Page 141 of Timelessly Ours

“Who’s stopping us?”

“I didn't dodge six arrests in my adult life just to be brought up on trespassing charges now. And eight months pregnant, no less.”

I grunt just to keep myself from laughing. “Pipe down. Let me see if I can find a light.”

I flick the lights on exposing the full expanse of the floor. It’s padded in two tones. The back wall is fully mirrored and it’s nearly twice as big as the one downtown.

“This place is amazing. Why isn’t anyone here?”

“It’s not open yet,” I say, letting her pass me so I can watch her take it all in.

“Who owns it?”

I catch her hand and twist her to the wall along the hallway we entered. I point up to a framed photograph of her and Rory in uniform. One I snapped of them when Nicole was teaching my little girl the basics of self-defense.

I bend to her ear. “You are now the proud owner of Rise Above Martial Arts.”

Her lips part before she turns to meet my eyes. "What?"

I take her hands. “I knew this is what you were meant for the moment you told me that every young woman deserves the knowledge of basic self-defense. When I noticed that you didn't keep going back to your karate classes just to brush up your skills. But to help others master it just in case…they were there for similar reasons you were."

“This place…is ours?”

I exhale a laugh. “Mostly yours but yes, it’s ours.”

She steps onto the mat and takes in the space. Her voice cracking when she speaks. “I don’t know what to say.”

I follow, sliding my hands in my pockets. “Say you love it.”

Her face lights but she shakes her head, eyes wandering just to take it all in again. "You get me."

I nod. "I get you. And I love everything that makes you who you are."

She breathes in the space, then her eyes focus on something resting on one of the benches. "What's that?"

I follow her gaze and curse to myself. Looks like the girls forgot to grab it when they were setting up. Either that or Angel left it here on purpose because she knows her best friend.

"That…is a gift from Rory. She's supposed to give you that. I'm not sure why it's here."

"Oh." she pouts. She's been doing that a lot lately because she knows what it does to me.

"Buuut… I suppose if you could pretend to be surprised when she gives it to you…"

"Totally. I'll be the picture of pure shock."

I chuckle and take her to it, sitting with her as she places the red box on her lap and opens it.

There's a gentle frown at first and then a small smile. "Beaded bracelets?" She snakes her fingers through a bunch of pastel-colored bracelets. "There must be a hundred in here…what are they—" Bright, misty green eyes turn up at me.

"Fearless bracelets," I say, quoting my six-year-old daughter. "For everyone who joins on their first day."

She shuts the box, sets it aside, and whispers, "I love that girl." The she swipes at a few loose tears and stands, barely.

I help her up the rest of the way and take her hands. “This isn’t all of it. There’s a party room too. You know, for birthdays and sponsorship events.”

“Sponsorship?”

I swipe my thumb along her jaw, knowing how important this is to her considering where she came from. “Sponsorships that will go toward children in the neighborhood who can’t afford it.”

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