib and rock him gently in my arms. “It’s you and me against the world, son. But maybe Idaline will be with us soon.”
I can only hope.
If you are in a domestic violence situation and would like to reach out for help,
consider family, friends, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
You can also call them at 1-800-799-7233.
Be sure to find out how FC and Idaline’s story ends in,
Light in the Dark.
