AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I flop back onto the coach and stare out the window, watching Dylan and Katie play catch in the yard. “I hate what he did. But I kind of get it. And I miss—”
A strange car pulls up in the driveway, making me lose my train of thought. An older man in a business suit and polished black shoes gets out, his eyes flashing straight to Katie. My heart lodges in my throat as I rush outside, midconversation.
“Miss Kelly?” the man asks, as he moves toward me. I nervously nod while Dylan eyes us both curiously. He must see something written on my face because he takes Katie into the house without a word.
“Can I help you?” I ask, taking small steps toward him, not really sure I want to get too close. The door opens again behind me, and I feel a presence on the porch instantly calming me. I should have known Dylan wouldn’t leave me out here alone.
“Miss Kelly, I’m here to request your presence at a family court hearing to discuss the parental rights for Katie Kelly, on…”
He keeps talking, but nothing enters my consciousness as my world stops, and I struggle to take in air. Greg wasn’t supposed to do this. Wes left me. Wes did as he asked.How is this happening?
I fall to a heap on the grass and feel Dylan’s arms immediately around me. He holds on tight as I completely fall to pieces. And while I love him for it, I wish it was Wes. I want Wes here comforting me, helping me through.
“Lucy, you need to listen.” Dylan shakes me a few times but I ignore him, trying to brush him off. I feel the first tear fall just as a car door slams shut andhisvoice enters my mind.
“Lucy? What happened?”
I feel a loss of warmth as Dylan moves away, muttering as he goes. “If you ever hurt her again, Johnson—”
“I won’t.”
I don’t even care that he broke my heart; when Wes kneels in front of me, I throw myself into his arms.
“It didn’t work, Wes. He’s taking her. It didn’t work.”
Wes leans back and frames my face in his hands, his eyes boring into mine.
“No, Lucy. It’s over.”
“What?”
“It’s over. You need to go to court because Greg’s relinquishing his rights as a parent. He’ll be out of your life, Luce. It’s over.”
I collapse into his chest and burst into tears, soaking his crisp white shirt as he presses kisses to my hair. He holds me while I cry, never once asking me to calm down or stop, something Greg would have done in a heartbeat.Greg… is this real? Is it really possible?
Shaking myself off, I pull away and wipe the tears from my face. “How?” I rasp, looking between Wes and the uncomfortable lookingman behind him.
“It doesn’t matter right now,” Wes answers. “What matters is that Katie’s going to be okay.You’regoing to be okay, and you’ll never have to worry about Greg again.”
I shake my head frantically. “No, it can’t be that easy. I don’t believe you.”
Wes touches his forehead to mine as his hands cup my neck. “I know I fucked up, but if you only ever trust meonce, let it benow.”
I nod against his head as fresh tears fall, and he gently rocks me back and forth, quietly humming “Truly Madly Deeply,” by Savage Garden as he does. A memory of him humming once before enters my mind, and my insides warm at how right this feels. I’m ready to stay like this for hours until a throat clears and a voice interrupts me.
“Ma’am, I just need you to sign—”
“One minute,” Wes says, cutting him off. “Take your time, Lucy. There’s no rush.”
I feel bad for the poor man and jump up right away, prepared to do what I need to do, thanking God that the hearing is set for only a few weeks from now. I don’t think I could cope if this dragged out.
As soon as he’s gone, everything finally sinks in, a frown forming as I turn to Wes. “I appreciate you being here when I needed you just now, but what about the last few days? You’re right; you fucked up and you’ve just used up yourone moment of trust. How can I be sure you won’t run again if times get tough?”
Wes takes a step toward me and reaches out, linking our fingers. “Lucy, I’m not going to lie. I’d do it all again if the result was the same. All I ever wanted was for you to feel safe, for you to never have to worry about Katie. But I know I hurt you, and I’m going to work my ass off to prove to you that I’ll never let you go again. Properly this time.”
My brows furrow in confusion and Wes laughs.
“Be prepared for superior groveling. I’ve learned a thing or two since last time.”
