Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Owen sees her and immediately runs over to give her a hug. It breaks my heart that I’ve kept them apart, but my intentions were good. “Mimi, I’ve missed you.”
“Missed you too, baby,” she says, then meets my eyes, and I think I see a tear fall.
“Hey, Owen, wanna go shoot some hoops while your mom and Mimi talk?”
He grins and nods, then runs to his room to change. I mouth, “Thank you,” to Noah before they go outside.
Loretta moves to the couch and sits a cushion’s width away. At first, I’m tense, and the whole situation is awkward, but then she speaks.
“Katie, I’m so sorry for keeping the truth from you,” she says. An apology from the beginning is a good start.
“Thank you,” I say, genuinely meaning it. “I hope you understand why I wouldn’t let you see Owen. A mother’s intuition never lies.”
“You’re absolutely right,” she admits.
“With that being said, I’m grateful that you were there. I don’t know if I’d be sitting here right now or if Noah would be alive. There was a lot at stake, and you risked so much. I appreciate you.”
She grabs my hand and squeezes it. “I knew Brittany was going to try to pull something. She had called me and was rambling on about how I won’t see her again after today. Immediately, I got in my car and drove to the grand opening. When I was getting ready to park, I saw Noah and that man frantically searching around, and I knew something had happened. So I followed them from a distance, not wanting to be suspicious but also hoping I didn’t lose them. Noah never noticed me, and when they pulled into the storage, I stayed parked on the side of the road where I could kind of keep watch. I sat there contemplating what I needed to do, but then I heard what sounded like gunshots and acted.” The tone of her voice changes, and I can see how much this has affected her.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“I knew I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened to you, Katie. I felt responsible and should’ve gone to the police the moment Brittany started her threats. But I couldn’t. All I ever wanted was to protect Gabe, but he had chosen her, and she was willing to destroy everything I loved. How could my son love a monster? I’m sorry I didn’t raise him better.”
My eyebrows furrow. “You raised him the absolute best way you could. Loretta, none of what he did was your fault. I understand wanting to protect him. I loved him, and I know somewhere inside he felt the same about me. But he loved Brittany, and there’s no telling how many other women he loved too.”
She looks at me with understanding. “My son had issues, and there’s no denying that. I’d like to think he would’ve grown out of all of this and turned out okay. When I found out he had cheated, I was so disappointed and sad. The boy I raised would never do that to a woman. There were a lot of realizations and mistakes made on my part. I’ll always love Gabe, but he did things that I’ll never understand or forgive.”
“I feel the same way, but neither of us can change the past, Loretta. All we can do is try to make a difference and hope to change the future, our future, for the better.” I grab her hand and squeeze, hoping she knows I mean every single word.
Moments later, Noah comes inside grinning. “Owen’s playing with some of the neighborhood kids. He’s destroying them.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Noah. I kinda need to chat with both of you about something.”
Noah swallows and sits on the other side of me.
Loretta looks back and forth between us. “Brittany’s going to jail once she’s released from the hospital and will wait for a trial.”
“We heard,” Noah speaks up. “She needs to be behind bars.”
Hearing him say this causes a chill to run up my spine, considering he knows what’s in store for her.
“I won’t be charged for anything.” She lets out a relieved breath.
“What about Anthony?” I finally ask. All I can think about is that sweet kid not having any parents, living in a toxic environment with a mother obsessed with seeking revenge.
Loretta lets out a long sigh. “That’s what I need to discuss with you. Child Protective Services contacted me after Brittany explained Elliot and I were Anthony’s biological grandparents. We’re the only relatives he has, considering her parents passed away years ago, and she has no brothers or sisters. They said if we didn’t take him, Anthony would be sent to foster care.”
“No.” I gasp and cover my mouth. I turn to Noah, and he interlocks his fingers with mine.