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)
“And the judge saw that. He also saw through all Roxanne’s objections. Her lies. Her obvious temper.” Halton smirked. “When I pulled out a few of the postmarked letters you’d sent to Josh that were returned, I thought she was going to lose it. He saw that as well. It really couldn’t have gone better. The fact that you kept all of it for him was huge, Dom. That you never stopped trying.” He smiled kindly. “That you were still putting him first, insisting Josh have a say in this. All of that counted. All of that mattered.” He stood. “I’ll leave you two, and I’ll see you on Saturday.”
“Thank you,” Dom said, rising to shake his hand.
Halton shook his hand and clapped him on the arm. “This is a good win, Dom. We’ll get you back in his life, and he’ll be the better for it.”
He bent and brushed a kiss on my cheek, whispering, “He’s pretty shaken up. I’m glad he has you.”
Dom sat beside me, once again picking up my phone and studying the picture. I rubbed his arm. “You okay, sweetheart?”
He smiled at my unexpected endearment. “I will be. I’m reeling, if I’m being honest.”
“I can understand that.”
“Halton was incredible. Precise. Authoritative. He ran over her lawyer and his underhanded manipulation like he was sipping a beer on the porch at the end of a day. Nothing fazed him. He knew what he needed to do, and he did it. I thought Roxanne was going to expire on the spot, she was so furious. He didn’t let a single remark pass without refuting it. The angrier she got, the wilder her accusations became, and he squashed every single one. I wish I could have taped it.”
“That must have been difficult to listen to.”
“Once upon a time, yes. Today, it meant nothing. I knew I couldn’t react. Halton warned me not to argue with her—to let it roll off my back. And he was right. The judge saw her temper and my calm. It was always that way, but she used to twist it around, making me sound like the crazy one.” He paused. “I hope she’s not done that to Josh.”
“He seems great. Smart. Articulate. Curious. Funny.”
“You’ll come with me next week?”
“Am I allowed?”
“Yes, I specifically had Halton state I would be with my fiancée. Roxanne can’t refuse.”
“Then I’m there.”
He leaned close and kissed me. “Thanks. Let’s go home.”
I gathered my purse and jacket, and we headed to the car. On the drive back to Lomand, his phone rang, and he answered on the Bluetooth.
“Dom speaking.”
“Dom, it’s Randy. The inspection was great. So, your offer stands. Congratulations, the house is yours.”
Dom met my shocked gaze fast then returned his attention to the road. “Even with the quick closing?”
“That was perfect for them.”
“Thanks, Randy. I’ll be in touch later.”
“Sounds good.”
Dom hung up and reached for my hand. “The house is ours, Cherry.”
“I can’t believe we got it.”
“It’s a great family house. Not a lot of young families moving in to the Lomand area right now. It’s been up for a while, and Randy was sure we would be successful. The inspection showed nothing, so it’s ours.” He grinned. “My kid and a house in one day. Halton is right—you’re my lucky charm.”
“I think you’re mine.”
He winked. “You know it.”
DOM
Today was Hannah’s birthday, and Chase had arranged a surprise party for her. I was grateful for the activity to take my mind off next Saturday. Meeting my son. I worked at the garage in the morning, while Cherry ran some errands. Chase was keeping Hannah busy all day, bringing her to the bar later, where we would all be waiting. She was going to be surprised. Everyone would be even more surprised when Chase proposed. Cherry was excited for Hannah and thrilled she’d found someone to share her life with.
We kept our engagement low-key, but our friends knew. They were thrilled, and Hannah was so excited about the fact that her mom would be living a few minutes away from her. I had shared my news about Josh, and they were all supportive and understanding, knowing how nervous I was about seeing him and his reaction to me. Cherry had printed off a copy of the picture she’d taken, and it was clipped above the desk in the office. Seeing it filled me with emotions, both sad and happy. He looked like a great kid, and I hated that I had missed so many years with him, but I was pleased to see he looked fine.
“How does it feel, knowing a week from today, you’ll be looking at him in the flesh?” Charly asked, sliding onto the stool beside me.
I met her curious gaze with a smile. “Scares the shit out of me that he’ll find me lacking,” I replied honestly. “Or that I won’t have the patience to deal with him. I remember thirteen. I was a little bastard with an attitude.”