Chapter 10
The next two weeks passed slowly. Waiting was nothing new to me. Time in the world of legal affairs was different from real time. A minute meant a day. A little while could be weeks. The wheels of justice were slow to move. I knew Halton needed time to prepare. To determine the best course of action. To file the right papers. It was all I could do not to call him daily and ask if I could do anything to help. I knew I couldn’t—that was why he was taking over.
I worked, helped Chase with his roof and deck. I saw Cherry whenever I could, often driving to spend time with her in the evenings. I loved it when she came to visit Hannah and I got to have her with me at night. We were getting closer, and I loved spending time with her. She was every bit as stubborn and willful as ever, pushing back when I got, as she declared, “too bossy,” but I did love her fire.
I also loved the soft, sweet side of her. Waking up next to her and seeing her sleepy smile in the morning. The welcoming light in her eyes as I would close the distance between us and make love to her. She was addictive, and I found I missed her on the mornings when I woke up alone. My bed felt empty. A day wasn’t complete unless I talked to her. Shared part of my day with her. Listened to her voice telling me an amusing story about the girls in the salon or a funny customer.
I pulled up in front of the building where Halton was having his group meeting today to help dads like me. I felt nervous, wiping my hands down my jean-covered legs as I headed to the door. I wasn’t used to talking about Josh. Sharing my story. I always had a feeling of shame—as if I hadn’t done enough. Halton assured me I needed to hear other stories and realize how much I had in common with other men who found themselves in the same boat.
“You’re not as alone as you think you are in this situation,” he assured me.
“Dom?”
I stopped walking, turning to face the voice, shocked to see Cherry waiting by the door.
“Cherry G?” I asked, confused.
She stepped forward, looking nervous. “Fiona called me and said Halton thought you might need a little support today. I, ah, took the day off. But if you don’t want?—”
I cut her off, dragging her into my arms and kissing her. “I want,” I insisted. “Thank you.”
She smiled up at me. “Good. I want to be here for you.”
Footsteps behind us made me look up. Halton and Fiona were coming toward us, both smiling.
“Ah, the cavalry,” Halton said with a wink. “I thought you might need your own backup.”
“I was confused since I thought it was dads only,” Cherry admitted.
Halton shook his head. “Fee comes with me a lot. The men love her. I have a feeling they’ll love Cherry too. You ladies can offer insights I cannot, and frankly, you are both a lot prettier than the ugly mugs I have to stare at around the circle.” He laughed with a wink. “Present company excluded, of course.”
He held open the door. “Ready?”
I took a deep breath, holding Cherry’s hand tightly. “I guess so.”
Two hours later, I sat across from Halton and Fee, sipping a cup of coffee and eating a sandwich. The group had been enlightening. I was shocked to hear the same stories play out over and over. Men like me, who wanted to be part of their children’s lives and were shut down at every turn. Listening to their pain reflected in their voices was an eye-opener. They felt the same way I did. The worry and fear they weren’t doing enough, yet trying every possibility, searching every avenue open to them. Halton sat among them, his attention focused on each man as he spoke. He offered advice, encouragement, handed out business cards of other lawyers, his own, various agencies the men could try to use. He often touched Fiona, holding her hand or resting his palm on her swollen stomach, as if needing to assure himself his child was there, safe and close. The small group of men were all friendly and cordial. They welcomed Cherry and me, and I wasn’t surprised that they responded to her warmth. She was empathetic and listened to them, more than once wiping away a tear. One man, Hank, described finally getting to see his daughter after six months of fighting with lawyers and his ex.
“Nothing can compare to the feeling of her arms around my neck and hearing her call me Daddy,” he said quietly. “To hold her and let her know how much I missed her.” He had drawn in a deep breath. “Thanks to Halton, I got that chance, and I have managed to get visitation again. His advice and the help of a different lawyer made all the difference.”
As I had learned the hard way, the right lawyer made a huge impact. If I had a plumbing problem, I wouldn’t bring in a bricklayer. Not all lawyers were one-size-fits-all.
Halton chewed the last of his sandwich, wiping his mouth and picking up his coffee. He eyed me over the rim. “So, I have some news.”
I sat up straighter, my hand immediately going to Cherry’s leg and gripping it.
“I have a motion to reopen your visitation.” He paused. “Your ex isn’t happy, but the judge we got is known for agreeing with the experts that a child should have both parents in their life. He reviewed the files I gave him and agreed to a meeting.”
All at once, I felt cold and hot. Worried and excited. Scared and jubilant.
He held up his hand. “It could be supervised at first.”
“I don’t care. I just want to see him for myself. Talk to him. Anything. Five minutes.”
Halton smiled. “I think we can do better than that. Your records and all the cards and letters you kept are the ace in the hole, Dom.”
I sat back, shaking my head in disbelief. “I almost gave up. Threw them all out.”
“Good thing you didn’t. It shows you never stopped trying.” He studied me. “You prepared for this? For what could happen?”
“I am. I’ve been looking at houses with Josh in mind. A room of his own in case he ever wanted it. A place for him with me.”
Halton smiled. “Good goals. We’ll take it a step at a time, okay? Three weeks from Tuesday until we meet. I was lucky to get a date that fast. The judge had an opening. It will be a private meeting with us and her side and the judge.”
I reached across the table and shook his hand. “Thank you.”
He grinned. “We’re just getting started, Dom.”
Halton and Fee’s car disappeared around the corner, and I looked down at Cherry. “You have plans this afternoon?”
“Nope,” she replied. “You are my plans.”
“Come home with me. I have something to show you.”
“Is that a euphemism for something?”
I laughed and bent to kiss her. “No, I actually have something to show you. I need your opinion.”
“Okay. I’ll follow you.”
“No, drive with me. You keep me calm.”
She smiled in understanding. “A lot to take in,” she surmised.
“Yeah. The thought that maybe in a few weeks I could see Josh? After all this time? Unbelievable.”
I held out my hand. “Please.”
She linked our fingers. “Okay.”
We didn’t talk a lot on the drive, both of us lost in our thoughts. So many things were changing—and all of them good. I glanced over at Cherry, who was staring out the window, a soft smile on her lips.
All the good was stemming from her.
I lifted her hand and kissed it. She leaned her head back on the leather and smiled at me. “What was that for?”
“For being you. For being here with me.”
“You’re very sweet, Mr. Salvatore.”
I chuckled. “I have my moments.”
I pulled up in front of the house I’d been looking at and indicated it. “I want your opinion.”
“Oh, okay.”
We walked around, inspecting the little bungalow. It was small but decent. I frowned as I looked at the backyard. “Good if it were just me,” I mused. “But not big enough anymore.”
“I agree,” Cherry said. “No space for Josh to grow or be outside.”
In the car, we headed to my place, but I stopped a few blocks over. The house Cherry had admired was still for sale, and it had an open house sign out front. I looked at her. “You wanna look?”
“Oh yes,” she agreed enthusiastically. “I would love to see inside.”
We wandered through the house, and I watched Cherry fall in love. The hardwood floors, the wood trim, even the old-fashioned layout of it. “I love rooms,” she explained. “I know open concept is popular, but a formal dining room, a separate living room? I love that.”
Upstairs, the three bedrooms were a generous size. The backyard was fenced, and the double garage was in great shape with tons of room.
“Perfect for a family,” the real estate agent said.
She was right. This house deserved a family. Not a single guy on his own.
Except, the niggling thought that maybe I wouldn’t be on my own kept popping up in my head. Maybe Josh would be here at times.
Maybe Cherry.
Maybe the three of us together.
Cherry was examining the closet the previous owner had expanded. “Look at all this space… It’s incredible!”
She loved this house. I did too.
With a start, I realized I could see her here. With me.
Not on occasion, but every single day. Living with me. Sharing my life.
Completing my life.
I wondered how she was going to feel when I told her.
I tried not to laugh. I had a feeling it was going to be fireworks.
But it was gonna happen.
I was determined.
Tuesday, I called Cherry to confirm dinner. She sounded tired when I spoke with her.
“Can I take a rain check?” she asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just been a day. The girls are driving me mad at the salon—they’re so lazy. I’ve been after them all day to do their jobs. Apparently folding towels and cleaning is below them now,” she huffed. “I have a headache, and I’m not in a great frame of mind. All I want is to head upstairs and have a nap and a quiet night.”
I was disappointed, but I understood. “Sure, baby. No worries. I’ll call you later, okay? Or you call me when you get up from your nap. If you want company, I’ll drive in.”
“I’m going to take a couple of Tylenol and a Gravol. The Gravol makes me sleep hard, so you might not hear from me.”
I chuckled. “Okay. Just feel better.”
“Thank you.”
I hung up, staring at the phone. Chase came in, sitting down. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. Cherry canceled tonight.”
“Is she okay?”
“Yeah. Bad day.”
He nodded. “She said something to Hannah on the weekend too. She thinks she’s too old to be hairdressing anymore. Between the girls she’s working with and standing all day, she’s tired of it.”
I hummed in agreement. I had rubbed her shoulders on Saturday evening, shocked at how knotted her muscles were. Her legs were tight too.
“Hard on the body after all these years, I guess.” I chuckled. “I feel the same at times, bent over an engine. I can’t quite stretch the same way anymore.”
Chase laughed. “Old man.”
I glowered at him, even though, today, he was right. I felt old.
“Any plans tonight?” I asked.
“We’re going to the movies. There’s a double feature of two old classics Hannah loves. She switched shifts to help out a coworker, so we thought we’d take advantage.”
“Cherry saw the advertisement for that. I thought I’d take her next week. It’s still playing, right?”
“Yep. Every Tuesday for a month. She’d enjoy it. They both love the old classics.” He paused. “Hannah worries about her mom alone all the time.” He glanced at me with a sly smile. “You plan on changing that, Dom?”
I sat back, lacing my fingers behind my head and meeting his gaze. “I might be. How do you think Hannah would feel if her mom were closer?”
“She’d love it.”
“I want Cherry to move in with me. I want to buy a bigger place. Have room for her—and hopefully Josh.”
“Wow.”
“I know.”
“How does Cherry feel about that?”
I grinned. “I haven’t brought that up yet. I’m waiting for the right moment.”
“The way you two spark, that should be a fun conversation.”
“One I plan on winning.”
He stood. “I live with her daughter. The stubbornness runs deep in those two. Good luck with that.”
He left and I chuckled. I had a feeling when it came to Cherry Gallagher, I was going to need all the luck I could get.