Page 28 of Treasured
I grabbed some plates out of her cupboard. “Are you ready to go to Kennywood Park?”
She bounced then grabbed the silverware. “I’ve not gone since I was a girl.”
I set one of the baby bowls out for Bruce so he could try the pasta without sauce, but I added the lemon sauce and chicken to the adult plates. “Well, it’s my treat for the afternoon. Hopefully, Bruce will enjoy himself.”
“Thank you for all of this,” she said, smelling the food on her plate.
Then she put it down and curled her arms around me.
Her kiss made me ache and filled me with hope. No other woman had ever made me want to kick up my heels and stay forever—only Mary.
Chapter Ten
Mary
The evening air was getting cold. Neither of us were in jackets, but I wrapped a blanket around Bruce so at least he would be warm.
Soon, Dwayne would be a memory in my life, but for now, he was here.
Young teenagers were screaming on the roller coaster we passed, but Bruce was quiet. He’d been overwhelmed, but the fact that Dwayne was here, holding my hand and there for us, was new.
We headed toward the main gate, and I squeezed his hand in mine as we pushed the stroller. “Thank you for tonight, Dwayne,” I said.
He smiled at me, and my heart swelled a little as he said, “Soon, we get that dinner date I want.”
“Maybe,” I said. When he left for good, I would probably be heartbroken.
We headed past the bumper cars, but Dwayne stopped me and pointed toward the funnel cake stand in the distance. “Is that Arthur?”
His blue eyes met mine, and for one second, cold ice rushed through my veins. Then he walked in the other direction.
Dwayne had crossed his arms like a silent sentinel as he stared him down. I took a deep breath and motioned with my head to keep going. “Must be a coincidence. He’s leaving.”
We continued, but he scanned the area like he was surveying everyone we passed. Once we made it out the gate and headed toward his rental car, he asked, “Have you seen anything strange at work?”
I sucked on my bottom lip, and a memory hit me. “I thought I saw his car, but the restraining order is now in effect. He’d go to jail if he comes near us, and he respected that for over a year.”
Dwayne waited behind the stroller and let me get Bruce out, then he opened the car door for me. He waited till I strapped my baby in, and then he said, “Or he thinks he has a perfect plan. Do me a favor and don’t be alone for a while.”
Having a black eye and not being able to call my brother for a week when I’d been a client at the shelter now flashed in my memory. I’d been so afraid Arthur was tracking my every move for months, including adding an app to my brother’s phone. “I can’t live my life afraid. I’ve done that, and I can’t go back to being so scared that I can’t enjoy fresh air and sunshine,” I said.
He kissed my forehead then said, “Let’s go back home.”
He got in and started the car. A few minutes later, we were on the curvy country back roads that eventually led to my house. The trees of the surrounding area and the hills where only deer could run had only amplified my fears once, but I’d slowly let that fear subside.
But this city in the middle of what would otherwise be a forest was all I knew, and it was a small place, with nature that called to me. I rested in the seat and said, “Since Bruce is sleeping, we’ll have an easy ride home.”
Dwayne gripped the wheel as he drove. “And I want you to realize that you have me now.”
I’d always wanted someone strong enough to take on the world at my side. I’d never met anyone like him. He was my girlhood dream.
“Hard to believe.” Part of me wanted him to last forever, but dreams were just that, and I’d never been good at holding out hope. I let out a sigh and said, “Besides, you live in Virginia.”
His eyes narrowed, and he patted my knee. “Not if my lawyers come through. Then I’m moving here.”
My heart raced as if he’d just offered me a diamond ring. “Really?”
He met my gaze. “Would you want to see me?”
