Holden's Resurrection (Gemini Group #6) - Riley Edwards Page 0,78
she moved back to Wisconsin to be near her family.”
“You never came back to the bar.”
My defense was weak. Hell, I didn’t even know if I was trying to defend myself for thinking he’d taken Shelly home or if after all of these years I was still so hurt that he’d left me alone that day I still wasn’t over it.
After a few beats, he said, “I drove down to Kitty Hawk. I needed to clear my head and make some decisions about my life. Clearly, that day I made the wrong choice, or maybe it was the right one at the time.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means I was fucked-up. Everything had spiraled out of control. I was still trying to process the fact I’d never have kids, I’d fucked up everything with you. And I couldn’t attempt to make things right because you were pregnant. Don’t twist that into something ugly. The way I was, I knew I had no business being around a child. My life was toxic. I had to stay away. I spent two nights at the beach, then I came back and tried to restart my life.”
I knew a little something about having to restart. The year after Holden left me was a blur. Every time I restarted, something came along and tore my life apart and I had to start all over. Until I had Faith. That day had changed my life. I had a purpose, I couldn’t fail her, and it was then I stopped walking around letting things happen to me and started making what I wanted out of my life.
I’d taken control back.
Holden pulled into the parking lot at the side of the courthouse and I was grateful to end the conversation. And a part of me was happy I finally knew what really happened the day of Paul’s funeral.
“You ready to do this?” he asked.
“Yep.”
Holden smiled, and not for the first time I noticed the crinkles around his eyes. Lines that were not there seven years ago. I’d missed out on them forming. I’d missed out on a lot of things. Things I was not willing to miss out on in the future.
Please God, prove to me I can trust you.
“Bail’s set at one million—”
“That’s absurd,” Beatrice screeched and I jerked in surprise.
Patty hadn’t said a word when Judge Price set her bail at the same one million dollars. However, the bitch had turned her head to glare at me before the bailiff took her away. Chad Bullock hadn’t uttered a word, nor did he glance in my direction while he was in front of the judge.
But leave it to Beatrice Towler to make a complete ass out of herself.
The judge furiously pounded the gavel while Paul’s mother continued to shout, “That bitch has my money. My son died protecting you and this is how I’m treated.”
I rolled my eyes and heard Holden grunt his displeasure.
Oh, boy.
“And you!” Bea turned and pointed at me. “You and your bastard child won’t take what’s mine. Do you hear me?”
I heard the crazy woman loud and clear. Suddenly, I was no longer in my seat and Holden was pulling me down the empty row toward the aisle.
“It’s you. It’s always been you. You stole everything from my boy and you’re stealing what’s mine.”
The pounding of the gavel made me wince as Holden did his best to shield me from Bea. There was a loud commotion, but before I could turn to see what was happening, Nixon was behind me. His hand went to my shoulder and I jumped in surprise.
“Easy,” he murmured.
Then Jameson was there and I could only see the huge wood courtroom door. I was completely boxed in. Three men surrounded me. All I could feel was relief. The last time I had the misfortune to sit in the same room with that vile bitch, I’d been alone. There’d been no one to protect me from the vitriol she spewed. It was always the same thing. Faith was a bastard and I stole her money.
God, I hated that bitch.
The door whispered closed, silencing the banging and shouting. Once we were a few feet away, Holden stopped us. Both of his hands went to my shoulders and he held me steady.
“Are you okay?”
I shook my head.
“Damn.”
Holden yanked me forward. My face hit a wall of muscle and his arms wrapped around me. “That’s the last time you ever see that woman.”