Chapter 34 In Every Way That Counts #2
I smile, but I can’t shake the unease in my stomach. It’s reassuring to hear it from someone on the outside of our life, but the constant worry doesn’t fade. It’s always there, lurking at the edges of my thoughts.
Once the lunch rush starts to die down, I glance up when the bells ring on the door and see my mom and dad walking in.
They don’t come by often—Mom’s usually running errands or helping out with Aura at the house, and Dad’s schedule is unpredictable, running all of our family businesses.
But seeing them now, side by side, I immediately feel a sense of relief.
“Mom! Dad!” I call, giving them a warm smile despite the heavy weight in my chest.
They walk up to the counter, my mom’s face lighting up as she reaches out for a hug.
Her perfume—the same lemon lavender scent she’s worn for as long as I can remember—floods my senses as she envelopes me.
Dad, always the quieter one, gives me a nod and a smile before joining in for a hug of his own.
Something about having them here, even if it’s just for a quick coffee break, that makes me feel like I can breathe again.
“How’s everything?” My mom asks, taking a seat at the counter while Dad leans against the opposite side.
“Good,” I say, but then the words I feel slip out. “Well, not good...I mean, it’s been hard. Really hard.”
Mom’s expression softens instantly. “What’s going on, honeybean?”
I try to swallow the lump in my throat, but it doesn’t go away.
This isn’t just another bad day. This is something bigger.
Something that I can’t keep pushing aside.
“The hearing,” I murmur, glancing down at my hands as I pour coffee for a customer who’s just come in.
“I’m just…I’m terrified, Mom. I’m terrified we’re gonna lose our little girl. ”
She reaches across the counter, taking my hand in hers.
Her fingers are warm and familiar, the kind of touch that makes everything just a little less scary.
“Millie,” she says softly, “you’ve done everything you can.
You and Gabriel have given her a home, love, and stability.
That’s what matters, the life you’ve built for her. ”
“But what if that’s not enough?” The words spill out before I can stop them. “What if the courts don’t see that? What if they think Haley deserves a shot to be her mom?”
Dad speaks up for the first time, his voice quiet but firm.
“Listen, sweetie. We’re all scared. She’s our granddaughter now, too.
But what you’ve done for that little girl?
It’s more than a piece of paper can define.
More than anything her birth mother could offer.
You’re her mother, and Gabriel is her father. That’s all that matters.”
I nod, my throat tight, and turn away, trying to hide the tears that threaten to spill over. But it doesn’t work. I feel one fall, then another, and soon my eyes are brimming. I wipe them quickly, trying to act like I’m not falling apart.
“We’re here for you, Millie,” Mom adds, squeezing my hand. “Whatever happens, we’ll stand by you. We always will.”
At the end of my shift, I’m exhausted and emotionally drained, and I can’t wait to get home.
Gabriel’s there, of course, waiting for me.
The moment I walk through the door, he’s standing near the island with Aura in his arms, my little girl grinning at me like she’s just seen the most wonderful thing in the world.
And maybe she has—because right now, it feels like she is the only thing that matters.
“Hey, Bumper,” Gabriel says softly, his voice low with that familiar warmth that always makes me feel grounded.
I smile weakly, walking over and pressing a kiss to Aura’s soft head. “Hey, babe. You two okay?”
Gabriel looks at me with those eyes of his—so full of everything I need at this moment—and pulls me closer. His hand cups the back of my neck, his fingers threading through my hair, and I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.
“We’re good,” he says quietly, his lips brushing against my temple. “You okay?”
I swallow hard, the tension in my shoulders releasing just a little at his touch. “I don’t know,” I admit, the words slipping out as a confession. “I just…I don’t know if I can do this.”
His voice is firm but gentle when he speaks again. “You’re not in it alone. You have me, and I’m not going anywhere.”
I nod, leaning into him, allowing myself a moment of peace in his arms. His presence is all I need right now.
Later that night, after we’ve gotten Aura to sleep, Gabriel and I settle on the couch. I curl up next to him, letting him wrap his arms around me. The house is quiet and peaceful, but my thoughts are anything but.
“You know, I’ve been thinking about what my parents said today,” I murmur, my head resting on his shoulder.
“Yeah?” He asks, his voice soft.
“They’re right,” I say, closing my eyes. “We’ve given her everything she needs. We’ve given her love, stability, and a family. And that matters. I just…I hope the court sees that.”
Gabriel kisses the top of my head, his hand resting on my back. “They will. They have to.”
“I hope so,” I whisper, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “I really hope so.”