Shea climbed right out, immediately going to her daughter. Taking her. Holding her. Protecting her.
I was just as quick. I went to her side, my hand at the small of Shea’s back as we made our way up the walkway.
A couple paparazzi were staked out down the street, snagging pics, but I was thankful for the most part they were wise enough to let us be.
The front door flew open and April came rushing out, hands pressed over her mouth.
Relief.
All of us. We reeled in it.
Even if my hands twitched with the need to rip Jennings to shreds. Limb from limb. Slowly. Meticulously. Permanently.
That encounter had left a furor of violence demanding action and a load of new questions demanding answers.
Felt it coming. And soon.
Shea climbed the three steps up to the porch, and Kallie stirred, head poking up, brown eyes confused before they flashed recognition, joy and sweet and solace, the child immediately soothed by her surroundings.
Shea kissed her temple. “You’re home, Butterfly,” she whispered.
Kallie held tight to Shea’s neck, squeezing just about as tight as my chest squeezed with everything I never thought I could feel.
The emotion about more than I could bear.
Too fucking much, so fucking light and good. Blinding. All that beauty pressing in.
April touched Kallie’s face as Shea passed. Kallie looked up and smiled that precious smile.
“Auntie April.” Her voice was small, but the love shining from her eyes was enough.
April let out a quiet sob. “Kallie.”
Didn’t think Kallie was ready for the questions that needed to be asked.
It was clear in the way she clung to her mom. Quiet. Subdued.
Reeling from her own relief.
Instead, Shea sat down with her on the couch and rocked her, murmuring a thousand reassurances.
You’re safe.
I have you.
I won’t ever let anyone hurt you.
“You can ask me…tell me anything,” Shea said quietly at the top of her head. “Whenever you’re ready.”
God, the woman was the most incredible mom, and a pang of significance formed when I looked at the two of them together.
Mine.
Kallie’s tiny angel voice cut into the tension. “Can we watch Nemo?”
Shea couldn’t hold back the quick, soggy laugh, because asking if she could watch a movie didn’t come close to the direction of what Shea was suggesting.
But maybe there was some comfort in that, too.
That Kallie just wanted to do something normal.
“Yeah, sweet girl, we can watch Nemo,” Shea answered softly, hugging her more.
We all settled on the couch with the lights dimmed. April quietly stole upstairs after she pressed a kiss to Kallie’s forehead, then one to Shea’s, before she cast me a look that was both wary and filled with appreciation. Same way she’d been looking at me since I’d returned. Like she knew as well as I did that I’d brought trouble into Shea’s life.
Same way as we both knew Shea needed me.
Almost as badly as I needed her.
Shea shifted so she was nestled into my side, her legs angled along the length of the couch, Kallie all twisted up in her arms and resting her back on her mother’s chest.
I let my arm wind around Shea’s shoulders, my fingers softly twisting through Kallie’s hair, curls wild, wild, wild.
And you’d think it’d be impossible, but somehow this little girl managed to steal yet another part of me.
Didn’t know if it was just because she belonged to her mom.
That she was a piece of Shea.
This fucking gorgeous girl, who with just a glimpse had caused me to fall.
I knew it. The second I’d felt her standing there my life had been altered.
I never anticipated I would fall so fucking hard, and that when I finally landed, I’d no longer look the same.
The television flashed and flickered. Bright blips against the dark as the movie played on.
Shadows and silhouettes lit up their expressions.
My girls.
Shea tilted her head back and peered up at me. Her storm alive, subdued yet savage.
Dark.
Light.
Heavy.
Soft.
Everything got so fucking tight, like I couldn’t get air.
Like I was just beneath the surface.