Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Leonard
Ending the call, I fist the cell in my hand. It takes everything I have not to throw it.
Fuck!
Swiping the screen to life, I check the location of my car again.
The camp.
This is good, I remind myself. She’s safe there. Sinking onto the sofa, I scrub a hand through my hair.
I can’t lose her. I won’t.
Please answer me, baby.
I wait with bated breath for Shelby to text me back. When no reply comes, I send another plea.
Let me fix this.
A small doll on the side table catches my eye. If I had someone to watch Riley, I’d go bring my girl home, but I can’t, and it’s killing me.
When my phone dings, my heart sings.
I don’t know if you can.
I call her cell again, growling when her voicemail greets me. The device in my hand vibrates, and I startle so badly that I nearly drop it.
“Shelby?” The question is practically a plea.
Silence greets me.
“Are you hurt? I can get Riley and come to you,” I blurt.
“No, no.” She hurries, her voice small, the whisper barely reaching me.
Relief is quickly replaced by disappointment. Maybe I can’t fix this.
“I’m safe.”
“Did you have a key to get in, or am I going to have an irate Cromwell over a broken window?” I don’t care about the Cromwells. I just need to know she’s in the house.
Shelby gives a breathy laugh. “No broken windows. I know where they keep the spare keys to the bunk cabins. They should probably hide them better.”
I smile, but it’s small and half-hearted.
“Can you lock yourself in?”
Shelby doesn’t answer. Silence stretches, along with my patience. But I wait, pushing her right now won’t get me anywhere.
“How did you know where I was?” she eventually whispers.
I don’t bother lying. “The tracker on my car.”
“I’m sorry I took it.”
“I understand why you did, but I wish you’d stayed.”
“I couldn’t.”
I curse softly.
“If I go to prison, they’ll take Riley.”
Soft crying floats through the phone. Guilt twists my stomach. It was a low blow, but she needs to know what turning me in will do.
“Please don’t cry,” I beg, my voice cracking.
“I love her,” Shelby cries.
“I know, and she loves you too, Shelby.”
“I love you,” she admits, her voice a wail.
I close my eyes. Her words mean everything to me.
“I love you too, baby.”
“Is Cooper right? Is that who you are?”
It’s my turn to give her silence, but the truth wins eventually.
“Yes.” More cries greet me. “I’ve only ever helped people, Shelby. Only those who needed it. Hell, some even asked.”
Shelby’s breath hitches. “My dad?”
“No,” I rush sharply. “He never wanted to leave you, no matter how bad it got. He fought to stay with you until the very end.”
Pained sobs twist my heart.
“Come home,” I plead. “Let me hold you, let me explain.”
“I can’t.”
“Please.” I’m not above begging.
But I’ve lost the fight, at least for tonight. I wait, whispering my love for her, until her cries slow.
“I’m sleeping here tonight.”
“Are you in bed?”
“Yeah,” she answers softly.
“Do you have a blanket?” I hate the thought of her being cold and lonely.
“Yeah.”
I hear rustling and picture her nodding against her pillow.
Twisting, I bring my feet up onto the sofa and shuffle until I’m lying down.
“I’ll come to the camp in the morning.”
“No.”
“I’m seeing you tomorrow, Shelby.” I mean it.
“I don’t . . . I need time.” She struggles to explain.
“I can’t give you that,” I admit.
Shelby sighs. “I don’t want to come to the house.”
Fuck!
“I would never hurt you,” I promise. “The park?”
“No,” she denies me again, her voice shaky.
Memories of our last trip tease me. Okay, probably not the best idea.
“The diner,” I counteroffer. “We can distract Riley with pancakes, but Shelby, we won’t be talking about my patients in public.”
“Okay,” she agrees.
“Don’t end the call. Stay on the line with me,” I whisper.
I hear rustling again.
“I’m going to fix this, baby. And then I’m going to marry you.”
Stuttered breathing and a sniffle are my only answers. At least she didn’t say no.
I can fix this.
Nothing else is acceptable.