35. Lainey
Lainey
Reid was growing like a weed. The changes Dolly had noticed were things I now saw, too.
His hair was getting longer, and I’d had to trim his nails.
But our days…and our nights…hadn’t gotten any easier.
Thankfully, there were no more family members dropping in unexpectedly.
But when they did stop by, more often than not, I kept a hold of Reid, and they didn’t complain.
Except for Hayes. He really loved getting to hold Reid, and I had a hard time saying no to him. Lach absolutely didn’t, so his visits usually ended with Lachlan holding the baby and Hayes pouting.
“I think he’s going to start rolling soon. Lainey! Oh my God, look! He’s going to roll right now!” Lachlan cheered so loud, I was pretty sure the whole ranch could hear.
Yes, we were outside. He’d insisted we take Reid on a walk around the property, and he’d even packed a little picnic for us to enjoy.
Which is what we were doing now. Well, Reid was doing his tummy time, and teetering on his side.
I was hovering nervously with my hands out while Lachlan was smiling like he was coaching an Olympian.
“I wish I didn’t leave my phone at home.” I sighed.
“Oh shit. Yeah. Good thinking!” He pulled his phone from his back pocket and fumbled around for a second. “Okay, Reid. You ready to roll over?”
He grunted, his arms flapping by his side as he rolled his head, teetering more on his side for another three seconds before he kicked his leg and flopped over to his back.
“Oh my God, Lain! He did it! You did it, buddy!” Lachlan tickled his belly, getting lots of kicks from Reid. “He’s a genius! An athlete! Can I send the video in the family chat? I think he’s the earliest roller we’ve had!”
Lachlan was acting like a proud dad. And I hadn’t felt anywhere near the level of excitement that he did at Reid’s milestone. Would anyone care to see the video? Shouldn’t I be thinking about sharing things like that? Shouldn’t I be wanting to show Reid off?
I know Lachlan noticed the shift in me. How I’d withdrawn after he’d sent the video to his family.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about why I couldn’t feel anything other than pity at how completely drained I was.
Emotionally. Physically. Mentally. I felt like someone who was watching her life pass by from outside the window.
“What’s going on, Lainey? You’ve been really quiet since we packed up.” Lach asked as we walked back toward the house.
“Did you ever decide what you wanted to do with the letter from Dakota?” I asked, trying to take the attention off of me. “I saw it on the counter again this morning.”
He nodded, looking down the road in front of us. “I thought tonight, maybe after Reid goes to bed, we could use the fire pit out back.”
“You want to burn the letter?” I didn’t blame him for wanting to get rid of it, but I wanted to be sure that whatever decision he made, he felt completely ready for it to be final.
“I don’t need to keep it anymore.”
“What did Sloane say?”
Lachlan reached over, adjusting Reid’s sun hat. “She agrees that it’s healthy to keep that chapter closed.”
“Alright. Then we’ll shut that door tonight. Together.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t know if you want to thank me just yet. I do require marshmallows and chocolate at all campfire activities.”
“It’s not really a campfire,” he teased.
“You didn’t let me finish. Campfire and campfire adjacent.”
“If you want marshmallows and chocolate, I’ll make sure we have it there.”
“You’re the best.” I laughed as we came around the curve in the road right before the house came back into view. “This walk was so nice. Is your leg doing okay?”
“It’s fine. Figure I need to be on it more in the next few months so I’m ready for when Reid starts boot scoot and boogieing all over the house.”
“I can’t believe he’s almost a month old already. It feels like time is just fly—”
There was a truck in the driveway, one that didn’t belong to Lachlan or any of the Fords. And its driver was standing outside, staring right at us.
“Lachlan.” I grabbed his arm, my other hand coming up to cover Reid’s back, even though he was strapped into the carrier on my chest.
I felt it, the instant Lach realized why I was frozen in place. He looked at me, blinking once before turning to the driveway.
Greg was leaning against his truck, the smirk on his face unbearable as Lachlan walked up to him.
“Get the fuck off my property,” he growled. “Lainey, take the baby inside.”
I felt relief wash over me, knowing Lach hadn’t said Reid’s name. There was no reason for Greg to ever know it. I hadn’t listed him as the father. He was free to go live his life with his perfect family.
“You didn’t put me on the birth certificate,” Greg hissed, his eyes unblinking as he waited for my reply. “That’s my son you gave the wrong last name to. You fucking bitch.”
The way Greg sneered made my skin crawl. “You think you’re going to keep him away from me now? You think I won’t use every fucking connection I have in this town to ruin you, Lainey? I don’t even want the little bastard, but I’m going to have so much fun taking him from you.”
“He is NOT your son!” I shouted. “He is mine. What the hell are you even thinking? Your wife isn’t going to want my child around. Leave us alone.”
“Lainey.” Lachlan said my name, but his eyes were locked on Greg. “Go inside and call my dad. Now.”
“Yeah, run away, Lainey,” Greg mocked. “It won’t change the fact that I’ll be right back here in a few days to pick up my son. I told you, he’s not staying with you. You’re nothing but the pathetic slut I accidentally knocked up.”
Lachlan’s body went so still I thought something was wrong with him. But his eyes flickered to mine for just one second before he nodded, tipping his head toward the house. I stormed up the porch steps, ripped the front door open, and flew into the kitchen where I’d left my phone.
“Hey, kiddo,” Daniel answered. “Ready to call in the Grandparent Cavalry for some Reid watching?”
“Danny. I need your help.”
His response was immediate. “What’s going on?”
I tried to calm my racing heart as I rocked my body back and forth to soothe Reid, who was still fast asleep on my chest. “Greg’s here. Lach’s outside with him, and I don’t want him to get hurt.”
“I’m on my way. Did you lock the doors?”
“No! If Lachlan needs—”
“He needs you to be safe. So make sure the doors are locked.” I didn’t move. “Now, Lainey. Go, now. I’ll be there in two minutes. Lock the doors.”
“Okay.”
“I’m hanging up now so you can call Colt. That’s the next thing, and by the time you’re done talking to him, I’ll be there.”
Danny was telling the truth. It took me two minutes to call Colt, and in that time, his truck came tearing into Lach’s driveway, blocking Greg’s from leaving.
I held onto Reid as I unclipped the harness, wiggling his body free before I set him into his swing.
I buckled him in place and finished taking the carrier off as I walked back to the front of the living room.
I knew I shouldn’t be staring out the window, but there was no way I could look away from what was happening.
I had to make sure Danny and Lach were okay.
Greg’s face was bright red, his fists clenched by his side as Lachlan said something to him I couldn’t make out.
Greg got two or three words into his reply when Lachlan reared back, his fist colliding with Greg’s jaw.
I saw Lachlan pull back, landing another hit to Greg’s face as he crumpled to the ground.
Danny moved closer to Greg, but my eyes were on Lachlan as he turned and stormed up to the front door.
“Trouble. Open up. Please.”
“Oh, God. Are you okay?” I asked as I threw the lock over and opened the door. The knuckles on his right hand were raw and bloody.
“I’m fine. That’s his blood, not mine.”
I shook my head. “I saw! Go sit on the sofa. I’ll get some ice and a washcloth.”
It only took thirty seconds for me to grab what I needed from the kitchen. I sat on the sofa next to him, pulling his hand over to rest on my leg.
“What on Earth did he say to you?”
Lachlan’s eyes remained closed, but his fingers stretched over my skin and he squeezed gently. “Nothing you need to worry about.”
“Lachlan.”
“I mean it. Don’t give it another thought. Dad’s gonna stay out there and make sure Colt hauls him away. That protective order will stick this time. He’s out of your life. Forever.”