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“Val!” I shake my head and shoot Saint a smile.
“Sorry, I was lost in thought,” I mumble.
“All good, want something to eat, Crue cooked?” I frown, not used to anyone cooking for me. When my own mother cooked, it was microwave meals or nothing. I had to learn how to cook via YouTube videos.
“Uh, no that’s okay. I think we have imposed enough on you guys—”
“Eat the fucking food, Valance,” Beckett growls from beside me. Rather than arguing in front of everyone, I swallow my pride and smile my thanks as I take the plate full of food from him. When I spot the Turkey bacon it takes everything inside me not to moan. I place my plate on the table and turn back to grab Dawson, but Beck blocks my path. “Eat.”
Glaring up at him I say, “I need to feed him.”
“We got it, now eat. I won’t say it again.” We stand here in a stare-off for a few seconds but the moment he inches forward, I break it and quickly claim my seat next to Cody. Katie, and Leah sit on the opposite side, and each of them smiles. I try to return it but fail from the look of hurt that crosses Leah’s face. I take a deep breath and decide to try to mend the strain between us.
“Leah?” She slowly lifts her gaze to mine, and with the most epic timing, Crue, Saint, Darius, Nathan and Corvin all claim the vacant seats around the table. Beckett is the last to claim the empty seat on my other side. I look over to watch as he maneuvers Dawson on his lap so he can dig into the stack of pancakes Corvin places in front of them. It’s such a normal thing to see for most people but the sight of my son sitting on his father’s lap has a lump forming in my throat.
“Val?” I look back to Leah and cringe.
“Sorry, I got… distracted.” She smiles knowingly, before she can comment on what distracted me I push on. “I owe you an apology—”
“No, no, you really—”
I raise my hand, cutting her off. She clamps her mouth closed and drops her gaze to the table. Darius growls and shoots me a warning look but I refuse to cower. “Leah.” I wait for her to look at me before continuing. “I treated you unfairly. I expected you to… help me when I shouldn’t have. I am sorry for trying to put you in a position where you had to make an unfair choice.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “That day… was really hard.” I close my eyes and take a breath, gathering the strength to explain why I lost it the way I did. “My greatest fear is losing… my son. That day I thought my fear was coming true. I had no right to project my anger onto you and I hope you will be able to forgive me.”
Her eyes well with tears as a grateful smile spreads across her face. “Of course I can. I’m so sorry for any part I played in that, Val. You have to know there is no way we would have ever let Dawson be taken from you.”
Taking a deep breath, I share a secret I have never told anyone. “I appreciate that, but nearly losing him before—”
“The fuck do you mean you nearly lost him?” Beck shouts from beside me and I flinch at the harsh tone of his voice. I swivel around to face him. Dawson doesn’t seem to notice the tension between me and his father, which I am grateful for.
“Beckett, I was sixteen when he was born. I had no job, no home, nowhere to go and I sure as hell didn’t have any money to care for a child.” The growls and sharp intake of air from around the table has shame coloring my cheeks, but I push on. “I was living out of a shelter. I had to rely on donations and the help of others to help me until… Until I met Katelyn.”
“Who the hell is that?” he demands.
“Katelyn is the reason Dawson and I are here right now. When the shelter called child services on me, they threatened to take him from me but Katelyn swooped in and told them that I live with her. She worked at the shelter we were staying at. She gave us a home and helped me get on my feet, get my GED and she was the one who pushed for me to apply to CHU.” A frown mars his face. I can see a war of emotions in his eyes. I didn’t tell him this for him to pity me, I told him so he could understand how fucking hard things were for me.
“Where is this woman now?” Nathan asks. I turn to him and smile sadly.
“She passed away four days after I moved here, she had been battling breast cancer for years.” Tears fill my eyes. “She was the strongest woman I have ever met. I had no idea she was sick when I moved in with her. I didn’t even find out until after she passed.” I swipe the tears from my face and drop my chin to my chest. Silence encompasses the room and I feel shitty for dampening everyone’s mood with my sad story, that was never my intention.
“She sounds like an incredible woman.” I dart my gaze to Katie, her own eyes are filled with tears. She raises her glass of juice and says, “To Katelyn.” I look around the table at the others as they all raise their glasses and follow after Katie, tears of gratitude trailing down my cheeks.
“You will never worry about money.” I turn back to Beckett. He stares down at Dawson’s plate like it is the most interesting thing in the world.
“What?” I ask hesitantly.
“You will never have to worry about money, you’ll never sleep in another shelter and no one will ever take him from you. I’ll make sure youbothhave everything.” I shake my head.
“No.” He cuts his gaze to mine. “I’m not your charity case, Beckett. If you want to buy things for Dawson, then that’s perfectly fine but you don’t need to spend money on me.” He scoffs acting like what I just said is the most absurd thing he has ever heard.
“Money isn’t a factor or worry for me. Take the fucking money, Valance.” My nostrils flare as embarrassment and anger churn inside me.
“I don’t want your damn money! I got here without you—”
“Look how well that’s working out for you!” he screams right in my face, and Dawson begins to cry in fright. I reach for him but Beck bats my hand away. I don’t know what the hell comes over me. I’d like to say it’s a temporary moment of insanity but I also don’t want to lie. The sound of a slap rings out around the room, my mouth drops open as I see the red handprint begin to bloom on Beck’s face. His angry eyes bore into mine, I gulp loudly.
“Beck!” Corvin warns, but he’s not listening, he’s too focused on me.
“Leah, come get Dawson.” Beck’s tone is calm and that scares the fuck out of me. Leah does as he asks and grabs my wailing son from his father. Dawson cries out for me but I’m too scared to move a muscle, feeling like a gazelle who has caught a hungry lion’s attention. “Everyone get the fuck out!” I turn to look at Corvin but Beck strikes out and grips my chin in his punishing hold before I have a chance. “You don’t fucking look to them.” I feel the others all staring but no one says a single word as they follow Beck’s order. The moment they all clear out, he grips my throat. Using his hold to lift me to my feet, next thing I know we’re gliding across the room until my back smacks against the wall.
