Page 19 of Rescued Hearts
“I never would’ve guessed. You always seem so together.” I envied her ability to keep a brave, happy face.
“I currently have baby vomit in my hair that I was running too late to wash out, so that’s how together I am.” We both laughed. “But I am trying. And you should, too. It’s okay to ask for help, Tess. You don’t have to do all this alone.”
The words hit hard. All I’d ever been for the last eight years was alone. Accepting help from Levi was hard enough. But to ask someone even closer to me for help, like Delilah? That felt like admitting I was the damaged thing they all thought I was. But maybe that was the first step in all of this: admitting that I’d been through something terrible and that it did damage me. But like Levi said, that didn’t make me broken.
The thought of telling someone else, someone who knew me well, was terrifying. It was different with Levi. He was…different. But telling Delilah everything that Jeremy did? Telling her how terrified I was of him showing up? That felt like climbing Everest.
“I’ll think about it,” I told her.
Anna smiled. “That’s all I’m asking.”
When class ended, Luke came racing over to me. His eyes were wide, sparkling with joy, his little curls damp with sweat. “Mommy, Mommy! Did you see it? Did you see me?”
I scooped him up into my lap, showering him with kisses. “I did. You were so good! Did you have fun?”
“Yes! I’m gonna be so strong wike Emmy.” He stroked my hair, smiling softly. “And then I can keep you safe.”
The breath caught in the back of my throat. “Is that why you wanted to do karate?” I whispered, barely holding on to the tears threatening to fall. “To protect me?”
He nodded, and I broke. I hauled his tiny body to mine, wondering what I did to deserve a son as perfect as mine. “I love you, baby,” I whimpered, holding him tight.
“I wove you, Mommy.” He unwrapped his arms from around my neck. “Can we go get ice cream with Henry and his mommy now?”
I laughed, wiping my tears before he could see them. I stood, taking his hand in mine. “Yes. Let’s go.”
6
Levi
Time seemed to move differently when Tess was involved. When we were together, I’d blink and she’d be leaving me again. But when we were apart…
Itdragged.
It’d only been a day since I’d seen her, not even a full twenty-four hours, and it felt like a year. But maybe that was because of how tense yesterday was. We met with a judge about a protection order for her and Luke. I had the evidence printed out, my argument prepared, and all the confidence in the world.
And it still wasn’t enough.
Well, it was a little. Tess got her restraining order, but Luke didn’t. The judge ruled that there wasn’t any proof that Jeremy was a threat to Luke, which was suchbullshit.
Emotional trauma left scars just like physical trauma.
I’d argued that fact. I’d argued it until I felt like I was talking in circles. Until Judge Blackburn told me I was bordering on contempt. After that final warning, I risked getting fined. But I would’ve kept going if it hadn’t been for Tess and the way she carefully reached for my arm, signaling to stop. It had been a silent plea, one I couldn’t ignore.
The only solace I had was that Jeremy couldn’t come anywhere near Tess without being thrown in jail. But it didn’t feel as satisfying as I thought it would, knowing he could still come for Luke.
I sighed, shutting my medicine cabinet over my bathroom sink, and stared at myself in the mirror.
I looked tired, probably because I was. I hadn’t been sleeping well all week, and yesterday’s hearing didn’t help. I felt restless, torn, but despite it all, I couldn’t stop thinking about Tess.
And I was about to see her again.
Colt and Brittany were having their official engagement party at the park today, and they told us to dress up. I contemplated not going for about two seconds, knowing I’d see Tess and inevitably cross my self-imposed line again. But Colt was my family, and I’d missed so much of his life growing up because of my parents, and I wasn’t about to miss another milestone in his life.
When I got to the park, I was confused. It wasn’t decorated for just any party, but aweddingparty. A ceremony and reception. I laughed, running a hand over my jaw. It looked a lot like my cousin was getting married today, and hadn’t told anyone. I bet Anna lost it when she found out.
I stopped to talk to a few people once I made it to where everyone was congregated. Louie, who owned the butcher shop, Gladys from the courthouse, and Shelby, Mrs. Peterson’s granddaughter. That one was a little awkward, considering I never called after our date last month, which wasn’t like me. But I was doing a lot of things that weren’t like me these days.
Everyone was baffled by the surprise wedding, but I was just happy to be included. A wedding was special, and who you decided to be a part of such a significant moment in your life was important, so it meant a lot to me that Colt asked me to come, even if it looked like they had invited the whole town.
