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“Because I knew there was nothing you could do. You knew who Darren’s family were. You know his dad would have gotten him off of any charges. We were nobody’s, while his dad owned half the town. I couldn’t take the chance he’d come after Nina.”
“I’d have killed his scrawny little ass. Then we wouldn’t have had to worry about his dad getting him off of anything,” my dad fumes.
I look to him. I’ve never seen that look in my dad’s eyes before. He really looks like he wants to commit murder. And I have no doubt he would. Even now, years later, I know if given the chance, my dad would hunt Darren down and kill him. A look to Colt says he’d be right there beside them.
“And that would have left us without you,” I tell him softly. “I did what I thought was right at the time.”
By the clenching of his fists, my answer doesn’t satisfy him.
I get up from my seat and go to him. He yanks me into his big arms, and mine go around his waist.
“My baby was being abused,” his voice cracks. “And I never knew.”
“Dad,” I murmur, my heart splitting in two at the pain in his voice.
“For months that shit went on, and for years you’ve been forced to go through what you have alone.”
His arms tighten around me, but I push back, forcing him to release his grip.
“I’m so sorry, Daddy.”
“Don’t ever apologize, baby. What happened to you…” He stops and clears his throat. “We should have known something was wrong,” he finishes on a whisper.
“I didn’t want you to know.” I look down at the buttons on his shirt, not able to look into his eyes. “And I was so ashamed at what it did to me later. I knew in my heart that none of you would judge me, but in the beginning, I felt so dirty. I couldn’t take the chance that any of you would look at me—”
“Stop,” my dad barks out. I glance up at him and see his jaw hard. “You’re breaking my heart here.”
I look to my mom, then to Nina, then back to my dad.
“I wasn’t alone for long. I’ve made friends that have been there for me. We’re really close.” I look over to Colt and hold out my hand. I leave my dad’s arms and step into Colt’s, who encloses them around my waist. “And now I have Colt. He’s helped me a lot.” He leans down and lays a soft kiss against my lips.
“I never thought I could have a normal relationship because of my addiction.” I look down to my sister, and smile gently at her. “And with it, I never thought I could have a baby of my own.” I bring my eyes back up to Colt’s. “But I do now, because of Colt. He’s taught me so much, and has opened up my world to all the possibilities I never thought were possible.”
A quiet sob escapes my mom, and she gets up from the couch. She comes to me and wraps her arms around both me and Colt from the side.
“We could never, ever, look at you with anything but love, Abigail. There is nothing that could ever change that. You’re our baby girl.”
When she pulls back, I nod, finally knowing what she says is true. “I know that now, Mom.”
She turns her gaze to the tall man I love more than life itself.
“Thank you for bringing back my little girl,” she says quietly.
He nods, his face serious, until he looks down at me, where his lips break into a stunning smile.
Two days later, mine and Colt’s backyard is filled with our family and friends. This is the first time we’ve all been together, and I couldn’t be happier.
Originally, we were going to have my parents come for a visit and just be with us for the first time since we knew the atmosphere from my news wouldn’t be the best. We were going to have Colt’s family meet mine on the next visit. That didn’t last when Colt’s mom, along with Lizzy, stopped by unexpectedly yesterday. Everyone got off to a great start, and Colt’s and my mom started making plans for a barbeque for today. My mom insisted I invite my friends over as well.
Much to Colt’s ire, Tera was off with Lukas on some trip and couldn’t make it.
So, here we all are.
Ava squeals and gushes over Nina’s stomach when she feels the baby move. Ava is a strange person sometimes. She can be one of the hardest woman you’ll ever meet, but she also has a very sensitive side. Case in point, the soft expression she’s now carrying.
I look over to see my dad, my mom, and Tegan talking by the grill. My dad’s rumbling laugh and my mom’s lighter one can be heard across the yard at something Tegan said. I have no clue what they’re talking about, but I laugh with them anyway. We haven’t seen much of Tegan lately. He’s been off somewhere, doing whatever, but any time we ask him where he’s been he closes up, not revealing anything.
My gaze finds Colt and Nathan. Colt has Lizzy on his shoulders, and she’s playing with his hair. It’s strange watching the two men converse. In the beginning, I thought it was going to take them a while to get along, especially for Colt. I could tell when I told him that Nathan and I had been intimate it really bothered him. But for whatever reason, once Colt and I got back together, they’ve become really close. I think it may be because Colt knows Nathan was there for me during one of the most painful times of my life, and he feels grateful I wasn’t alone.
