Page 70 of Silver Linings

“Gia, I can’t get my hopes up that our marriage means something more to him than a mission he’s just trying to complete. I need to protect my heart so I can prepare for the moment he finds the woman he actually wants to spend the rest of his life with.”

“I get it. I really do. But promise me, if you sense he’s changing his feelings for you, even the littlest bit, you’ll give him a chance.”

“What happened to ‘Gunner is a potato’ and all that?”

“Well, he may be a potato, but he’s meant to be your potato.”

That had Lily laughing again.

“Alright, enough about my dumb brother. Tell me all about my niece! How is Sage? Has she been doing anything new since you got there?”

Lily’s heart felt like it was about to burst when she looked down at Sage. “She’s great. Smiling more, but she wants to be held all the time lately. I’m surprised she’s not screaming her head off right now in her stroller.”

“I hate that I’m not there with you. Maybe I can come visit soon.”

“I’d love that, Gia, honestly more than anything in the world, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea right now.”

The worry in her voice must have been clear, because there was a pause on the other end of the line.

“What’s going on?” Gia asked.

“There was a guy. He tried to take me.”

“What? Take you where?”

“I don’t know. Gunner is super on edge from it, but I think it’s probably just some local guy who’s maybe not well, or something like that. All I know is that it wasn’t James, and on some really weird and messed up level, I’m glad it’s not related to him. I really can’t have him or his parents finding out where we are. Corrine made it clear she would try to take Sage from me, and that would kill me, G.”

“There’s no way she would ever win any case against you, but I get it. I promise I haven’t said anything to anyone.”

“He hasn’t been looking for me?”

“No. In fact, I saw him not too long ago when I was coming out of work. But maybe that was before you guys left. Anyway, his eyes went wide like he’d seen a ghost and he took off running in the opposite direction. I just figured he’d heard about his mom showing up here and the threat Gunner made.”

The mid-morning sun beat down relentlessly on Lily, sweat dripping down and collecting on the small of her back. “Well, that’s good. I really don’t want them finding out where I am. Legally, she is mine and Gunner’s, and I did nothing wrong naming him as her father on the birth certificate.”

“Exactly, honey. They hold no power over you.”

Lily wiped her hand over her face. “I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to the weather here. It’s not even noon, and it’s already so hot I feel sick.”

“Why don’t I let you go? Get back somewhere cool and we can pick up our conversation later.”

“Yeah, probably a good idea. I don’t want Sage overheating. I’ll text you later.”

“Sounds great. Bye, Lily. Don’t forget to give that brother of mine a little hell from me.”

“Yeah, will do G. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Lily hadn’t paid attention to how far she’d walked while on the phone, but looking up at the signs on the street, she realized she was farther away from the apartment than she’d meant to be. Gunner would be pissed if he realized how far she had wandered.

She blinked the sweat out of her eyes. Jesus. How had it become so hot out? Looking around, Lily spotted a diner with a few people milling about inside. She hated to stop, knowing she needed to make it to Sloane’s office and then home before Gunner could suspect she’d been wandering, but the call of ice water was too alluring. Maybe she could sneak and nurse Sage in there while she rested.

“Hey there, sugar. You new around here?” A white-haired woman came over to greet her at the door. Lily couldn’t hold back a smile. The woman reminded her of her maternal grandmother, soft in all the right places to give the best hugs. When Lily raised an eyebrow at her question, the woman softly smiled. “We don’t get too many people just passing through. Figured you had to be new to Clarence County.”

“My husband and I just moved to Silver Springs for his job.”

“Ah, I see. Is he one of those Montgomery Defense boys?”

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