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“I love your piercing, that’s it. I’m using you for that.”
He chuckles as he sits down.
She takes my hand. “Are you okay? How do you feel about it?”
“Honestly, it was one of the happiest moments in my life when I first found out two months ago.”
“Two months? Interesting timing.”
I nod. “I was so happy thinking this wouldn’t be the struggle it was when I had you. I was thinking how different it was going to be this time around. I wouldn’t have a lot of the same worries. My relationship with the father, having aco-parent, the love between us. But then Beckett went off the deep end.”
“And that’s why you left?”
“He said some truly hurtful things to me. In retrospect, I don’t think he meant them, I know he didn’t, but they were said. It was a crazy year. I needed a minute alone to breathe. I needed to take a minute just for me.”
“Good for you. Fuck him. When will you see him? I guess now you have to.”
“He was waiting at my house when I got home.”
“Stalker.”
“Pretty much. He apologized. Said he’s working on some things. He wants to earn my trust back. I appreciate that he knew it wasn’t happening in a single moment. That’s progress for him. He said just about everything I needed to hear. I just don’t know if I can trust him with my heart again. To be honest, I’m a little afraid.”
She gives me a knowing look. “It’s always a risk. Sometimes the risk is worth the reward.”
I can’t help but smile at her echoing the words I said to her when she was struggling with trusting Collin with her heart.
“He’s coming to the ultrasound tomorrow.”
“Wow. I guess I knew you always wanted a bigger family.”
I smile. “I was certainly sad that I couldn’t have any more little Jades running around.”
Collin mumbles, “God help us all.”
She narrows her eyes at him before turning back to me. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. I can’t wait until our kids are in school together and get to fuck with everyone about their relationship.”
“I see you’re thinking big picture.”
She grins. “Totally.”
When I get home,I decide to pick up the phone and call the one person who truly understands both me and this situation.
She answers right away. “I’m so happy you’re home. I almost got on a plane today.”
My voice cracks. “Glinda, I’m so confused. He was here saying everything I needed to hear. But I’m afraid of getting hurt again. I couldn’t bear it.”
“I understand. He needs to earn back your trust. Make him work for it, but be open to it. Amanda, he does love you. Deeply. He’s just overcoming his own demons. His hurtful words were not about you. They’re about him and his internal struggles that he never dealt with until now.”
“I know you’re right, but I feel like it would be weak of me to just take him back right away. My heart wants him, but my head tells me that I need to protect myself.”
“Weak? That’s the last thing in the world you are. Let me tell you something, Amanda Tremaine. You have a strength I never had. I grew up poorer than poor, with absentee parents, praying every day for a better life. I latched on to the first stable man willing to take care of me. I pretended not to notice how incompatible we were. I looked the other way for years when I knew he wasn’t faithful to me. You, on the other hand, decided you’d take care of yourself without someone else doing it for you. What makes it more incredible is that you also had a daughter to care for. I admire you and your strength. You’re the strongest woman I know. And look how strong yourdaughter is. That’s not a coincidence. It’s because you’re her mother and paved the path.”
“Thanks, Glinda. That means a lot to me coming from you.”
“I was a dreamer like you. I still believe in fate. Fate brought you and Beckett together at that party. Fate brought you to his house that day I was there. Imagine how many things had to line up for those two events to happen. It’s because you’re meant to be together. I believe that with every ounce of my soul.”
I wipe my tears that are practically pouring from my eyes. “You’re making me cry.”
