Page 84 of Badges
Slowly, I extend my palm again, then hold my breath to see if she’ll shake it.
Elena’s sharp inhale tells me she’s doing the same.
We both watch as Cynthia glances back and forth between us.
Then she rushes forward, past my offered hand, to throw her arms around my neck. “I believe you,” she whispers.
I can’t describe the flood of raw emotion that nearly overtakes me.
I’m holding mychild. A piece of myself and a woman I cared for.
She’s also a part of the person I love now.
The whole thing is a surge of heat that constricts my chest in an intense wave.
When Cynthia backs away, a crooked smile tugs up her cheek.
She looks like Elena when she does it. Or like her mother.
Fuck. This is all so much.
“What do you say I take us all home?” I stand, quickly wiping the sting in my eyes.
Cynthia turns to her sister, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Can you stay with me tonight?”
Elena glances at me over Cynthia’s head. “Every night, sis.” Pulling her close, Elena walks her to the truck.
“Why does it say ‘sheriff’ on the side?” Cynthia asks as she crawls in.
“I’m the sheriff of Wannigan County.” I hold Elena’s door open while I answer.
“Wow, that’s cool. My dad’s a cop too? I guess I’ll be twice as safe.” My daughter’s laughter brings rays of sunshine into the cab.
Damn. So this is what it feels like?
It’s amazing.
Like the first time getting a lungful of mountain air.
Energy sizzles in my limbs as I back us down the driveway towards the road.
Never in a million years would I have thought just a few months ago how much my life was going to change.
All for the better.
Elena twists in her seatbelt so she can see Cynthia behind me. “So, ‘Thia, tell me all about the place you were staying. Were they nice to you? Any of the other kids friendly?”
“Nancy is the lady who runs it. She’s pretty bossy, but we got dessert before bed. We all had chores. I had to unload the dishwasher this week and then sweep the kitchen.” Her hands fly up high enough I can catch a glimpse of them in the rearview. “Waybetter than last week when I had to clean the hall bathroom.”
“So you got to rotate?” Elena’s gaze doesn’t stray from her sister.
The look of pure joy that colors her features makes this even better.
I want to reach out and touch her, but keep my elbow on the console. Throwing that reality onto Cynthia on top of everything else just seems like…a lot.
“Everyone except for Zack. He’s in a wheelchair so most of his chores are stuff like cleaning off the table.” Cynthia’s eyes meet mine in the mirror. “Do I call you ‘dad’, or ‘papa’, or like, ‘father dearest’ or something?” Her stray strand of red hair curls next to her temple.
“I’m not going to ask you to call me anything that you aren’t comfortable with. Even Wade is fine if that’s what you’d like. Do you like ‘Thia better?”
