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)
“You mean that,” she said incredulously. “After everything, you mean that.”
“You’re his mother. He needs you.”
“Thank you.” She turned to the judge and Halton, who was watching her with narrowed eyes. “Give me whatever paperwork you need me to sign. I won’t fight it. I fired my lawyer, and I just want to make sure Josh is okay.”
“I can draw up the papers,” Halton said.
“I want it clear that if anything happens to me, Dom gets full custody.”
“I’ll make sure of it. I can recommend a decent lawyer for you as well.”
“I don’t think I need one. I’m done fighting this. I have something bigger to take on.”
I met her eyes. I no longer saw the bitter, angry woman who took away my son. I saw the scared, lonely person who was facing the biggest battle of her life. Who needed to be okay so my son would be all right.
“And we’ll be there to help you.”
Friday afternoon, I was getting ready to pick up Josh. I walked out of the garage, frowning when I saw Cherry, Charly, and Gabby loading up the trunk and back seat.
“What are you doing?”
Cherry smiled at me. “We were cooking for Roxanne. We made a bunch of easy meals for her and Josh. Individual ones, so if she isn’t hungry, Josh can heat up his own dinner. And we did some shopping, so she doesn’t have to worry about that.”
I marveled at the giving hearts of these women. As soon as I told them about Roxanne being ill, they had gone into helpful mode. Planning things for Josh. And, apparently, Roxanne.
I pulled Cherry close and kissed her brow. “Thanks, Cherry G.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Okay.”
We were quiet on the drive, and when we arrived, Roxanne was shocked as we walked in, carrying the meals and groceries. She was speechless, but when I brought in the second armful, she was talking to Cherry, the two women once at such odds, finding common ground—Josh’s welfare.
When we left, it was the first time I didn’t feel her anger. Josh was curious. “So, you’re not fighting with Mom anymore?”
I knew she hadn’t told him yet. She wanted to have all the information before she shared.
“Your mom and I came to an understanding.”
He looked pleased. “Good. So, I get all of you? I can like everyone, and no one is going to be upset?”
I took Cherry’s hand. “Absolutely.”
“And John is gone. I can come on the weekends and Mom said maybe the occasional night.”
“Yep.”
“I like this.”
“Good.”
Later that summer, Josh’s laughter echoed from the water. He was splashing and playing with Theo and Thomas, once again a little kid himself. He still loved the beach, and we came as often as we could. Cherry chuckled beside me, reaching for my hand. Our friends were scattered around us, and not far away, Roxanne observed our son, a smile on her face. We often asked her to join us, and now that she was done with chemo, she said yes, enjoying the sun and the company. We would never be close or best friends, but we had come to an understanding. Josh wasn’t a weapon she used to punish me with anymore.
She had moved to Lomand, living a few streets away from us, and now I saw Josh all the time. He was with us every second week, and he would go to school in the fall and be able to travel between the two houses easily. If Roxanne was having a bad week or day, he stayed with us. I loved having him around, and he loved being with us. Hanging out in the garage. Learning. Always learning. He was a natural with engines and cars and soaked up knowledge like a sponge.
I laced my fingers with Cherry’s. “Okay there, baby? You have enough sunscreen on?”
She chuckled. “You were very thorough, Mr. Salvatore.”
I grinned. “Can’t have you all burned for the wedding.”
She smiled back. “A week from today, I’ll be your wife.”
I lifted our joined hands and kissed her knuckles. “I can hardly wait.”
We had a small celebration planned. Her and me. Hannah and Josh beside us. A party in the backyard with our friends. Neither of us wanted a big ceremony or reception. Hannah and Chase would be doing that shortly. We simply wanted to get married and go forward with our life.
“Hannah Banana!” Josh shouted. “You came!”
“Josh B’Gosh!” she yelled back. She had adopted my old nickname for him, and he loved it. He loved everything about her.
I snickered at the two of them and their pet names. They got on like a house on fire. Hannah adored her “little bro,” as she called him, and he worshipped her. He loved sleepovers at her place or when she’d pick him up after school for ice cream.
“Dad!” he yelled. “Hannah Banana is here! We wanna race!”