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While Nora bathed Evelyn, Lawson took a shower himself. He intended to make it a short one, but the hot water beating down against his neck and back felt too good—each drop washing away the tension he carried there all night. It was Nora, stepping into the shower behind him, that pulled him from his water laden daze.
She kissed him between his shoulders, resting her hands on his hips as she murmured, “My turn.”
He nodded, then turned to switch places with her.
“I put Evie in our bed. I hope you don’t mind.”
Lawson hesitated as he stared down at his woman. Then he reached up and took hold of either side of her face. “Longest fuckin’ day of my life.”
Her eyes flooded with tears as she nodded in agreement.
“Of course, I don’t mind.”
“’Kay,” she murmured, clearly too emotionally and physically exhausted to say more.
He leaned down to press his lips against hers, then stepped out of the water. He dried himself off, wrapping his towel about his waist before reentering the bedroom. He grabbed a pair of shorts from the dresser, then turned to step into the closet to don them—pausing when he saw Evelyn, already sound asleep in the middle of the bed.
He’d told his brother all he was worried about was Evelyn, and he’d meant it. But now that they were home, now that shewas safe, the thought of anyone taking her away from them again made him sick to his stomach. Ashlynn was still out there. Before she’d taken Evelyn, he thought her delusional but harmless. He’d been wrong—so very wrong. Now, so long as she was out there, he didn’t know how he was going to let Evelyn out of his sight.
Moretti didn’t know it yet, but Lawson had his next assignment, and it was his daughter.
With his mind made up, he continued toward the closet, where he discarded his towel and stepped into his shorts. He heard the shower shut off as he slipped between the sheets. His eyes were heavy, begging to be closed as he finally lay his head down on his pillow. He draped a protective arm around Evelyn but fought sleep as he waited on Nora to join them. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long.
With a heavy sigh, his songbird nestled herself beneath the covers, curling herself around Evelyn. Her tired eyes met his, the morning sun peeking through the blinds. He extended his reach over the sleeping child between them, placing his hand possessively on Nora-Jean’s upper thigh.
Their nightmare was over. Now, the only thing left to do was sleep.
He was startled awake. At first, he didn’t know why. The room was dark, a dreamless sleep having chased away the sun. He felt her warm breath as it blew across his chest before he realized Evelyn was sprawled out on top of him, still out like a light. He turned his head to check on Nora. She was on her side, holding onto one of Evelyn’s outstretched hands.
It was no surprise to see how necessary it was for both of them to be connected in order to feel safe. He wondered how many nights it would take, all three of them in one bed, before normal felt secure enough that it was a place they wished to return. With the weight of Evelyn’s sleeping form on his chest, he vowed to be her safe resting place as long as she needed it.
A knock at the door caught his attention, and Lawson realized what had pulled him from sleep. Regretfully, he settled Evelyn on the bed beside him and then got up to head for the door. He didn’t bother putting a shirt on, but he pulled his fingers through his hair as he made his way down the short hallway. He glimpsed the time on the microwave in the kitchen and noted it was after eight. It felt like he’d gone to bed only a couple hours ago.
Lawson opened the door and found Atticus on his doorstep, his fist raised to knock a third time. Squinting at the brightness of the lit hallway, he gave his brother a once over. “Have you slept?” he mumbled groggily.
“Caught a couple hours. On my way home now.”
Lawson nodded, but he still couldn’t piece together why his brother was there. “Listen, I owe you—for everything you did to help get us through yesterday and today, but—why are you here?”
Atticus chuckled, reaching up to squeeze the back of his neck as he glanced down at their feet. “I tried callin’ first. Couldn’t get through.”
“Oh. Phone died earlier. Must have forgot to plug it in.”
Atticus studied Lawson closely before he asked, “So, you haven’t heard.”
“Heard what?”
Atticus sighed, folding his arms across his chest. “There was an accident. Ashlynn is gone.”
Lawson frowned. “What? What do you mean she’s gone?”
“State Patrol caught her headin’ east toward North Carolina. Rather than pull over when they turned their lights on, she sped up. They chased her for a few miles, but she lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a guardrail. She was goin’ too fast, and the car flipped. She was gone before paramedics were on the scene.”
Lawson dipped his chin as he lifted a hand and covered his eyes. He swore under his breath and replayed everything his brother had said. Even on repeat, the words hit the same. Without looking up, he asked, “What does it say about me that I’m…relieved?”
Atticus reached out and clasped his hand around Lawson’s shoulder. “You wouldn’t be the first to say it. I thought the same thing. What if Evie had been in the car? I thank God she wasn’t.”
Lawson looked up then as he breathed, “Thank God.”
