Page 45 of Love Restored

“That’s fucking brave of you, baby.”

Blake shook her head. “Not brave enough. My parents died in a car crash a few years ago. Slick roads and too much drinking. I never wanted the house, and I’m still not sure about what the will says about Rowan. Or frankly, me. But I don’t want anything to do with that place. They moved out of it when I came back the first time. The last time I stood in that foyer, my mother called me a whore and my father backhanded me. And when I left, they left, too, not caring about the building. That’s why I freaked out that first day when I got there.”

“Jesus.”

“Rowan’s never seen it. Never seen any of her grandparents. I’ve hidden her from my friends and moved around from job to job to make sure Chris’s parents couldn’t find me. I haven’t changed my name or anything that could get me in trouble, but I’ve done my best to keep under the radar. But when the estate came up, I knew my days of running would be over.”

Graham pulled into his driveway and shut off the car. “They aren’t getting Rowan.” His voice was low, a little gravely.

“I don’t know how I can fight them. They have so much money and power, and I’m a piercer at a tattoo shop. My baby is such a smart little girl, and so freaking amazing, but if they get their hands on her, they’ll shut off the light that makes her my Rowan.”

Graham turned in his seat and cupped her face. “I’m not letting you lose your child, Blake. We’ll figure it out.”

Tears filled her eyes again, but she blinked them back. “I didn’t think you wanted any part of this.”

Graham ran a thumb under her eye. “I don’t know what I want or what will hurt less, but I can’t walk away when you need me.”

Before Blake could say anything to that, another car pulled up, and she stiffened, only to scramble out as Murphy got out of the passenger seat. He opened the back door, and Rowan piled out, her little legs running full steam to Blake, who had her arms open.

“Mom! What’s going on?” Rowan asked, her body shaking. “Are we running again?”

Her daughter had always known to be careful, and that things could change, but she’d done her best to shield her daughter from a past that would hurt. When Rowan was older, she’d tell her everything.

“Let’s talk inside,” Graham said as he made his way to Blake’s side. “Hi, Rowan, I’m Graham.”

Rowan’s eyes widened as she looked up, all the way up at Graham. “Hi. Your beard is really long.”

And despite the brevity of the situation and the fact that Blake had no idea what she was doing, she laughed.

Maybe, just maybe, they’d figure this out.

At least, she hoped.

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