but I didn’t tell anyone, not until this exact moment, telling you.”
“You need to talk to someone,” I say. “I went to a therapist. It helped me a lot.”
She gives me a sad smile and nods her head once. “Maybe,” she lies. “I just wanted to tell you. I think that you’re probably the bravest woman that I know. You kept that baby and you love him. My father has told me how good you are to him. How loving and caring. Whatever you need from me for this, you have it.”
My fingers flex and she gives me a gentle squeeze. “I’m serious, Tennessee. What my mother has done is disgusting and she’s done a lot of gross things in my life, but this tops all of it and I know it’s not because of some misguided love for my father, it’s for greed and nothing more. So, whatever you need. It’s yours.”
“I don’t want anything, Lucinda,” I say, then I bite on the corner of my bottom lip before I add something. “Except maybe two things,” I murmur.
She arches a brow suspiciously and I don’t blame her. My lips twitch into a smile. “I want you to call me Tenny, please,” I begin.
Her lips curve up into their own smile and I realize that this is the first time I’ve seen her smile. It makes her beautiful face look gorgeous. She looks like the perfect mixture of Landry and Susan and as much as I dislike Susan, even I can agree that she is a beautiful woman.
“What else?” she urges.
“Can you please, once we get to know each other a little better. Can you please give us your approval? I know that Landry really needs it from all three of you.”
She doesn’t show an immediate expression or say anything to me. Instead, she leans back slightly and crosses her arms over her chest. I wonder if I’ve ruined this moment between us. Then she surprises me and leans forward.
“Do you love him?” she asks.
“I do,” I say without a single moment of hesitation.
Lucinda smirks. “I knew you did the moment I met you. I just wanted to hear it from you. You don’t have my stamp of approval yet, just because I don’t know you. However, you have my support in all things, including dating my dad.”
I can’t help myself. I also can’t stop myself. Opening my arms, I lean forward and hug her. She lets out a small laugh, lifting her own arms and hugs me back. That’s how Landry finds us a few moments later, in an embrace.
“This is a sight if I’ve ever seen one,” he announces from the doorway.
Our arms fall from one another and we both turn to face him. He’s leaning his shoulder against the doorframe as if he’s been there for a while and I wonder how much of our conversation he’s heard, then I decide that it doesn’t matter. I love him and nothing is a secret from him, at least not when it comes to my feelings.
Lucinda stands, looking over her shoulder to me and gives me a wink, then without a word, she makes her way toward Landry. She stops in front of him, tilting her head back slightly as she whispers something to him. I hear his deep voice rumble, but can’t make out what either of them has said.
Without another word, Lucinda leaves and Landry takes a couple more steps into the room, closing the door behind him.
“Did I give you enough time?” he asks softly.
Nodding my head, I pat the edge of the bed where Lucinda just vacated. He makes his way toward me, sinking down next to me without hesitation. Landry reaches and takes my hands in his, holding them in his lap.
“Talk to me,” he murmurs.
I shake my head. “I’m panicked. I just keep envisioning this man taking Holden away from me. I know that we’re going to fight this. You’ve promised me that you are, but I still can’t help but think that he could possibly win, even if it’s only temporarily. I can’t let him be in his life, not at all,” I ramble.
Landry lifts his arm, sliding it around my shoulder and pulls me against his side. “Bash and Hansen are working together on this. They’re going to take the reins since they’re the professionals. We’re going to do the best that we can and be strong. And when you can’t be strong, you’ll come right to me and I’ll hold