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She sniffles through the line, and I wish I were there to hold her.
“Kels…”
“I love you, Pierce. I can’t wait to be your wife. Thank you.”
I release a sigh of relief at her words, thankful that in spite of her insecurities and fears, she trusts me and knows I’ve got her back.
“I love you, too, baby. Get some sleep and think about what I said. I have Jordan’s show-and-tell in the morning with Cinder. After, I’ll be by to pick you up from work, so we can grab our girl and start packing.”
“Emily said Cinderella was the best show-and-tell ever!” Jordan says, running around the yard with Cinder. After we got back to their place, Kelsie said she had to do some laundry and make dinner. About ten minutes in, Jordan had asked her mom fifteen questions, and Cinder was yapping nonstop in the cage. When I suggested Jordan and I take Cinder out back so they could both burn off some energy, Kelsie looked at me like I was her savior. I don’t know how single moms do all this shit on their own, but I’ll tell you one thing: Kelsie is Superwoman.
“That’s because she’s the best dog ever,” I agree, throwing the ball to Cinder, who bolts after it. “You excited to go to the Christmas festival tomorrow night?”
“Yep, I wrote my letter to Santa. Tilly said the Santa at the festival isn’t the real one, that he’s his helper, but that he’ll give him the letter. You think that’s true?”
Fuck. I don’t know how parenting works regarding lying about mythical creatures and beings. I think for a moment about how my parents used to respond to me when I’d ask questions like this. “What do you think?”
“Hmm…” She taps her chin thoughtfully, and I hide my grin since she’s being serious. “I think he might be Santa but maybe not. You think if he’s not, he’ll take my letter to him?”
“Yep. But just to be on the safe side, did you address it to him?”
“No! Do you know his address?”
“Of course. Why don’t we go grab your letter and I’ll help you?”
“Okay!”
I snag Cinder and clip her leash. We’re walking back inside when I hear raised voices, telling me Kelsie isn’t alone and whoever she’s talking to isn’t happy.
“Hey, Jordan, can you do me a favor? Go put Cinder in her cage in your room and wait in there for a few minutes, okay?”
She looks like she wants to ask questions, but the seriousness in my tone has her nodding in agreement.
Once I know she’s safe, I continue down the short hall to the living room, where I find Kelsie and two other people. They’re older, maybe late fifties. The woman’s face is pinched, and the gentleman seems annoyed and upset.
“You’ve always been selfish,” the woman says, not noticing me approaching. “If it weren’t for your selfishness, Trent would still be alive. Instead, he’s gone, and you’re moving on like he didn’t even exist. It should’ve been you—”
“That’s enough,” I bark, having enough of whoever this bitch is.
“Oh, you must be the fiancé,” the woman hisses. “Did she tell you she killed my son? That she’s the reason he’s dead? Huh? Do you even know the woman—”
“I said that’s enough.” I step over to Kelsie and pull her to my side. Her entire body is trembling and tears are streaming down her cheeks.
“It’s only been three years,” the woman wails.
“I’m very sorry for your loss.” I tighten my hold on Kelsie, and her body sags against me. “But you will not walk into this home, or anywhere Kelsie and Jordan are, and make her feel bad for Trent’s death. It was a tragic accident, but it wasn’t her fault, and if you’re going to spew that kind of shit around her, you won’t be coming around. From what Kelsie’s told me, Trent loved her and Jordan very much. I can’t speak for him, but I know if something happened to me, the last thing I’d want is for my parents to blame the woman I love for my death, to make her life a living hell.”
The woman sniffles, then rolls her shoulders back, as her nose rises toward the ceiling. “So, what? You’re going to replace my son and play daddy to Jordan?” Her nostrils flare, and she glares at Kelsie and me. Since she couldn’t get me on her side through her sob story, she’s going on the attack.
“No,” I tell her calmly. “I’m not here to replace Trent, and I’m not trying to be Jordan’s dad. Trent will always be Kelsie’s first love and Jordan’s dad. But he’s gone, and both girls deserve to be loved and cared for. And that’s what I’m going to do every day that they’ll allow me.
“And for the record…” I lean in slightly and lock eyes with the cold-hearted bitch, wondering how Kelsie lived with her for as long as she did. “Loving someone doesn’t mean controlling them. It means supporting and helping them spread their wings and fly.”
