Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Wes takes something from his inside jacket pocket. “She’s written a note. I think it’ll explain things better than I can.” He clears his throat, then reads. “I’m aware I’ve behaved in ways embarrassing and dishonorable for a woman who calls herself a mother. I don’t want to blame my behavior on anybody or anything, but the fact is, I’ve been running from demons my entire life. I’m sorry that I threatened to drag Emery through the courts. That would’ve been a wicked thing to do. I was jealous when I saw you happy, Gray, but then I realized something… you could only be happy with her. Not me. Callie is as special to you as Emery should be to me. But I have put myself first too often. When I return, I hope you will let me see Emery in whatever capacity you see fit. I hope Callie can offer Emery her love and care. I hope we can find a way for all of us to coexist.”
I blink, shocked at the tears pricking my eyes. I’m imagining my mom writing something like that. I feel for her immediately, intensely. “I don’t want to replace her,” I murmur. “She’ll always have a place with Emery. Won’t she, Gray?”
I turn to find him looking down at me, his eyes glistening.
“What?” I say.
“Just… you.” He leans down and kisses me briefly on the cheek. “For somebody who’s lived such a hard life, who’s been treated like crap when you never deserved it, you’re so forgiving.”
“Maybe I can only be forgiving because I was treated that way,” I murmur. “And this is all about Emery. It has to be.”
“Thank you,” Wes says, tucking the letter away. “Really, Callie. I was a jerk to you when we first met. I’ve been trying to ignore Sloane’s bullcrap for years. But what she pulled with that Jorge asshat, that was just unacceptable. We had one hell of an argument, but she’s seen sense. I just hope she can stick to the path. And if not, then at least Emery has a maternal figure who cares about her.”
Finally, the tears start sliding down my cheeks. I nod, my vision blurring, unable to believe how lucky I am. Deep down, there’s a voice whispering, But what if he controls you? What if…?
“Callie, Daddy, can we have some pizza?” Emery calls, running into the living room, overflowing with happiness, and I couldn’t hear that small self-doubting voice if I tried.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Callie
“We don’t want to get lost, Emery,” I say as she eagerly leads me through the Maplebrook forest.
It’s been a week since Wes read Sloane’s letter to us. So far, Sloane has stuck to her word, remaining in rehab and dedicating herself to being a better person for her daughter. I’ve spent every day with Emery, taking her on playdates, telling her stories—behaving just like I did when I was her nanny. Except, now, it’s more special. I feel freer to bond with her and care for her. I don’t let fear of commitment or being boxed in flood me with terror or the urge to flee. I embrace this beautiful life.
“We’re not getting lost,” Emery says, tugging on my hand as we slip into a clearing and then into some more densely clustered trees. “You’ll see.”
I’d be sure she was leading me on a wild goose chase if she didn’t seem so confident. One thing I’m learning about Emery is that she’s so advanced and clever for her age; when she seems certain about something, there’s definitely a reason. Finally, she stops before we break through the trees into a second clearing.
“C-A-L-L-I-E,” she says in a singsong voice, beaming up at me. “Are you sure you want to be happy forever and ever?”
“I knows like this nose,” I say, pretending to ‘steal’ her nose. It’s something I’ve started saying recently, and it almost makes her laugh like crazy.
She giggles, batting my hand away, then pouts cutely up at me. “But really,” she says. “Because—’cause, we can turn back now. I promise I won’t cry. I’ll be a big girl.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re planning something, huh?”
She smiles conspiratorially. “Can you answer the question, puh-lease?”
I laugh. “Okay, Miss Bossy. Yes, I’m sure as the sky is blue.”
She giggles again. “Okay, okay. Then you have to go that way. Puh-lease.”
I gently push past her and walk into the clearing. My breath catches as all the pieces begin to fall into place in my mind. Gray is standing amidst a sea of rose petals, reminiscent of the date Emery tried to make for us. The clearing is covered in petals. My brain does backflips as I try to figure out how he did this, the trucks, the workers hired with sacks and sacks of them.
In the middle of the clearing, Gray stands, wearing a suit. He’s got the sort of carefree smile I never could’ve imagined when we first met, back when he was interviewing me, keeping his feelings hidden. Now, he smiles freely, joy brimming from him.