“No, I wouldn’t.” Adam finished for her. “I would be kicking his ass as best I could for just the picture.”
“You don’t understand,” she replied, staring off at nothing. Wanting to forget it all, forget she ever met Jared Kincaid, but just the thought of forgetting him sent her heart to her stomach. It hurt. It was an actual pain in her chest that wouldn’t go away. She wondered absently if someone really could die from a broken heart.
“He let me read him.” Adam ignored her last statement.
Her eyes shot to his surprised.
“I saw the picture, and I even doubted. I told him so.” Adam never looked more serious in his life than he did at that moment. “Without thought, he held his arm out and told me to read him. Surprised the shit out of me let me tell you. As secretive as those guys were, he opened everything up to me just to prove himself. He has no feelings for Vicky. None. We even looked everywhere to find you. Called constantly so I could read him in front of you.”
Tessa looked away, wiping a single tear that leaked from her right eye. “Why are you doing this, Adam?” Tessa hissed. “Why can’t you just leave it alone?”
“Because I’ve never seen a love like he has for you, Tessa, and I probably never will. Honestly, it was a little embarrassing for me, but he just stood there as I read every thought.” Adam turned toward the door to leave. “When I touch people, they can’t hide their thoughts from me, they can’t change them. Do you love him, Tess?”
Still, Tessa didn’t say anything, but more tears fell. ‘Yes!’ She wanted to scream, but she was afraid to say it out loud, fear of more pain stopping her.
“I know you do, so I hope you make the right decision.” Adam stopped before walking back into the house. “I hope you’re the person I always thought you were.”
“Adam?” Tessa turned to look at her brother, her face full of pain.
Three steps, he was hugging her. “I love you, Tess. I love you enough to tell you when you’re wrong, and…” he looked deep into her eyes, “you are so wrong.” With a kiss to her forehead, he was gone.
Tessa stood, staring at the door long after Adam left. She wanted to believe Adam, but even knowing that Jared cared for her, she had doubts always in the back of her head. How could such a handsome man like him go for someone like her? She had seen the looks people had given them, heard whispers from strangers, mostly women.
Finally looking away from the door, she looked around at all the Christmas decorations scattered around her and felt such a loss and loneliness, it doubled her over. Dropping to her knees, the room blurred as deep racking sobs rocked her body.
Blinking and wiping tears away, she spotted her phone. Reaching out, she grabbed it and looked at the screen. Just one push of a button and she could see him. But was she too late? Was she willing to face her own fears of having what was left of her heart broken? Slowly, her fingers began to move, typing out a message, but before she could hit the send button, her hand dropped to her lap. Adam was right; she was afraid, and running seemed to be the only way she could protect herself.
Chapter 23
Pam was filled with excitement on the day of their release from the hospital. A warm buzz of contentment filled her chest every time she thought of the possibility of her life with her son and Duncan. Slade had insisted on one final test that needed to be carried out on Daniel, and then they would be home free. She smiled at the thought, waiting impatiently to finally be given the all clear.
She was completely healed, which was one plus of being a half-breed. Having a baby one day, up and running the next. She felt stronger than she had ever felt.
Slade finally walked in, smiling at Duncan who sat holding the baby. “Have you even gotten to hold him yet?” He grinned at Pam.
“Hardly,” Pam teased. “Can we get out of here yet?”
“You both are officially released.” Slade laid out some papers. “Daniel seems healthy as any newborn. We did do the jaundice test which came back normal, but what wasn’t normal was the little prick marks on his feet healed within seconds. Usually they bruise and you can see where the needles go in, but his are all gone.”
“What does that mean?” Pam glanced at Duncan, who was staring back to her.
“Well, that he’s a fast healer for one, but until he grows and gets older, we’re not going to know,” Slade replied. “I would like to see him every two weeks to weigh and measure, check his motor functions and to answer any question either of you might have.”
“I appreciate that, thank you.” Pam nodded.
“Also, I had a friend of mine look into what you could have possibly been given when you became pregnant. If it was some kind of fertility drug, it may have not only gotten you pregnant right away, but affected how fast the little guy grew during pregnancy.” Slade handed Pam her release papers. “That’s another reason I want to check him frequently. I want to see if his growth spurts are going to continue.”