AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 35
Remy
Remy kissed Lyra’s cheek before she pulled the covers above her shoulders. Glancing around her childhood room, the memories settled over her. She and Mikel had so many obstacles between them. Their history was cloaked in darkness, regret, and heartache. Was she making the right choice for her daughter? Was she delusional to entertain the idea of a second chance with the father of her child?
He hadn’t been the only one to make mistakes. She had knowingly hidden their child and kept Lyra a secret from him, and he hadn’t held it over her head. They needed to talk it all out. Tonight.
She crept out of the room, leaving the door cracked as she made her way to the dining table where her parents were enjoying a glass of wine together.
“That was fast,” her mother said.
“It was all that swimming at the beach today.” Her father laughed.
Remi nodded and took a seat.
“I’ll bring Lyra to your house tomorrow afternoon. What time will he be here?” Her mother’s kind eyes met hers as she asked.
“Eight fifteen.”
“You be careful, baby girl,” her father said, reaching out to pat her hand on the table.
“I will.” She swallowed the emotions that bubbled, her belly twisted with uncertainty. She just wanted to get this over with.
“Are you sure about this?” her mother asked, worry evident in her voice.
“I hurt him too, Mama. I kept his child from him. We have a lot of things to figure out now that he’s back,” she defended. Her parents gave each other a concerned look.
A knock at the door ended the conversation as her stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and unease. Remy stood and walked over to let him in.
Mikel towered over her wearing low-cut jeans and a black T-shirt that gripped his muscles like it was made for him. His hands rested in his pockets as he leaned in to kiss her cheek and whisper, “You look beautiful.”
His hot breath sent shivers down her spine. Good god. One inhale of his woodsy scent and she was a puddle.
He backed away, a nervous smile playing at his lips. “Can I say hello to your parents before we leave?”
Surprise stole her voice as she nodded and stepped back from the door to let him in.
He walked in and greeted her parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Stone, I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am that you took such great care of Remy and Lyra after I left. I know I disappointed you both. ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t seem like enough. Just know I’m gonna do everything in my power to make this right and keep my girls safe and cared for now that I’m back.”
Remy’s eyes stung with tears as her chest tightened. The old Mikel wouldn’t have faced her parents and admitted his failures. The way he’d said my girls made her heart leap into her throat. She was the farthest thing from being safe with Mikel Evans. Because this man still owned every part of her, body and soul.
Her mother stood and walked over to him, her father following suit. Tilda gave him a tight hug as a tear fell down each of her brown cheeks.
“You know you always have had a special place in our hearts, Mikel. When you left, it was like losing a son. We just want you to be healthy and happy.” She squeezed him tighter before releasing him.
Her father offered to shake Mikel’s hand as he spoke. “Glad to see you’re back and doing better. Lyra’s a special little lady, and she deserves the world. They both do.”
“Yes, sir,” Mikel agreed.
Her father continued, “But if you ever put Remy or Lyra in danger again, if you hurt them …” Both men seemed to be having a silent conversation with their eyes.
“I’d deserve whatever you intended,” Mikel stated simply.
Her father nodded before he released Mikel’s hand.
“Well, you two kids have fun. Be safe,” her mother said.
Remy turned towards the door with Mikel right behind her. They walked to a black truck she didn’t recognize in silence. The humid night air was as heavy as the anticipation that wound between them. Flashes of fireflies blinked as the rise and fall of the melody of summer bugs became background noise. He started the truck.
