Chapter Twenty-Six
Tania looked up into Smokey’s eyes and found some of the determination she’d lost somewhere along the way. She needed to find out what everyone had been keeping from her. She needed to make some decisions, and something told her they wouldn’t be easy ones.
Some would be. She knew she couldn’t take her son back to a house where she was abused, even if she loved Rod, she couldn’t have her son thinking it was right to beat up on anyone, but especially not someone smaller, when you don’t get your way. And Carter was the most important person in her life.
Tania snaked an arm around Smokey’s waist and pulled herself a little closer to him. She couldn’t help but marvel at how well he’d handled all this. Not just finding out that he had a son, but that she’d known it and had kept it from him. She still marveled that he didn’t hold it against her.
When she’d regained control of her emotions, or at least mostly, Tania took a deep breath, released Smokey and pushed herself upright, folding her legs crisscross beneath her. She bit her lips for a moment as she searched for the words for what she needed to say.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” He stayed laying on his side, but propped his head up on one hand as he watched her.
“For everything. For being there.” She tilted her head back and fought the tears that threatened once more.
“For saving us. For loving us.” She bit the inside of her lip as she blinked back the tears she couldn’t keep from pooling in her eyes.
She’d been helpless. And it had made her feel so hopeless, but here Smokey was.
He went by a different name than the Tim she’d grown up with but he was the same guy.
Tim had been the kid. The one who wanted to play and have fun more than settle down, to have a life, one with maybe a wife, maybe kids, but one with real responsibilities.
Smokey was the man he’d become. Still the same person, the one who never made her feel silly or stupid.
The one who didn’t hesitate to laugh with her.
But better. Smokey hadn’t hesitated to find he had a son.
He’d stepped up and gotten her out of a bad situation and didn’t care what trouble it might bring to his door.
There was no way she’d walk away from him, not as long as she had a choice. She steeled her back and got up. She needed to wash her face and make sure her hair wasn’t standing on end, but it was time to face facts. Time to learn everything that had been kept from her and make some decisions.
“Give me a couple of minutes, then let’s go talk to your friends and see how bad things are.” She squeezed his hand then got up. She was through wallowing. It was time to take hold of her life.