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“What was that? I swear I misheard you.”
“You didn’t mishear a word.” I harden my gaze. Inhale deeply and dig for the courage and strength Shelly has given me over time. Straighten my spine and square my shoulders as I speak with a firmer voice. “Youare not a grandparent. My child is not some trophy you can parade around to get attention.” I crack my neck left then right and roll my shoulders. “And I am not your son. Not anymore. You lost that privilege.”
Loud laughter rips from her lips as she tips her head back. The sound and her action remind me of every on-screen villain. Heartless and maniacal. It sends a shiver down my spine and makes me nauseous. But I refuse to give in to her. Refuse to back down. Refuse to let this vicious woman squash me with her thumb. Never again.
“You can’t just getridof your parents, Devlyn. It doesn’t work that way.”
I smirk. “Parent,” I correct. “Just you.”
Her lip curls as her eyes narrow. “This is your father. Feeding you bullshit stories and pegging you against me.”
“No,” I shout. Her eyes widen, but I don’t care. I am sick and tired of this woman trying to use and abuse me for her own benefit. Sick. And. Tired. “You need to leave. Now.” She opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. “Do not return. Ever. Stay away from me and Shelly and our family. Do not look for or follow us. No calls or texts or letters. Nothing. Not one single thing.” I take a breath. “I will not be your punching bag. I will not be your scapegoat.” I point a finger toward her. “And if I ever see you again or if you do anything to bother us, I will file a restraining order. I will take legal action.” Taking a step toward her, I extend my finger farther. “Now get the hell off my property before I call the police.”
Anger flames her cheeks and burns hot in her eyes. But I don’t give a damn. I am done. More than done. And I will not subject my daughter to this woman. Not for a single second.
She storms down the walkway and gets in her car. A minute later, she drives away and I breathe deeply for the first time in minutes.
Please let this be the end of her. Please.
I walk inside and see Shelly lingering at the edge of the hallway. No doubt she heard everything. Which is good because I don’t really want to repeat any of it.
In three strides, she closes the space between us, wraps me in her arms and hugs me with her fierce love.
It is in this moment that I feel a shift. Like the closing of a long and horrible chapter. Like the start of a new chapter—perhaps a new story.
The story of Shelly and Devlyn. The story of our life. The story where we both learned how to love.
THIRTY-THREE
SHELLY
Life has been peaceful.More peaceful than I imagined it could be.
Baby Desirée has been sleeping through the night more often than not. According to Mom, this is a miracle at ten weeks. Unsure if she was pulling my leg, I thumbed through several of the baby books and scoured the web. In black and white, each source verified her truth. Supposedly, most babies don’t sleep through the night for several months.
Devlyn also appears to be sleeping better. Since the blowup with his mother, a new version of calm has washed over him. An incomparable tranquility he has needed for years. Before the verbal altercation with his mother, Devlyn had been pretty chill. Mostly. I’d only seen him upset or angry a few times—two of those three occasions involved his mother.
Now, Devlyn is the ultimate definition of relaxed. Zen master extraordinaire.
“Who’s my little princess?” Devlyn says sweetly to Desirée as she drinks from the bottle in his hand. Swaddled in the crook of his arm, he rocks her side to side. His eyes on hers as she stares up at him and curls her little fingers in his shirt.
Each time he speaks to her, a small smile tips up the corners of her mouth and she makes a bubbly sound around the nipple. Ovary. Explosion.
When she finishes the last of the bottle, Devlyn sets it on the table before lifting her to his shoulder and gently patting her back. It isn’t long before a ferocious belch echoes through the living room.
“Good push, princess.” Devlyn sets Desirée in her bassinet before twisting to face me. “Want to finish shopping today?”
Last year, Christmas was a bust. Leading up to the holiday, things had been weird between me and Devlyn after our first kiss at the end of November. And until things started to mend, my mood had been sour. Christmas didn’t feel merry or bright.
But this year… bring on all the holiday cheer.
For the first time in my adult life, I get toreallydecorate. Not just a measly little tree in the house with a few candles and decorative pieces. I get to pull out all the stops and decorate without limits. And Devlyn gets his first dose of Festive Shelly.
I close my eyes and picture all the merriment.
Outside lights strung along the roofline, around the windows, and on the trees. A blow-up tree for the front yard and an artificial tree for the back patio. Reindeer figurines for the lawn. I wanted the animated deer, but Devlyn mentioned the likelihood of them breaking easier. So I found a beautiful set of lifelike deer figures.
Today, since Devlyn offered, I’d like to get more holiday items for inside the house. Last time we browsed Target, I spied a whole section of holiday decor that called my name. Soft colors with a vintage feel. Classic.
