Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
I sat back in shock. Turned my head and looked at Cherry. Her eyes were wide and filled with tears. She met my gaze, grabbing my hand. I realized I was shaking.
“Are you serious?” I managed to get out.
“As a heart attack. I need some time to go through everything carefully. Formulate a plan. Mount a case and refile your request for visitation—to start. Josh is older now, and he has a say in this as well. I hope he wants to see you too.”
“It’s been so long—”
He shook his head. “Kids have memories too.” He tapped the box. “Inside here is every card and letter you tried to send to him. Years of letters, birthday cards, Christmas cards. All dated and stamped, proving how hard you tried. Letters to Roxanne. These prove you didn’t give up. And I’m not going to give up until the day I see you hug your son.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“Scared,” I admitted.
“Why?”
“Because you’re making me hope, Halton.”
He smiled. “Hope is good, Dom. Hope is good.”
Cherry led me across the street to a bar Halton and Fiona told her had good food. I was barely able to walk, never mind converse. We entered the bar, and she tugged me to a booth, ordering us drinks and burgers. Then she sat quietly, letting me process.
“How are you feeling?” she asked when I finally reached for the Guinness she had ordered me.
I took a sip, thinking. Halton had told me to be patient. He’d scheduled another meeting in two weeks and, in the meantime, gave me the information on the group he met with on the weekends. Then he told me to go and eat something, think it over, and email him any questions. He made sure I had his cell number. He shook my hand, and Fiona hugged me goodbye. It was all I could do to mumble my thanks. Follow Cherry where she led me.
“Overwhelmed.”
“I can see that.”
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table between us. I reached for her hands, holding them tight. “Grateful.”
She nodded. “Halton is going to help you.”
“I know that. But I meant you, Cherry G. I’m grateful for you. This is happening because of you.”
“I just asked a friend.”
“Your question has probably changed my life. I have a chance now. A chance to see Josh. To reestablish a relationship with my son.” I squeezed her hands. “Because you asked.”
Our burgers came, and she smiled. “Please eat.”
They smelled great, and I hadn’t eaten all day. Suddenly, I was starving, and I picked up the thick sandwich, taking a bite. We were mostly quiet as we ate, making a few observations about the bar and the food. After, we sat finishing our drinks, and Cherry met my eyes and asked the million-dollar question.
“What if Josh doesn’t want to see you?”
“I thought of that. It would gut me, but I wouldn’t stop. I would let him know my door was always open. I would ask to be informed of his big moments. Graduation, that sort of thing, so I could go and be there—even if he didn’t want to talk to me. Maybe one day, he’d change his mind, and I’d want him to know I never gave up.”
“I think he is lucky to have you for his dad.”
“I think I’m lucky to have you in my life.” I tilted my head to the side. “You are in my life, right, Cherry G?”
“As long as you behave,” she replied tartly, tossing her head, the tendrils around her face moving.
“I can’t guarantee that.”
“I probably need to stick around to make sure,” she countered. “Someone has to.”
Suddenly, I needed her alone. I stood and slid beside her, pulling her into my arms. I kissed her deeply, holding her tight. “I’m taking you home now, pretty lady. I need to be alone with you.” I kissed her again. “And I won’t be behaving. Neither will you.”
“Good to know.”
“I’ll get the check.”
CHAPTER TEN
Dom
The next two weeks passed slowly. Waiting was nothing new to me. Time in the world of legal affairs was different from real time. A minute meant a day. A little while could be weeks. The wheels of justice were slow to move. I knew Halton needed time to prepare. To determine the best course of action. To file the right papers. It was all I could do not to call him daily and ask if I could do anything to help. I knew I couldn’t—that was why he was taking over.
I worked, helped Chase with his roof and deck. I saw Cherry whenever I could, often driving to spend time with her in the evenings. I loved it when she came to visit Hannah and I got to have her with me at night. We were getting closer, and I loved spending time with her. She was every bit as stubborn and willful as ever, pushing back when I got, as she declared, “too bossy,” but I did love her fire.