I ran away."
"You did?"
She nodded. "I did. But when I got here to Aunt Dawn's, I sat down, and I looked at my fears. I realized what I'd done, running away, was wrong. I loved your dad and a life with him was what I wanted."
"What did you do?" His eyes were wide, and he stared at her intently.
She leaned forward, put the water bottle on the table, and grabbed a tissue to dab at her eyes. "Ten years ago, after he asked me to marry him and I ran away, he got in Gertie––"
"Gertie?" His voice cracked, changing pitch.
"That's what he called his truck"
Gage made a face. "That's a weird name."
"It is. But anyway, he got in Gertie and was driving here because he knew this is where I'd go. There was an accident. A delivery truck ran into Gertie. Your dad was hurt. Bad."
"Is he okay?"
"He is now, but it took a long, long time for him to get better. At first he was in the hospital. When he got out he stayed with his parents.""
"But he didn't call you?"
"No, when I ran away, I hurt his heart. I made him feel like I didn't love him."
"But you did?"
"I did. When he got better, he didn't want to talk to me. Finally, I went to see his mom to ask her if she'd let me talk to him because by then I knew I was pregnant with you."
Those big eyes stared up at her. "Waddid she say when you told her about me?"
She took a deep breath and blew it out. "I didn't tell her. I don't know why." Bullshit, she was afraid of Hannah King. The woman intimidated the hell out of her. "She told me she'd let your dad know I came by, and he'd contact me if he felt like it." Which was the truth.
"But he didn't?"
"No. He didn't."
"Do you still love him?"
She smiled at her son. "I will always love your father because he gave me you." Unfortunately, any hopes of rekindling in Brody's heart the love she still carried for him was long gone. The anger that had radiated from the man when she'd first tried to talk to him had solidified that as fact. She'd burned that bridge ten years ago, and now, each passing day erected a barrier neither of them could scale.
"What's his name?"
"Brody King."
"He's a police officer, right? You said that this morning at breakfast. You're going to work with him now?"
"Right. He's a detective sergeant on the team I joined."
"Does he still want to see me?"
"Yes, he does. Family is very important to your dad. If you want to, we can go meet your Grandma and Grandpa King on Sunday."
"Do you think he'll like me? Do you think they'll like me?"
"No, I think they'll love you. Can I let you in on a secret?"
"What?"
"I think your dad is as nervous about meeting you as you are about meeting him."
"Really?" He sat up and twisted to look at her.
"Yep."
"That's kinda cool. It's gunna be weird, you know."
"I figured."
"I mean, like what do I do?"
"You be yourself. He wants to know you. That's it."
"Does he like to fish? Play lacrosse? What about football?"
"Those are great questions. Maybe you should ask him those on Saturday. What do you think?"
"Yeah, okay." He stood up and then turned to her quickly. "I don't have to go live with him, right? I can stay with you?"
"What? Of course, you're staying with me! Why would you ask something like that?"
"A judge made Tabitha spend time with her dad. He's got another family, and they aren't exactly nice to her."
"Ah, well see that's not going to happen here. Your father and I will work really hard to make sure nothing happens in your life that you aren't one hundred percent comfortable with. You know you can always talk to me, no matter what, right?"
He nodded. "I know. I just..."
"You get scared?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I promise, pinkie swear even, nothing like that is going to happen between your father and me. Okay?" She held her pinkie up, and Gage wrapped his around hers. God, she really hoped what she believed in her heart and had just promised her son was the truth.
"Okay."
"Cool. Are you done with schoolwork?"
"Yeah, it was math and spelling. Aunt Dawn quizzed me already on my spelling words."
"Perfect. Let me change and we'll go for a jog." Which meant he'd ride his bike as she jogged. The constant conversation kept her mind off the miles they