Page 100 of Dare to Dance
A giddy feeling zipped through me. It felt weird to say home. I hadn’t had a home complete with family in years. I often thought of my parents. I wanted both of them with me. I wanted to be able to sit in a kitchen while Mom cooked Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and just talk. I wanted to hug on my dad like I used to as a little girl and tell him I loved him. I wanted them to watch Raven grow up and open presents on Christmas and her birthday. Most of all, I wanted Raven to love them as much as I did despite where they lived and what they’d done.
For now, I had to take things one step at a time, although I had to pinch myself several times per day to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. My life had changed so drastically. Instead of dumpster-diving, I was eating at a table. The soft mattress that I curled up on at night with the sexiest guy on the planet was a far cry from the wet, cold, hard ground of the dark and dirty alleys I’d grown accustomed to. We were safe from the likes of Trent Baker, who was in jail. Even his high-powered lawyer hadn’t been able to get him out of the kidnapping charge, not with Alex’s, Tommy’s, Pete’s, Kross’s, and my testimony. When it came to Alex, as nice as her intentions had been to return Raven unharmed, she had to pay for what she’d done. Like Trent, she too would be seeing the four walls of a prison for quite some time. In all, I felt as though I’d won the lottery. I couldn’t wait to tuck Raven into her own bed at night and read her a bedtime story.
“Kross,” Judge Garner said. “I’d like to hear how you feel about being a dad. You haven’t been part of Raven’s life for four years. So tell me what makes you think you can be an instant father.”
Kross briefly eyed his own father. “I’m not going to lie. When I first found out that I could be a dad, I about passed out. Actually, I puked.” Kross glanced at Kody then back.
His brothers chuckled. As for me, I loved that Kross could admit his emotions despite how strong and powerful he was on the outside. In fact, two weeks ago, when he’d told Raven he was her daddy, he’d cried as she hugged him.
“I also worried that I wouldn’t know what to do. But my parents have taught me the importance of family. Not to mention, my dad is one of the best fathers a boy could have and learn from. I might not know how to handle a sick child or what to do when Raven cries. But what I do know is that blood comes first, and for that, my love for Raven will guide me to be the best father she will ever have.”
Tears streamed down my face as I absorbed the feeling spilling from Kross’s words. I didn’t think I could have loved the man any harder or deeper, but I’d been so freaking wrong.
“Based on Ms. Waters’s recommendation and what I’ve heard, it is my ruling that Raven Lewis be remanded to Ruby Lewis and Kross Maxwell immediately.”
Kross and I glanced at each other as though we hadn’t heard the judge correctly.
A hand landed on Kross’s shoulder. “Congratulations, son,” Mr. Maxwell said.
It was then that all the air left me, followed by tears of joy. Kross pushed to his feet before he helped me to mine.
As though the courtroom was our stage, he spun me around then pulled me to him before holding my face delicately in his hands. He lowered his lips to within a hair from mine. “Marry me.”
A weird sound escaped me, or maybe it came from Mrs. Maxwell. I wasn’t sure, and didn’t care. My heart was racing like a galloping horse through the Wild West. I wanted forever with this man. I wanted to spend every waking minute with him and the child we had created and make more babies.
“I love you,” he breathed. “Let’s show our daughter how much we love each other.”
“Say something,” the Maxwell family said in unison.
I would if I had been able to speak. The only thing happening was that salty tears were sliding into my mouth.
Kross brought his lips to my ear. “I’ll properly propose later when we’re naked if that’s what you want.” I could feel his grin against my ear along with a slew of tingles from head to toe.
“Yes,” I said, sure and strong. Then I couldn’t stop saying yes until I heard Raven giggling.
Kross and I turned. Raven was walking in through the door the judge had come through earlier, holding Ms. Waters’s hand.
“Mommy. Daddy.” Her little legs ate up the courtroom floor as she smiled, her pigtails flopping as she approached.
I didn’t know she was even there.
Kross and I squatted down. Instead of running into my arms like she normally did, she stuck her hands on her hips. Then she twirled around in her soft yellow and white dress that brought out her jet-black hair. “I have a new outfit. Mrs. Santos wanted me to have one. She said I should look extra special today for my mommy and daddy.”
“It’s beautiful, bumblebee,” Kross said.
She giggled, showing that lone dimple that matched Kross’s. “I’m not a bumblebee. I like bumblebees.”
“What?” Kross touched his lips with his fingers. “Turn around. Let me see if you have wings.”
She twirled again like the little ham that she was.
“Yep. Your wings are right there.” He tickled her then swept her up in his arms.
She giggled again.
Kross carried her over to his parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Raven.”
Mrs. Maxwell’s mascara was running. “She’s precious.”
