Page 14 of Love Set Me Free

“I’m not going to stand here and pretend I’m some upstanding citizen who wants to forget everything and move on. I’m with all that get-back shit. I don’t even care if I get a dime out of it. The white people that put me in this situation need to pay, but Paisley is right. I need a minute to get my head on straight. Twelve years is a long time to be away, and I need some time to readjust. Is it cool if I reach out when I’m ready?”

Steven nodded slowly, steepling his fingers, and it was his turn to look between Paisley and Kydrick before a grin spread across his face.

“Very well. There is something else that can’t wait though.”

Kydrick watched as Steven pulled a thick folder out of a drawer and slid it toward him.

“What’s this?” Kydrick asked as he grabbed it and flipped it open.

“Your father’s will. He hired me as his lawyer years ago to make sure his affairs were in order in case anything happened to him. Made it very clear thatwhenyou were released, and if he wasn’t around, everything in his name should go to you.

“That’s all the paperwork there. He had about ten thousand in assets and in his accounts that are yours, and the house sold after his death. There was an amount leftover after the fees and renovations totaling another ten thousand. Your mother had a life insurance policy that was released to your father and then one that was to be released to you when you turned twenty-one. Now that you’re free, that’s yours, and your father also had one that is yours. Together, the policies are fifty thousand.

“You may have been dealt a shitty card, Sutherland, but you’re getting out on better circumstances than most. That isn’t even mentioning the fact that we are going to sue these motherfuckas for every dime they have. Every single one of them.”

“Oh my God.” Paisley’s words came out in a gasp as she placed a hand on Kydrick’s bicep, but even that didn’t ground him.

He stood there frozen in place, trying his best to process what was just said. His parents had always been hard workers, and they always gave Kydrick the best of the best. This one final deed didn’t even surprise him. It just hurt that he couldn’t thank either of them. He almost felt unworthy of so much money.

Underneath all that, though, he felt a sudden rush of relief. Now, he knew he would be able to chill for a little bit and take the time needed to figure out his next move, a luxury most people in his position didn’t have.

Looking down at Paisley, Kydrick could tell she didn’t know about any of this. Her boss must have kept the informationto himself, which made sense. Client/lawyer privilege was still respected even in death, and Steven’s business on this matter was with Kydrick’s father, not him. A long time ago, Kydrick had given Steven and his team permission to discuss his case with Paisley, but this situation was different, and her surprise was genuine.

His jaw clenched before he whispered, “I need a moment.”

She nodded and then grabbed his hand, leading him out of the room. They walked down a short hall before he saw a sign for the restrooms.

“Go ahead. I’ll finish up with Steven, and then we can go. Take your time.” She gave his arm one last squeeze before he turned to go into the restroom.

Once inside, he locked the door, and then he allowed his tears to fall as he looked up at the ceiling.

“Thank you,” he whispered, praying that his parents heard him.

The ride to the Whitaker home was silent, but it was a comfortable silence. Paisley sensed that Kydrick had allowed himself to feel his emotions when he excused himself to the bathroom, and she gave him all the time he needed while she spoke with Steven a little more about Kydrick’s funds and the steps they had to make to get them into the accounts they just set up for him. Of course, Steven took their time alone to remind her about their date. Luckily, Kydrick walked in at that moment, saving her from having to respond. She quickly ushered Kydrick out of the building, and they’d been lost in their thoughts ever since.

As soon as Paisley pulled onto her parents’ street, she felt Kydrick’s hand on her thigh. Chills shot through her as she glanced in his direction, noticing him looking out the window with an unreadable expression on his face.

“You okay?” she murmured.

It took him a few seconds to respond, and when he did, he turned to look at her profile.

“So many memories.”

Paisley parked the car and then met his gaze. “Is that a good or bad thing?”

“Both. There were many days I didn’t think I would be in the free world. I’m happy, but it also hurts. I miss my parents…”

His sentence trailed off as his eyes traveled toward the Whitaker house. Paisley’s parents bought the house when they married, and it had been home ever since. She grew up there, and she spent many days and nights with Janelle and Kydrick there, playing in the front yard and building blanket forts in the family room.

Paisley’s heart clenched as she thought about simpler times in tandem with Kydrick’s words. She couldn’t begin to understand the depth of his pain. The subject of his parents was one they typically didn’t talk about much, but she felt the need to dig a bit deeper at the moment.

After turning the car off and covering his hand on her thigh with hers, she squeezed his fingers and asked, “Do you want to go see them? Their graves? I go there at least once a month. It might be good for you.”

Kydrick stiffened while his jaw clenched. “Eventually. Not now.”

Paisley couldn’t do anything but respect that boundary. It was clear he wasn’t ready to face seeing his parents at the cemetery, and she didn’t blame him. Her parents were still alive, and she thanked God every day. Losing them was a pain she didn’t want to get acquainted with any time soon.

“How can I help?”

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