Nodding slowly, I stepped aside, letting him into the house. He asked a series of questions about the day my mom left—not that I had much to offer, since it wasn’t like she’d said goodbye—and took a cheek swab. Then he gave me his card and left.
That was it.
The whole interview took less than thirty minutes, yet it changed my whole world. She hadn’t abandoned me—it’d been an accident. Beyond her control. I felt almost dizzy, torn between sadness and a strange sense of comfort that she hadn’t abandoned me.
“How are you?” Painter asked, studying me carefully. We were sitting on the couch and I leaned into him, holding my stomach.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “This is probably going to sound wrong, but I think I’m relieved.”
“Because she didn’t leave you?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m not happy she’s dead, of course. But . . . she didn’t ditch me. It was an accident—that changes a lot.”
He rubbed my hair, kissing the top of my head.
“It changes everything.”
We sat there for a while, him playing with my hair and me thinking over what the detective had told me. Then I glanced at the clock and saw what time it was.
“Shit,” I said, sitting up fast. “We’re supposed to be out at the Armory right now. I promised Loni I’d be there by four to collect Izzy. She’s got all the food to organize for the party.”
“I texted her, gave her a heads-up,” Painter told me. “We can skip the party—they’ll understand.”
I considered his words. Did I want to visit with people tonight? Em and Kit were in town . . . and Marie had a car seat she’d offered to lend me. Not only that, I’d promised Dancer I’d give her boys a ride home later so she could stay and party with Bam Bam.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “We should go. I want to see everyone—be around people.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “This is a lot to take in. Nobody would blame you.”
“It’s not about them blaming me,” I replied slowly. “But hearing something like this—it’s a lot to process. She was my mom, my family . . . But Loni’s kind of my mom, too. And now we have a new family. Not just you and me and Izzy, but the rest of them. I really think I’d rather be around our people tonight.”
Leaning over, he kissed me.
“All right,” he said. “But if you need some space, let me know.”
I smiled.
“I will. I think I’m fine, though. Really. You’re my family now. I still miss my mom and I always will, but I’ll get through it. And I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I would be okay. We would be okay.
And we’d live happily ever after.
For real.