“Hey,” I whisper, not wanting to wake the girls.
“Hey,” he whispers back. “Come talk to me out on the back deck.”
I carefully extricate myself from Belle’s grip and meet Kingston outside.
“Come sit with me, baby.” He pats the empty spot on the lounger.
I settle between Kingston’s spread legs and lie back on his chest. The sun already set, so we listen to the waves crashing against the shore for a few moments before he speaks.
“So... I did a thing.”
I twist around to face him. “What kind of thing?”
“I went to see Jerome.”
“What? Why?”
“After what Belle said earlier... I thought about something. I’m surprised it didn’t cross my mind earlier, but I had a hunch, and I wanted to see if I was right.”
“About what?”
“To see if Belle’s father was interested in a private custody negotiation.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ve been paying him for our weekly visits with her, right?”
“You’ve been paying him,” I correct.
Kingston pinches my side. “As I said, we’ve been paying him for weekly visits, right? So it got me thinking. What if he took one lump sum payment, and we’d get to have her every day?”
“I’m not following, Kingston.”
“I talked to Sandra on the drive. She confirmed that if Jerome forfeited his parental rights, as Belle’s only remaining relative, you could petition to be her legal guardian. Now that you’re a legal adult, and you have financial and home stability, there’s no reason the court should deny your request. Sandra said she could file an emergency petition to have temporary custody awarded to us while all the legal stuff is processed.”
“Are you serious?” I turn around, wrapping my legs around his back. “Did you talk to Jerome about it?”
“Yep.” Kingston nods. “He told me if I write him a check, he’ll sign whatever he needs to. The asshat felt the need to add that he never wanted a kid, so we were doing him a favor.”
I scoff. “Yeah, ‘cause he’s the one we’re so concerned about.”
“Right.” Kingston rolls his eyes. “Anyway... Sandra said she’ll draw up the paperwork first thing in the morning. Jerome signs, I wire the money to him, and she’s ours.”
“Oh, my God.” I frown when something comes to mind. “How much did he ask for? How much money does he think she’s worth?”
“I told him to name a figure. He said a million. I think he wasn’t expecting me to pay up, but when I agreed, the man literally jumped for joy.”
“Kingston... I can’t let you do that. I’d never be able to pay you back.” I trace his eyebrow with my finger. “I love you so much for suggesting it, but...”
He pinches my lips together. “I love her, too, Jazz. I want Belle in our lives, too. I’m doing this just as much for me as I am for you and her. I would’ve given him my entire fortune if he asked. It’s just money.”
I laugh. “Only someone who’s never struggled to keep food on the table would say something like that.”
Kingston gives me a wry look. “Focus on what’s important here, Jazz. Belle can be ours. Permanently. All you need to do is say yes.”
I crawl onto his lap and pepper his jaw with kisses. “Yes. All the yeses.”
He smiles. “Hopefully, you’re this agreeable when I ask you another life-altering question down the road.”