Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
She backed away from him, toward me, toward the door.
Her whole body was trembling. “I’m not going back to her. You can’t make me.”
“Stevie, honey.” Harmony started for her, holding a hand out.
Stevie jumped and jerked around.
I was between her and the door, and she paused for one second.
I saw it all. Everything.
She was terrified, panicking, and determined.
She would’ve bulldozed over me if it meant not going back to her mother. That truth ached inside me, because no matter who my father was, I was lucky enough to get two good moms in my life.
“Do you know me?” I asked.
I’d been quiet for most of the visit, making pleasant small talk with Harmony as the two brothers conversed together in the main sitting area, looking a little awkward. I’d been introduced to everyone, but I’d only nodded and smiled. Stevie hadn’t said a word, but she’d watched me from time to time. Then again, she watched everyone.
It’d been fine talking with Harmony, but it was obvious she was nervous about meeting Brett. And she was overwhelmed with everything. I caught that a few times when she slipped, saying how tired she was. It wasn’t just the words, it was in the way she said it and the worried looks she sent to Stevie and Sammy.
Harmony had grown up with money. It was in the clothes she wore, and I didn’t think she realized that had an impact on others who didn’t have the money to wear name brands, like Stevie. She had the newest phone model, rings on her fingers, and perfectly styled hair with the right products and sun-kissed highlights. But I also caught the other looks Stevie had cast in Harmony’s way.
Stevie was aware of how different she was from Will’s wife.
There was a disconnect between them. Harmony was yearning to be Stevie’s new mother and Stevie was throwing everything up between them to keep her away.
She held my gaze for a beat before moving her head up and down in a brisk nod with a coolness in her eyes. She didn’t care who I was.
That was fair. I forged ahead. “I lost my mom and brother the same week I lost my friend. The rest maybe you know. It’s better if you don’t, but I’ve been through things. I don’t know you, and I don’t know what you’ve been through, and I have no idea why you got it so wrong, thinking they want to send you back to your mother.” Her eyes flared at that last statement, but I continued, “But being as someone who just met you all, I can tell every adult in this room is crazy about you. Whatever you’re thinking, you got something twisted wrong. Are you not seeing how crazy they are about you? I mean, look.” I nodded to them. Will and Harmony stood together. Brett was slightly ahead, coming closer to me. All paused as Stevie turned, a slight frown on her face.
This was so totally not my place, but I guess I was going there anyway.
I stepped beside her, saying, “I’m fairly certain each one of them will shit themselves at the thought of you going back to wherever you say you won’t go.” Hearing Stevie giggle, just a little one, and she gasped almost right after, every cell in me relaxed.
Catching Harmony’s gaze, seeing the love literally swimming there, I moved close to Stevie and lowered my voice, “I had a great mom, and I lost her. Then I hit the mom lottery when I got a second chance at another great mom. She’s been my mom ever since, and that woman behind you? I am pretty sure she is bursting at the seams to try to be a great mom to you as well.” Stevie tensed, but I quickly added, “You do what you need, but I’m telling you. Every girl should get a chance at having a good mother. Or a woman who will love you like a mother. Those are just as great too.”
I stepped back, but I’d scored.
I could see it.
I got in there and I got Brett’s niece to start thinking, and when she looked Harmony’s way, I swear there was a shift. “Uncle.” She gave in with that one word, everyone heard it.
Brett caught her up in a hug first.
Will soon followed.
Harmony was last.
By that time, Brett joined me, tugging me so I stood in front of him and he looped an arm across my chest. I leaned back against him, and held onto his arm with my hands, half-tempted to prop my chin there to watch this moment.
Brett tugged me backwards, holding his hand up in a silent goodbye. Will tipped his chin up, his eyes finding mine and holding, a silent thank you to me. Reading it, I gave him a little nod, and he turned back to his wife and niece. No one else existed for them.