Page 115 of Love Notes & Lifelines
When we get upstairs, I sit Emmy on the edge of her bed. Daisie jumps up and lies down beside her. “Lovebug, can you tell me why you’re so scared of Aunt Danica? Did she hurt you?” The lump in my throat makes it hard to speak. I won’t be able to handle it if she’s hurt this little girl in any way.
Emmy’s eyes well with unshed tears and her little chin quivers. The sensation that washes over me at the sight makes my fists clench. I’ve never once felt such all-consuming love as I do now. I would lay down my life to take away her pain.
Somewhere, somehow, that protective instinct has ingrained itself in my DNA for my girls—all my girls.
If this is what happens when you become a father, how could Davis have ever continued risking his life with shitty adrenaline-rush activities?
“She was mean to Mommy,” Emmy whispers, and her tears break free. “She hurt Mommy. Mommy cwied when she was here.” Daisie’s whine is as heartbreaking as Emmy’s tears.
“Emmy, honey. Do you know why your mommy cried?” Stella stands in the doorway, listening on with sadnesssurrounding her like a raincloud. She must have skipped Ruby’s bath tonight.
“No,” Emmy says, and any hope I had fizzles out.
What did she do, Cally? Her note about shining bright has been niggling a memory I can’t quite recall, but I’m beginning to believe that whatever the clue is, it has everything to do with Danica.
“It’s okay, Emmy. Stella and I will never let anything hurt you, I promise.” Even before the words leave my mouth, I cross all my fingers behind my back and pray that Danica won’t make a liar out of me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
STELLA
Beckand I enter the courtroom hand in hand, but he stays one step ahead of me—it’s become his thing ever since he found Silas cornering me. He stands one step ahead, not because he thinks he’s better than me, but because he’s ready at a moment’s notice to throw himself into the fire for me and the girls.
He’s on high alert and his instinct is to protect us. That’s not something I’ve ever had before and that one small gesture, more than anything else, tells me that he believes I’m lovable.
It’s a rude awakening to be almost thirty and realize you’ve never truly felt one hundred percent safe a day in your life.
I hope Emmy and Ruby feel safe with Leo and Tabby today.
I’m lost in thought so when Beck stops short, I faceplant into his back, then take in our surroundings for the first time.
Danica sits at a table with an older man. I almost run when Silas turns a sneer my way behind her. With his face still covered in bruises, it makes it easier to maintain my strength and independence though—he’s not unbeatable.
“What are you all doing here?” Beck whispers, and I peer around his large frame to the other set of benches.
“I told you, son,” Oliver says with a wink. Half of Sailport Bay is sitting on our side of the courtroom. “We have your back.”
Holy crap. They showed up for him. I can’t even begin to imagine what that kind of support feels like.
“And you too, Stella. We’ve seen you with those girls. If they can’t have their mother, I’m sure glad they have you,” Oliver says with a watery smile.
His words make me lightheaded. I never set out to be an adoptive mom, and I thought the last few years stole my dreams of motherhood from my heart—I didn’t think it was in the cards for me anymore. Not when my own mother’s mind is slowly dying before my very eyes, and I’ve never been able to provide a stable home, even for myself.
Now I’m in a courtroom and I have no idea who they’ll declare the bad guy—us or Danica. I blink back fears, but I’m too tired to do much else. There’s too much going on all the time.
Beck tucks me into his side, lending me his strength and pulling me back from the brink of my breaking point.
“Where’s Caleb?” I ask.
“That’s a different court case, sweetheart,” Beck whispers, searching my face. I don’t know why I didn’t think to ask these questions beforehand. “And Caleb only thinks Teddy found one fraudulent case, so Danica believes that too. They don’t know what’s coming for them yet, and they won’t until we have a solid case. Today is just about the girls. Okay?”
I nod, but it’s difficult to breathe in here.
“Of all the judges we could have gotten, this is the best option.” Beck’s attorney is speaking in hushed tones as we approach our side of the room. “He’s known to be fair. His son is a single parent, and he has a penchant for calling out people like a human lie detector.”
“All rise,” someone calls from the front of the room, and it becomes an out-of-body experience. I see it all happening, but I don’t feel it. I hear what everyone says, but I’m not really a part of it.
Beck has been casting worried glances my way since we sat down, probably because I can’t hide the sadness in my eyes, even as I sit stone-faced. I am sad. And angry, and so fucking confused my heart aches with each beat hitting harder until the sound of it is a dull roar in my ears.
