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“Okay, just take a breath. Let’s not panic, al’right?”
Needing to grab hold of thecalmshe heard in her aunt’s voice, Nora peeked out from over her fingertips and sought out Darlene’s steady gaze.
“He’s in town, and we know that much. He knows where you work, and that’s all. Whether or not you decide to introduce him to Evie is entirely up to you—but you don’t have to make any decisions right now. Sleep on it. Honestly, I have no doubt you’ll make the right decision. Parenting is not easy, and I know it. You make hard choices every day. But even before that little girl of yours came into this world, you’ve always put her first. Whatever you decide, I know it’ll be what’s best for Evelyn, and that’s the end of it.”
Nora-Jean didn’t have a chance to respond before the side door was slid open and Evie came catapulting into the room.
“Mommy!” she cried, headed straight for her.
Nora sat up straight and opened her arms for the hug she knew her daughter was after. Her energy and love were almost tangible, and the warmth of her innocence could be felt. Nora knew she would do anything to protect that innocence for as long as she possibly could.
“What’s wrong? Why are you sad, mommy?” Evie tilted her head inquisitively as she reached for her mother’s face.
The vision of her little one had grown blurry with fresh tears. She tried her best to blink them away as she sniffled. “I’m okay, baby. I’m happy to see you.”
“Did you miss me a lot?”
Nora’s smile could not be helped.
“I did. Can I have a kiss?”
Still holding her mother’s face, Evie pressed her lips against Nora’s and then dropped her hands as she started prattling on about her afternoon and what she and Uncle Wayde had been up to out in the shed. When Nora chanced a glance in Wayde’s direction, she saw the concern which wrinkled his brow. Shetried to ease his worry with a smile before she returned her attention to Evie.
“Oh, and mommy?”
“Yes, mini-me?”
“Can we have spaghetti and meatballs for dinner?”
She didn’t even have to think twice about it. That night, Evelyn Belle could have the moon if she wanted.
“Yes.” A few loose strands of hair had escaped Evie’s pigtails, and Nora swept them behind her daughter’s ears before pressing a kiss against her forehead. Reluctantly, she freed Evie from her arms and instructed, “Go say goodbye to your aunt and uncle. It’s time for us to go home.”
He watched her leave, feeling more regret than he had in a while. He wanted to get to her first. He wanted to be there to absorb the shock. Instead, Nash had taken them both by surprise.
Lawson understood better than anyone that Evelyn was not his responsibility. They barely knew one another—for which he knew he was to blame. But all that was beside the point. It was time for him to stop making excuses. Finally, he was ready to own up to what belonged to him and to protect it—protecther. He hadn’t done that just now, but he would.
“Holy shit,” muttered Nash, as if in awe.
Lawson didn’t even glance in his direction before he turned toward his truck. He had the door open when Nash spoke once more. “You’re him.That’swhere I know you from.”
He didn’t speak, but Lawson did stop as he looked back at Nash from over his shoulder.
“She kept a picture of you in your dress blues in her songbook. You were her muse.” He chuckled coldly and went on to say, “She never wrote a single happy song while we were together. Not a single one.”
“Stay away from her,” Lawson warned. “Stay away from both of them.”
“She’s my kid, too. I’ve got rights,” he yelled as Lawson closed himself inside of his truck.
It sounded like a threat—but he’d heard Nora-Jean loud and clear. Evelyn would meet Nash over Nora’s dead body. Seeing asLawson couldn’t let that happen, he backed out of his parking space and pointed his truck in the direction of someone who knew the law.
He was pulling into his brother’s driveway not fifteen minutes later. He was relieved not to see Mitzi’s car anywhere. Certain her absence was likely to be short lived, he didn’t waste any time before heading for Atticus’ front door. He knocked twice and then granted himself entrance. Lawson found his brother propped up on the couch.
“Hey. What’s up?” greeted Atticus, not the least bit bothered by the intrusion. He reached for the remote and turned down the volume on the television. At a glance, Lawson noted he was watching some show about classic cars.
“Assumin’ you’ve got a minute.”
Atticus quirked an eyebrow. “You heard the captain. I’ve got more than a few.”
