as I approach. Without even looking down, Landry slides his arm along my back, his fingers gripping my shoulder as he pulls me even closer against his side.
“Do you like this building?” he asks.
He doesn’t look down at me, he’s looking out of the window at the cityscape and I wonder if he likes what he sees. I know that he really loves the view of his office right now, so I’m curious to know if he likes this one as well.
“It seems really nice,” I say. “What about you? How is the view?”
He turns his head, his lips twitching into a small smile. “It’s good, honey. It’s also big enough to house all of the staff. It will be a tight squeeze, but even if everyone comes along, we can make it work.”
Licking my lips, I can’t help but smile up at him. This man, he wants to bring everyone. He’s thinking of his entire company. Not just the big players, but everyone and this is why I love him.
“What about the childcare center?” I ask.
He chuckles. “I knew you would ask. Jamie, can we see that space and then we’ll be out of your hair.”
Without another word, we follow behind Jamie. Of course, she gives me a few glances before we leave. It’s obvious she knows what we were doing up here, it’s also obvious she isn’t going to say shit because the commission on this sale will be a pretty penny and she wants it.
Landry doesn’t leave my side the rest of the day. After lunch, we pick up Holden and he surprises us by taking us to the aquarium to have a family afternoon. That’s what he called it, too. A family afternoon. I want to pinch myself the entire day, because this is my life. This is really my life and none of it feels real.
Chapter Thirty-Three
TENNESSEE
Pressing my lips together, I try not to cry, but I fail. The technician swabs Holden’s cheek and now I understand why Landry was insistent about having a full and happy family day. This is an absolute nightmare. What’s worse is that the act isn’t painful at all, it’s knowing what’s to come.
“Aaron Anderson. That’s his name,” I whisper to myself.
Landry hears me, I know that he does because his hand takes mine, his fingers lace with my own and he squeezes. Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I try really really hard not to bawl like a baby. I try and I fail. Big fat tears stream down my cheeks.
“It’s his name, but after this is over with you won’t ever have to think about it again,” Landry murmurs.
“Won’t I though? Now I know his name. I can’t pretend that he’s some mythical creature, not anymore. It feels like it’s just happened all over again.”
The pain that flashes in Landry’s eyes causes my stomach to clench. Holden wriggles in my lap, but I hold him firmly while I look at Landry, unable to shift my gaze away from his hurt one. He doesn’t want me to feel this way, just as much as I don’t want to either.
“We will get through this, honey. Together.”
I want to believe him. I want to believe him so badly, but I can feel myself slipping. I’m slipping away inside of myself and I don’t know if I’m going to make it back out. Finally, I break eye contact with him and look down at the floor.
The doctor comes back in to see us, and thankfully the conversation is dropped. He informs me that he should have results back in about five days, maybe earlier, depending on the lab. I thank him and he tells me that we’re free to go.
Five days.
Court is in ten days.
Thankfully, Bash and Hansen will have enough time to work their magic and come up with a way to make sure Aaron Anderson never even lays eyes on Holden. If I had my way, he wouldn’t even know about him. He doesn’t deserve to even know Holden’s name, let alone spend a single moment with him.
Unfortunately, that bitch Susan decided to play her games. I won’t feel sorry for her when Landry takes all of her employees from her and leaves her with nothing but a company name and an empty building. I hope she cries. She deserves so much worse than that, but karma can dish things out much better than I can and I hope it’s a dish best served cold.