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“Darby, I see things a lot differently. Connie may have made him a father, but she didn’t give him a taste of fatherhood he wanted and deserved. He owned his part in that fuck-up, but his idea of fatherhood wasn’t shuffling his kids back and forth, biting his tongue every time he was forced to be around their mother, and navigating how to raise his kids in two completely different households. That wasn’t the way he planned his life.
“The day Pierce got out you were pregnant, the first time, he was out of his mind with happiness. You gave him that again when you married him and once again when he found out you were pregnant this time around. You are the one giving him the fatherhood he wants and deserves.”
“Our baby would have been fourteen this year.” The realization slices through me, and it fucking kills to watch her battle this. I tug her gently to me, careful of her stomach in between us.
“Talk to him. He’s hurting because he doesn’t know how to fix this.”
She shakes her head spastically against my chest. “I can’t tell him any of this. He’ll go berserk.”
“Let him go crazy, then let him help you through it. You’re giving him what he didn’t think was possible.”
She goes slack, taking a few deep breaths. “Thank you, Miller.”
“I know there are many people ahead of me you go to when you need something. But if you want to talk, I’m here.”
She nods, stepping back and wiping her eyes, which are now clear. “Can I give you some unsolicited advice?”
“Is that code for getting into my business?”
“Be patient with Ashlyn. There’s a reason she’s recreating her life here, and she’s not ready to talk about it yet. Coming from someone that took a gigantic leap and got a second chance in life, she needs someone on her side, through the good and bad.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
She smiles brightly. “I didn’t think so.”
“You good now?”
“I’m perfect.” She rubs her stomach lovingly. “And you just jumped to the top of the list of people I go to when I need something.”
“Shit, guess I had that coming,” I moan playfully before opening her door and helping her inside.
As she drives away, the hair on the back of my neck prickles, and I turn back to the house to find Ashlyn watching through the front window. Her eyes are shining and her smile beaming.
In this moment, something strikes hard, hitting me square in the chest. Looking at the gorgeous woman in the window, I finally understand exactly why Pierce is the way he is.
Chapter 12
Ashlyn
“You sure you don’t think it was burnout?” Dad asks worriedly.
“No, not textbook definition burnout. I think it was a case of waking up and realizing I didn’t like the person I was. It became clear I wasn’t living the life I envisioned. The money was fantastic, but somewhere along the way I lost myself.”
The table is quiet, too quiet. My family eyes me skeptically, taking in the information. I made the decision that tonight was the night I explain, in my own way, what prompted the changes in my life. Their months of questions and worry deserved answers. It was a practiced and generic explanation. They didn’t need to know the dirty details, because those details no longer mattered.
Miller grips my shoulder supportively, then twirls his fingers in my hair and tugs. I glance at him and smile, feeling completely at ease with his closeness. A little shiver runs through me when he winks, his blue eyes glittery. He’s encouraging me without words to keep going.
“And there’s something else. Mom and I went to the bank today.” I tell them about Evin, my investments, and all the things that go along with it. I repeat the story I told Evin and Miller without all the explicit slurs and threats.
When I’m done, I take a large gulp of my wine and wait. It doesn’t take long for the anger to build.
“I don’t like this,” comes out harshly from Andrew.
“Looks like we should head to Chicago.” Austin drains his beer. “You in?” He eyes Miller.
“No!” I jump in, slinging my finger between my brothers. “It’s handled. You don’t need to fight this battle.”
“Ashlyn, these jokers are messing with your money.”
“Not anymore.” I face Mom, and she’s sipping her wine with a triumphant grin. “I should say, we handled it.”
“You didn’t tell anyone you were moving here? That doesn’t make sense. We visited you in Chicago, you had friends.” Andrew and Austin exchange another look.
“Looking back, I was a bit of a loner. I had peers, coworkers, and associates; it’s not the same thing. When I made my decision, there wasn’t one person I wanted to keep in contact with.”
“I knew it,” Dad pipes in, looking pensive. “Your mom and I both sensed it. Especially when we met that slickster you hooked up with.”
