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“I know, Claire,” she says, cutting me off. “I know you’ll love him for both of us.”
My heart breaks. “So, you haven’t changed your mind about being in his life?”
She shakes her head, catching a tear with the back of her hand. “From afar. I don’t want to catch feelings for him when he isn’t mine. He’s yours.”
Tears start to fall down my cheeks. “I will always be here for you.”
She waves me off, a small laugh coming from her. “I know, Claire. Stop looking at me like I’m mental. I promise, I’m good. I also promise I’ll go to counseling. I swear to you, though—I want this. I want this for him, and for you and Jude.”
“Tristan?”
We both look to the door where a large guy is standing. He’s unsure of himself, but he locks eyes with Tristan. He’s tall, with olive skin, dark eyes, and thick black hair. My stomach drops as I stand, feeling the anxiety coming from Tristan.
“Ricky,” she gasps, sitting up and pulling the blanket over her body. “What are you doing here?”
He hooks his thumb behind him, and such rage fills me. This asshole put his hands on the angel who gave me my son. “I had to sign the papers. But before I did, I wanted to talk to you.”
My first instinct is to cuss him out, even yell and kick him out of the room, but Tristan’s hand stops me. “There is nothing to discuss. My lawyer spoke with you.”
“I know,” he says, and then he pauses. “Can I come in?”
No is what I’m thinking.
“No, you’re fine where you are,” she says, and I’m proud of this girl.
No, not girl—this badass woman.
“Okay,” he says softly, more unsure of himself. “What is it?”
“A boy,” she says quickly. He looks at me, but then he looks away very quickly since I’m glaring at him like he’s dog shit. “This is his mom.”
He looks down at the floor. “So, you don’t want to keep him?”
“No. He deserves parents who want him. Who can love and support him. We can’t do that, nor do I want to be attached to you.”
Ricky glances back at me. “Can I see him?”
“He’s in the nursery,” I say curtly. “My husband is there, and he doesn’t like you.
”
“Why do you want to see him? He isn’t yours,” she snaps. “Just go sign the damn papers and leave him alone. Let him have a good life.”
He shakes his head before looking back at her. “I’m sorry, Tris. For everything.”
She takes in a deep breath, and her eyes start to fill with tears. “If you’re sorry, go sign the papers and leave all of us alone.”
Without another word, he turns and leaves the room. Once he’s gone, I wrap my arms around Tristan as she does the same to me. She sobs into my chest as I hold her, brushing her hair back as I wish her tears away. I hate him for what he did to her, but if he hadn’t been in her life, Harrison wouldn’t be here. “You are so strong.”
“I will never allow myself to be hurt by a man again. I have to be strong.”
“You are.”
She smiles as we part. “I learned it from you.”
My heart shatters in my chest as I gaze into her eyes. “I love you, Tristan, so much. Thank you for this. You are the angel in our life.”
She squeezes me. “No, Claire. You and Jude have been the angels in mine,” she says, pulling back. “Seriously, my life would be a mess without you two.”
