Page 67 of Mine to Hold
“Not yet, you can’t.”
She paused in the center of the family room and glanced around. Her body shook involuntarily as her mind relived the horrors of what happened.
Emmerson wrapped his loving arms around her, gently tugging her to his chest. “If staying here is too much, I can ask my mom if we can stay with her and Steve. We’d have an entire wing to ourselves.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’ve put your family out enough.” During the five days she’d been awake in the hospital, each and every one of his family members had come to visit. They all brought flowers and homemade food for her to enjoy.
Along with fun conversation.
The best news had been Trinity and Emmett had become parents. They adopted a little baby girl.
They named her Leslie Rumor Kirby because she had been born almost exactly at the time of the shooting. Poor Emmett had missed the birth, but Trinity had been there.
Rumor still didn’t understand why they used her name, but she didn’t dare question.
“Babe, you’re not putting anyone out. I care about you and so does my family. We’re all here for you.”
She’d been listening to Emmerson say those words for days. She knew he cared. There wasn’t even a doubt in her mind about that.
But how long would it last?
How long could she continue to live in his pool house, loving him as much as she did, knowing she’d never have all of him? He gave her as much as he could.
But he’d never utter those words.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she whispered, knowing she shouldn’t hint at anything.
“Lucky for you that you don’t have to find out.” He pressed his hand on the small of her back. “I took the liberty of gathering most of your things and putting them in my bedroom. I can stay in there with you, but if it hurts for me to be in bed with you, I can sleep down the hall.”
“I don’t think I can handle being alone,” she admitted.
Not one single night did Emmerson leave her alone. He’d sneak out in the morning, go home, shower and shave, only to return and stay all day. Janet, nurse, would make up the reclinerwith sheets and a blanket, and he’d sleep there, even though Rumor told him he didn’t have to.
He cared.
It felt like love, but what did she know? She thought her parents had loved her, but they abandoned her the first chance they got.
He pulled back the covers and fluffed the pillows, helping her ease in, while he sat on the edge, holding her hands. He sported a contemplative look, which made his forehead crinkle. He always did that when he had something serious he wanted to talk about but didn’t know how to start.
“What’s wrong?” She decided to help him along. Whatever they were going to be to each other, she wanted it to be good. However it ended, she wanted to cherish the moments.
“You know how Rhett and Miles were doing some deeper digging into your background and where you lived when we were dealing with the whole Tom and Tony thing?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, they found your parents.” He lifted his gaze. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’ve only been sitting on it for three days. But I wanted you to be physically stronger. Please don’t be mad. I hate it when you’re angry with me.”
She stared at him with her heart thumping wildly in her chest. “My parents,” she whispered. “Where are they? What happened to them? Have they been looking for me?”
“God, this breaks my heart,” he said softly. “I don’t have a lot of details and we have no idea why they left you and didn’t come back. But when you were about sixteen, your father was arrested.”
“For what?”
Emmerson closed his eyes for a long moment before blinking them open. “Your mother had died of an overdose and he did nothing to prevent it. He went to prison for manslaughter andtook his own life shortly after. Babe, I’m so sorry. I wish I had better news.”
“At least I know.” Tears poured out of her eyes. She couldn’t stop them if she tried. They weren’t tears of sorrow. Or of great regret. They were just tears of sadness for the years of wondering. “My folks often left me for periods of time while they went on benders. They could have come back and found me gone and just kept going because I’m not sure they ever wanted me anyway. I’ve been used to that my entire life. To most of my foster care families, I was a meal ticket.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” He cupped her face. “You’re wanted right here. With me. My family. You’re part of us and this community. Don’t you ever forget that.” He kissed her tenderly and with intent. It was beautiful and for the first time in her life, she felt as though she belonged.
