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“That’s fair,” Chase says, his face grim.“I will tell you now that he’s going back to prison on the original charges, but now we’ve added kidnapping, trespassing, assault on an officer, and a whole host of other things.He’s going away for a very long time.”
“Good.That’s good.”
“There was a bad guy?”Holly asks with a tremble in her little voice, and I close my eyes.I wish with everything in me that these two babies wouldn’t have to see me like this or hear this story.I love them both so much.
“There was a bad guy, but your uncle Chase got him, and he can’t hurt me or anyone else ever again.Isn’t that awesome?”
She frowns and crawls up in my lap, snuggling against me.“I’m sorry.”
“Me too, baby.”I kiss her brow and cuddle her and then smile when Johnny takes my free hand in his.These two little loves mean the world to me.
John and Brady are pacing the room, and Joy sits across from me, her face lined in worry as she watches me with the kids.
Finally, I hear a car pull up outside, and Remington walks over to open the door.
“Where is she?”Mom demands.“Erin?”
“Everyone’s in the living room,” I hear Remington reply.
“Oh, my baby,” Mom says and breaks into a fresh bout of tears.“My girl.”
“Mama.”She folds me and Holly both into her arms, and I break down into tears again.All the fear and emotions from the past several hours just bubble up and out, and I can’t control it.
When the tears finally slow down, I glance around and find everyone watching me, including both Holly and Johnny.
“Sorry.”I wipe at the tears, sucking in a breath when I rub my hurt eye too hard.“Ouch.Okay, Chase, get your recorder ready because I’m about to spill my guts.Wait, should the kids be here for this?”
“Hey, you two, let’s go out to the barn and see if we can talk Lucky into taking us all for a ride on the horses,” Millie says.
“I want to stay,” Johnny says, shaking his head and crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’ll talk to you and Holly later, and tell you the story,” I promise, running my hand over his hair.“I promise, I will.But for now, I have to tell the adults, and I think it’s best if you and Holly go have fun, okay?I love you, buddy.It’s going to be okay.”
Johnny firms his lower lip and looks like he’s going to be stubborn, but he glances over at his little sister and reluctantly nods.
“Okay.Come on, Holly.”
Holly hugs me tight, kisses my cheek, and then joins her brother and Millie.
When I hear the front door close, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, take another sip of water, and then nod.“Okay, so I was working with Millie…”
“It’s my birthday party day!”Holly announces as she runs into my bedroom and bounces on my bed, still in her Cinderella jammies.“My friends are coming, and we’re going to have a real castle!”
“Yes, I’m aware,” I reply with a laugh as she wraps her little arms around my neck and hugs me close, snuggled down in my bed.Over the past two weeks since the incident, as I’ve now come to think of it, the kids have become more and more comfortable coming to hang out with me in my room, especially in the morning.“I’m the one who ordered the castle.”
“When do your parents get here?”she asks.
“In a couple of hours.”Even though they were just here two weeks ago, they made it clear that they wouldn’t miss out on Holly’s party.“They’ll be here before the party starts.”
“Good.”She reaches up and pats my cheek.“Erin?”
“Yes, love.”
“When do you think it would be okay if I called you Mommy?”
My heart catches, and my throat wants to close up.Jesus, I want that more than I thought I ever would.I smile at her and brush her pretty hair off her cheek.
“Oh, sweet girl.You’re so precious to me.You know that, right?”
