Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Oakley had known, and she was right. She was to blame. Sarah had suffered, and Oakley could have stopped it. If she’d done something, then Sylvia might not have taken her own life. If she had told me, I could have come back and forced Sylvia to get help. But Oakley had done none of those things, and my daughter’s mother was dead.
Two
Oakley
“Oaky!” Sarah’s voice squealed the only name she’d ever called me. “You brought Belladonna!”
Thankful for her interruption and reminder of why I was here and what was important, I turned to my niece and opened my arms up for her to rush into. Belladonna barked happily, nudging between us for some attention. The sweet smell of Sarah’s favorite green apple shampoo met me as I wrapped my arms around her small body. Out of all the pain my stepsister had caused me, this child was worth every minute. I held her close to my chest and let her warmth ease the ache inside me.
“Hey, Buttercup,” I said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
There was a time when I’d wondered if I could ever look at her and not relive the pain of losing Wilder. Those worries were all before she was born. Before I held her for the first time. Any fear I had about my feelings toward this child had vanished the moment Sylvia placed her in my arms.
She bent down and wrapped her arms around Belladonna’s neck.
“I’m all packed up,” she said, tilting her head back and staring up at me. “We are gonna leave today.”
There was so much uncertainty in those brown eyes of hers that looked just like her father’s. She needed me to tell her it would all be okay. I didn’t need words to understand what she was asking me.
I leaned down and brushed back the blonde locks that had fallen free of her braid from her face. She had my hair color. Sylvia had been a brunette, like Wilder. I always teased her that she had gotten her blonde hair from me when that wasn’t at all possible.
“You’re going to love Florida,” I assured her.
She looked hopeful. “Will you come visit me and bring Belladonna?”
My chest tightened. “I was assuming you’d want to take Belladonna with you. She’s yours after all. Y’all can come visit me. Whenever your dad needs someone to stay with you when he has to go out of town for work, he can call me. I can come there, or you can come here. You can’t get rid of me.”
The relief in her eyes was followed by the glimmer of unshed tears. Sylvia hadn’t been the best mom, but she’d had her moments. She had been her mom. That was what mattered. Sarah had loved her mother, even when Sylvia had been at her worst.
“I can take her with me?” she asked with a spark of hopefulness in her eyes.
I glanced over at Wilder. “If your dad is okay with it.”
His brows drew together. “Will Cleo allow that?” he asked.
“Why would Cleo have a say in it? Belladonna is Sarah’s dog.”
I could see the frustration in his eyes.
“The dog lives with Cleo,” he replied tightly.
“No, she doesn’t!” Sarah told him, not letting go of Belladonna’s neck. “Grandmother only kept her a week, and she hated having her there. Belladonna lives with Oaky.”
Clearly, Wilder hadn’t been aware of that. Shouldn’t he know things like this about his daughter? Was he so wrapped up in his work and building his company that he’d missed something as important as this? Belladonna was Sarah’s best friend.
“I see. Yes, of course Belladonna can come with us,” he replied.
Sarah sniffled, and I dropped my gaze back to her. She was burying her face in Belladonna’s fur. I wasn’t sure if it was tears of sadness or joy. She’d been through a lot this week.
I lowered myself to my knees as Sarah looked up at me. I cupped her face in my hands. “It’s okay to cry. You don’t have to hide that. Don’t try. Cry, Buttercup. Be sad. Be angry. Let it all out. Your dad will listen. He’ll understand. Call me if you want to. I’ll listen. I’ll be there in five hours if you need me. Just don’t try to do this alone. Promise me that,” I urged her.
She nodded and sniffled as a tear rolled down her cheek. I brushed it aside with my thumb, then kissed where it had been.
“You’re going to have happy days again. They’ll come. Just you wait. Belladonna will be right there, reminding you of things that make you happy. But remember, she’s a terrible bed buddy.”
“I love you,” she whispered, and I pulled her to me, fighting my own tears.
“I love you most,” I replied.
The screen door slamming startled me, and I stiffened as I lifted my gaze to see Cleo striding into the house. Her determined gaze went from Sarah and me to Wilder. I could see the fire in her eyes, and I was glad I’d beaten her here. She would do more damage than had already been done with her behavior. Cleo was selfish. She was nothing like my mother had been. I never understood how my father had fallen in love with her after having loved someone as wonderful as my mom.