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“Not with Chelsea. I trust her,” Redmond said immediately.
Was that the first time he’d admitted it to himself?
Aiden nodded slowly. “Emily seems to really like her. She seems like she’s a good woman, but she won’t take your shit, Donovan. That’s for sure.”
If Aiden knew how much he’d put her through and she’d tolerated, he’d fall back in surprise, but Redmond didn’t mention it.
“Get home to Emily. I’m sure she misses you.”
Aiden snorted and pushed himself away from his car. “She’s been so concentrated on the book she’s writing, she probably didn’t even notice when I left for work yesterday.”
They exchanged goodbyes as Redmond walked the rest of the way to his car, Aiden’s warnings ringing in his mind. But unlike before, he was no longer concerned. HetrustedChelsea. With everything he was and had in his life, he knew he could trust the woman to stay at his side as long as he needed her.
He took his time making the drive to Courtney’s house to pick up Kaitlyn for his weekend with her. He felt lighter as he considered his daughter and Chelsea, hanging out together as he slept after his long shift. If he hadn’t been certain about her before, after seeing her with Kaitlyn, he knew she was the one for him.
He didn’t need to leave his car as he pulled in front of Courtney’s home, and she walked Kaitlyn outside, bundled in a light summertime jacket. Kaitlyn ran ahead of Courtney, and Redmond saw the way Courtney scowled, stopped, and shouted after their daughter. Kaitlyn turned and made her way back to her mother sheepishly, grabbing her hand and matching Courtney’s even pace.
When Courtney finally reached the car and sat the booster seat in the back, Kaitlyn hopped in excitedly, buckling her seat belt.
Courtney walked toward his open window, tucking her purse under her arm. “She’s already eaten dinner, and she’s about ready for bed.” Courtney glanced at the back seat before looking at Redmond again. “Red, you look good.”
He raised his brows, but he knew what she meant. He felt good. “Thanks.”
“No, you don’t understand. You lookreallygood. You’ve gained some weight. You’re looser. You smiled at Kaitlyn when she was walking up to your car. Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.” Courtney appeared more sincere than she ever had when telling him that he looked better.
He nodded, but she continued.
“I want to make sure you know that I don’t want to take her away from you,” Courtney explained, leaning further into his car. “Seeing you like this gives me so much relief, Red. It really does. I’m excited to get back to our dual-custody arrangement again.”
Redmond, despite all the progress he’d made in the past month, recalled the phone call he had with Dale Hartfield. Then the shooting. He cringed, but he took a deep breath and allowed his shoulders to relax once again. The police knew his name and face. They’d find him before long, and it would finally be over. That was the last wildcard in his life, and hewouldn’tallow it to bring him down again.
“I understood why you wanted me away from her,” he whispered, turning the music up just loud enough that Kaitlyn couldn’t hear their hushed conversation from the back seat. “I wasn’t… stable.”
“But you are now,” Courtney affirmed. “I can see it.”
He shrugged. “Maybe not all the way, but better than I’ve been for a long time.”
Courtney’s smile held a note of accomplishment as she backed away from the car and nodded a farewell to Redmond. She then directed her attention to Kaitlyn through the back window. “Be safe, sweet girl. I love you.” She kissed her hand and made a gesture to throw the kiss at Kaitlyn.
His daughter caught the kiss and stored it in her heart.
15
Chelsea walked into Redmond’s quiet house and paused, unsure of why it felt different than usual. She’d had a long day at work—so long, in fact, that she’d been forced to put her cursed boot back on her ankle to stay upright for the day. Jessie had taken a few vacation days, and Chelsea couldn’t fathom what she’d do when the girl graduated from college and left her for good.
Chelsea had forgotten how draining her job was without an assistant. Walking back and forth between Jessie’s desk and her own had been exhausting without adding in the three appointments that had been scheduled within walking distance of her office. The first two walks had been so grueling that she changed the meeting location of the third to her office.
Chelsea was drained, but she still felt the change in the air of Redmond’s home.
“Redmond,” she shouted as she paused in the foyer to remove her shoes and her walking boot. Placing her foot back on the floor felt uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as shifting her entire body to pick up the weight of her leg.
“In the kitchen,” he replied, his voice just loud enough to reach her ears.
She made her way to the kitchen, ready to eat and go to sleep. But when she caught sight of what sat before her, she gaped. The countertop was full of small hors d’oeuvres, from bacon wrapped-green beans to small pastries and bowls of dips. Small buffet-style meals had always been her favorite, but Chelsea didn’t have enough skill to cook one thing, let alone a dozen of them.
Kaitlyn sprung up from behind the counter, and Chelsea took a step back in shock. “Surprise,” she shouted.
Redmond brought himself to his feet next, holding a bouquet of flowers and wearing a plaid dress shirt and khaki jeans. He looked more put together than Chelsea had ever seen him, and the smile that lit his face—broad and unrestrained by the weight of grief—pulled at her heart.
