“He’s not home.” We’re going to meet him at a restaurant to celebrate the fact that he and Dorian finally caught the man behind the murdered girls they’ve been investigating for over a year. “I suspect you knew that, though.” Middle of the day during the week, there’s no reason he would be home, which means, “You’re here to see me.”
“Okay, Mom, I’m ready!” Jesse’s voice from the top of the stairs as he comes rushing down has the woman livid. Jesse took to calling me mom the day Hale and I got married. He asked his dad first, and with his blessing, he’s been doing it ever since. My heart still skips a beat when he says it.
“Mom?” she hisses before he can see her at the door.
“Who’s that?” Jesse sits on the bottom step to put his shoes on before standing and walking around me to see. “Oh. What are you doing here?” As soon as we returned home, Hale petitioned the court for Jesse to have the option of when or if he saw the woman. It was an easy choice for Jesse to make, but Hale has struggled with it because he never wanted to be the guy to keep his kid away from his mom. After a lot of family counseling, Jesse was granted the choice. Cassidy hasn’t taken it well. She’s spent more time in Jacksonville in the last few months than since she left Hale all those years ago.
“I came to see you, baby.” She beams at him while still glaring at me as she crouches down to his height and holds out her arms.
At almost nine years old, Jesse is very mature, but it’s moments like this where he hides behind me, clinging to my arm, that I know I have to be the one to tell the other woman to leave. “Now’s not a good time. We’ll give you a call when Jesse is ready.” Cass and I have always been civil, but when it comes down to it, I’m here for Jesse and not her.
“When he’s ready? I’m his mother; he’s ready now,” she spits out, standing back up and taking a threatening step forward.
Both of Jesse’s hands wrap around my stomach protectively. It’s part of our surprise for Hale today, but she notices it and seizes the moment to lash out. “Perhaps I should come along and stealyourbaby away. Wouldn’t be the first time someone took a child from you, would it, Laken.” The cruel way she threatens me hits me right in the heart.
I’m about to close the door when I seehim. I don’t know how he always knows, but he does. “Get the fuck away from my family, Cassidy.” Hale comes storming up to the house with Torque and Dorian behind him.
“I just want to see our son, darling,” she purrs as he breezes past her, ignoring her presence altogether.
“You okay?” He cups my cheek, lifting my chin so he can lean down to kiss me.
“I am now.” I breathe a sigh of relief. His steady composure always makes the world brighter for me.
“And you?” His other hand ruffles his son’s hair behind me.
“Make her leave. She wants to hurt Mom.” His hold on me increases, and tears crowd my eyes. Not because I’m worried or afraid but because the love I receive from Jesse is so pure.
“Don’t worry about a thing, Jess.” Turning back around and blocking us from her view, Hale is far more composed than I would be. “You have the new court orders, Cass. He wants space and time. When he is ready to see you, we will call.”
“He’smyson,” she spits out.
“Cassidy?” A new man we’ve never seen approaches the sidewalk leading to the house. I see Dorian and Torque share a look that speaks volumes. “Is everything okay? Is Jesse coming?”
“You fucking piece of work,” Hale grunts, his fists balling at his sides. I place a hand on his back to calm him down, and he visibly relaxes. “I think it’s time for you to go, Cass. Don’t come back, or I’ll get a restraining order, and you won’t see my son until he’s an adult.”
She pales at the threat and rushes back to the man waiting for her. Hale doesn’t move until we hear their vehicle speed out of the neighborhood. Corralling the two of us back into the house, Hale slams the door shut and pulls us in for a giant hug.
“Dad, you’re squishing the baby.” My eyes widen, and I bite my lip as I meet Jesse’s apologetic stare. “Sorry,” he whispers as Hale lets us go.
“Baby?” He blinks as a delighted smile spreads across his face. “You’re pregnant? We’re pregnant? You’re having my baby.” I nod as my facial expression matches his. Turning, he opens the door again and yells out, “Hey, Tor! You’re taking Jesse for the day!”
Jesse grins and gives a fist pump before running out to his uncle. “Can I tell him, Dad?” he calls back, dancing on his feet. Hale looks to me, and I nod. The door is shut and locked as soon as Jesse starts running to his uncle again, and a second later, we hear the two of them out front cheering.
“A baby,” he whispers in awe before picking me up. “Thank you.” Leaning forward, he licks my neck, something I’ve grown addicted to. “Are you okay about this?” He knows all of my fears, the pain I’ve gone through. The agony that still haunts my dreams.
“I’m excited. I’m scared. I’m worried that I’m the problem. But it’s yours, and I’m safe with you.” His eyes meet mine, and the love I find there washes away any trepidation I feel right now.
“How about we distract you then?” His wicked grin has anticipation flowing through my blood.
We spend the next two days keeping me distracted as Hale worships my body, praises me for giving him another blessing, and shows me just how much he loves me. Loves us.
Epilogue 2
HALE
It’s time.
The entire pregnancy, Laken had trouble connecting with the baby. She was petrified that she would lose another child, so she didn’t bond the way she had hoped to. There was no baby shower. She didn’t even want to decorate a nursery until after our child was born, and now, as I watch her breastfeed our newborn daughter, you’d never know the struggles she suffered through.