CHAPTER SIXTEEN #3
How can someone you thought of as a true and loyal friend so easily be manipulating you and not miss a wink of sleep?
Before I know what is happening, something comes over me and I lose it.
The last few days have come to a head and I can’t take any more information.
I’m like an active volcano erupting. My hand balls up into a fist and I wheel it back and snap it forward, connecting with his face.
“I think we’ve said everything we need to say.” I shake my hand to alleviate the throb. He looks shocked and I can’t believe I’ve just socked someone, but I think the last few days have me at a breaking point.
Brody tries to take a step towards me but Ryan thankfully steps in. Brody starts to say that he loves me and Halo over and over, and it’s almost too much to handle.
“Haven’t you ever been in love with someone that you’d do anything for them, even if it meant hurting them a little?” he pleads, wiping at the corner of his mouth.
I snort, thinking about what Brody just said.
“Yeah, I have but that doesn’t justify the last two years. How could I ever trust anything out of your mouth again?”
We stand there looking at each other, and the more I look at him, the more betrayed I feel.
“Did you ever think of what this would do to Halo? Let’s say your plan worked and years down the road she’s old enough to understand, and thinks her own biological dad didn’t want her.
Feels abandoned and unwanted. I’ve been there and know how that feels!
” I scream, thinking about my own dad and all his disappearing acts he’s done.
“How can you ever justify that? He missed everything while you swooped in and planted yourself right in that role. He never saw her birth, or first step or word. He didn’t get to rock her to sleep in the middle of the night in a storm.
You stole all that from him because you wanted a family that was never yours! ”
“Ready, Saylor?” Ryan interrupts me, and I nod. He ushers me to the passenger door and blocks Brody. I can’t deal with this anymore. I don’t think I’ll ever get past keeping a child from their parent.
I squeeze Ryan’s hand, then climb in the front seat of the SUV while he gets behind the wheel. After a few minutes of being on the road, I can’t help but ask the question that has been on my mind.
“So, the boss sent you here to get me?”
Ryan never takes his eyes from the road, but a small smirk plays on his mouth.
“No, he doesn’t know that I came.”
“Really? That doesn’t sound like the Levi I knew.”
“Last report was he was rocking baby Halo while she slept.” I ponder over that. “He’s changed a lot since losing you, Saylor. The boss has seen some dark days in the two years you’ve been gone.”
I can only imagine what this must have been like for him, knowing we were out there in the world and not be able to find us. I’d be devastated if the roles were reversed.
“Why were you there at the ranch then?” I ask, only a few miles from the house.
“Because, believe it or not, I do care about your safety and wellbeing, Saylor. I know I should’ve done more back then to help when you got arrested, and this is me making sure that nothing like that ever happens again.
” He finally looks at me, and I know that Ryan and I are picking up right where we left off over two years ago.
He has always been my sounding board when Levi and I had our disagreements, or if something came up at work.
“I know you have some doubts about what was told to you yesterday, but I promise you that everything Mr. Thorne told you in the hotel was factual. We all have been looking night and day for you and baby Halo.”
“Thank you, Ryan. That means a lot. And I believe everything that you all told me. As hard as it was to hear, I’m glad to know that life really isn’t that cruel.”
Hopefully, once I can get some alone time to think things over, I’ll be able to figure out what the hell I’m going to do, now that everything has come to light.
First thing I know for sure is that I need to talk with the grandparents and make sure Halo and I can stay for a while.
I already know the answer, but still I don’t want to put anyone out.
Pulling up to the house, Ryan helps me with my bags and we head in.
We walk in the living room with both grandparents, Everly, Linc and Alice all sitting there, almost in a circle, holding onto the baby monitor.
Suddenly, I think something must be wrong when I see tears in their eyes, but when I get closer, I hear the most touching thing I’ve ever heard.
Levi’s voice comes over the monitor and the screen shows him rocking our baby while singing You Are My Sunshine .
My heart picks up in pace. This, right here, is what I imagined him doing when we first found out we were pregnant. There is nothing sexier than seeing a macho, badass, hotheaded man showing his child how much he loves them.
And it’s like falling in love with him all over again.
But this time, I’m going to take my time and not rush anything.