Page 55 of Love Notes & Lifelines
Their shoulders tense in unison and my skin prickles with awareness. Tabby shakes her head while plucking her bottom lip, and the older woman nods thoughtfully. Then they both turn to me, but they’re interrupted by Emmy.
“Auntie Dani doesn’t like me.”
Auntie?
I look at Tabby. Does Beck have another sister?
“Danica isn’t n-i-c-e,” she spells, and I’m grateful Emmy isn’t old enough to read yet. “But she is their aunt on their father’s side. It’s…complicated,” she continues. “She’s never had anyone’s best interests in mind except her own—and that’s especially true for the girls. She made her brother do a DNA test on them, for crying out loud.”
The door flies open, and Beck calls out over our heads because he’s scanning every nook and cranny, but not looking down. “Stella? Stell?—”
“Down here, Bear.”
He rolls his eyes, but his frown clears the second his gaze lands on me and the girls. Beck nods once, then shifts his focus to the other two women.
“What did she do?” he demands. If he’s talking about the lollipop all over Ruby’s face and hands, he can suck it. I gave the girls candy, big whoop. His expression darkens like a storm cloud rolling in at a frantic pace, not caring what it destroys in its path. Crap. He isn’t talking about me—he’s talking about the woman outside.
Beck is in protector mode and he’s willing to tear down the world to make sure he succeeds.
Daisie lurches forward and her leash slips from his hands. He scrambles after her, but Daisie skirts our circle and sits behind me.
“Cally did what she had to do, Beck. You’ll see. She said everything she did was to protect the girls.” Tabby lifts her sad gaze to his. “And to protect you. But that’s all I know. She was very confused at the end.”
“Bullshit,” he seethes. “She sided with the fucking enemy. Again.” His gaze shifts around the room as though he’s searching for an outlet for his rage, and it makes me want to hide. “Stella!” I flinch at his tone, and both girls immediately cling closer to my legs.
He sees it too and scrubs a hand over his face. His nails leave marks down his cheek like he’s trying to claw away layers of skin. “Sorry. As much fun as the welcome home party has been, we should get the girls to their house.”
If it’s odd to anyone else that he doesn’t call it home, they don’t say anything. I’m too shocked to form any opinions, so Istand with an apologetic shrug. Both girls’ alarmed faces turn to me, and my stomach hollows out a little.
“It’s okay, girls. We’re okay. You’re coming with us.”
Beck reaches down for Daisie’s leash, and Emmy rushes to grab my leg, while Ruby sits unusually still until I pick her up. “Thank you for the candy,” I say. “How much do I owe you?”
The older woman’s eyes crinkle at the corner. “Just a promise to keep lovin’ on those babies. It’s nice to meet you, Stella. I hope you find your place here.”
She’s so sincere, and Tabby nods in agreement at her side. There’s a lifetime of history in this town—history I have no part in, but for the first time in a long time, I wish my future would outshine my past. Maybe one day, I’ll find happiness in a small town like this—one where neighbors truly care about each other. But for now, when my life is all about managing chaos and heartache, I’m not sure there’s a fairy tale for me.
And then I see the war raging inside Beck too. How fragile is this foundation he’s building? And where will I land when it all comes crumbling down?
“This? This is your childhood home?”I knew Beck was wealthy, but this is an actual oceanfront estate.
“It’s a house, Stella. It hasn’t been a home in a long time, and it will probably never be a home again. At least not for them.” His gaze stays on Emmy. She’s on my back clinging to my neck as though she’s about to fall—like I’d ever let that happen.
She doesn’t trust it yet, but I’ll always catch her.
“That’s—”
“It is what it is.” Beck has never truly been cold with me. Not even the day he demanded I follow him into his office. But he’scold and detached now. It’s unnerving, and I’m not the only one who senses it.
The girls cling to me like the last remnants of a baby blanket that’s well past its prime, and Daisie trots next to us.
He sticks a key into the lock and the enormous front door swings open. Beck stares at something above my head but holds his hand out, gesturing for me to enter with the girls.
When I step inside my fears evaporate as calming comfort envelops me. Everywhere I turn the soft ocean theme beckons me forward. The teals and grays with hints of navy throughout make me want to sink into the oversized sofa with a book and never move.
Emmy slides down my back, then tugs on my hand, and I follow her farther into the house. In the corner is a dollhouse bigger than she is, and when she flips a switch on the side of it, tiny lights glow in every room. Her shining eyes find mine and I smile. She falls to her knees and sets up a tiny table in the tiny kitchen with a chandelier hanging above it that shoots rainbows across her face.
Ruby kicks and tries to roll in my arms until I find what she’s reaching for. Hanging in the doorway is a jumper swing. I carefully check that it’s attached properly then buckle her in.
