Page 33 of If You Love Me

“How long have they been together?”

“They met four years ago but have been official for about three and a half. They got engaged four months ago. I think he felt pressured to ask. My father always told me it doesn’t take a man years to know he wants to marry you. Jaime told me I was going to be his wife after six months. Tyrion told you after five, and we were sixteen at the time, Evenie. That man knew as a chap that he wanted a life with you.

“It took him four years to decide if she was worth it. You know how many times I heard her hint at wanting to be married? For a second, I thought she was gonna be one of those bitches that proposed to a man because she wanted it so bad. Anyway, my point is, I don’t think he’s in this for the right reason.”

I went to say something, but the girls came back out so we could see their outfits.

“Oooo, don’t y’all look fancy!” Nina exclaimed.

I giggled as both Jersey and Summer Rose struck several poses for us. My baby had a lot of personality for her age, and I was already so in love with her. Last night, as we lay in bed,she told me so many stories and talked to me about herself. The thing that made me cry was when she told me she loved me. It wasn’t just the words; it was the way she articulated it at ten years old.

“Mommy, can I tell you something?”

“You can tell me anything.”

“I love you. I know I don’t remember you, but Daddy talked about you so much it’s like I do. Like when he made up bedtime stories about you, I closed my eyes and pictured you there. I could almost feel you and smell you. He said you were a good person, and even though you weren’t here, you still loved me.”

I swiped a tear from my eye. “I’ve always loved you, baby. From the moment I knew I was carrying you, I loved you. There is no time or place in space where you would exist and I not love you. I hate that we missed so much time together, Summer. All I want is a chance to be your mother.”

She giggled.“You’ll always be my mommy, silly.”

She’d wrapped her arms around my neck and smothered my face with kisses. I was so blessed to have this little girl.

“Do I look pretty, Mommy?” Summer asked.

“You look absolutely beautiful, my love.”

She blushed as she and Jersey ran back to try on the other clothes.

“She is so happy you’re home,” Nina noted. “When she stays over at my place, I hear her pray for you all the time.”

I smiled. “Tyrion has done a great job raising her. I’m so thankful that he made sure she knows who I am.”

“I’ll give him that. He never let your memory fade. If there is anything he loves more than you, it’s her.”

“You think he really still loves me that much, Nina?”

“I know he does. Iona… I won’t doubt he loves her. She came in at a difficult time, and she’s shown them both a lot of love. But it’s not the same as his love for you. You’re that man’s soulmate.”

I shook my head. “I’m not gonna beg him. I’m not going to fight him on this—”

“Baby, you don’t have to fight for what’s rightfully yours. You’re still legally his wife. That house is still legally yours too.”

“He has to divorce me to marry her.”

She waved me off. “That man isn’t filing for divorce. Mark my words.”

“Well, he can’t have both of us.”

“Damn right he can’t.” She sighed. “Listen, I’m not one to step on anybody’s toes. I just think you two need a chance to reconnect. You didn’t leave him. You weren’t having problems or anything like that. You were taken from your family. You two deserve the chance to see if all that love is still there… which I know it is. I say fight for your man.”

I was quiet. Did I have the right to mark my territory when I’d just gotten home? The last thing I wanted was to fight with another woman over a man. But Tyrion wasn’t just any man. He was my husband and had been my husband for almost fifteen years. He’d been the love of my life for close to two decades. My absence never changed the love I carried for him. If anything, it made it stronger.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted the smoke I knew came along with taking my family back, but I knew for sure that I wasn’t ready to give them up.

My father’smoney had been well spent.

I’d told myself not to go overboard in buying a new wardrobe. Originally, I was just going to buy a little of this and a little of that and just wear what I had at the house. That was until I went through the boxes this morning. If it didn’t stretch, it wasn’tgoing to fit me. Then my father called Nina’s phone to see why the charges were so little.

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