Page 20 of The Locksmith's Promise

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Grief welled up in my throat at what my fear had cost him, but I smiled and nodded. “You have a dad.”

“Can we see him today?”

I huffed out a short laugh. “You’re not going to believe this, but I don’t have his phone number.”

At that moment, my cell phone dinged. Angling the screen to see it, my heart leapt into my throat.

Unknown: It’s Bax. Miller gave me your number, I hope that’s okay. Can we talk?

To give myself a minute to think, I saved his information.

Looking up into my son’s expectant gaze, there was no question. I held up my phone. “Bax just messaged me. You want me to invite him over?”

There was nothing slow about his smile this time.

Ducking my head, I ran my thumbs over the keyboard.

Maggie: Corwin wants to meet you properly. Want to come over after dinner?

Bax: You told him.

Maggie: I did.

Bax: How did he take it?

Maggie: He’s happy. Excited.

Bax: How? How is he not angry?

Maggie: He’s only ever heard good things about you. I’d planned to tell him everything now that we’re here in Moose Lake. I just didn’t expect you to show up unexpectedly.

Bax: I’m not sorry, Maggie.

I sighed. Because as it turned out, he had nothing to be sorry for. Not in relation to Corwin.

Maggie: I am. I should have known you wouldn’t turn your back on him.

Just me.

I cleared the tears from my throat.

This was not about us.

A lifetime ago, I might have taken him back even after everything went sideways.

A lifetime ago, I couldn’t imagine life without him.

A lifetime ago, I didn’t want a life without him.

He could have found me at any time, but he didn’t.

And I survived without him. I built a beautiful life without him.

I gave my head a little shake as my thumbs flew over the tiny keypad to send him our address.

Maggie: We’ll see you soon.

I put the phone face down on the kitchen table, turned to my son, and forced a smile. “Your dad is coming after dinner today.”

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