Page 33 of Sniper

“Ah crap,” the man says, Autumn repeating, making him step back and blurt, “Fuck, T, help….”

My body shakes with silent laughter as Theo shakes his head. “And this is why Liam’s first words were curses.”

The sheriff winces but nods, and admits, “Your Aunt Lisa forced me to sleep on the couch for a week when he said ‘shit’ for the first time.”

“Shit,” Autumn repeats with a grin, and both men look at her wide-eyed.

“Holy…. She’s like a parrot…” the man remarks, and my laughter comes out, causing Theo to groan again.

“Firecracker, it’s not funny. It took me a week to get her to stop when she copied me last time.”

I laugh even harder at his words as the sheriff grins.

Taking a big breath to control my laughter, not wanting to ruin my makeup from the tears I know will form, I rasp, “It’ll be fine, Theo….”

Theo shakes his head, mock glaring, and asks, “Was it you who had the sit-down talk with the daycare director, when Autumn repeated the words and got the other kids to say them?” I bite my cheek as the sheriff chuckles.

I shrug. “You answered my phone when I was in the kitchen; not my fault.”

His façade fails him, a smile cracking through on his beautiful face, and he pulls on my arm. I go willingly as he wraps it around my waist, and we look back at the man whose grin fills his face, nodding at the three of us.

“Uncle Donald, I’d like for you to meet my soon-to-be wife, Aurora, and my soon-to-be adopted daughter, Autumn, who, yes, is a parrot and copies everything you say,” Theo proudly states, and I giggle at his words.

The man, Donald, grins, “It’s nice to meet you both, and I’m sorry about, you know, the cursing. Just do me a favor and don’t tell my wife when you meet her, because I really like my bed.”

I laugh but nod, before he looks at Autumn. “And you, little princess, my soon-to-be great niece, look beautiful.”

Autumn grins, and then holds her arms out to him, making him grin wider. He takes her in his arms, making me smile.

This is the thing about Autumn; if she thinks you're good people, she’ll go to you. That’s why he only held her once a few days after she was born. She screamed, being near him, and he never held her again.

She knows true evil.

Donald looks back at me, and Theo and asks, “Are you two ready to get hitched?”

I smile as Theo holds me tighter, rasping, “More than ready.”

My eyes tear up, knowing this man loves me and my daughter. I know he’s not aware of my past, but honestly, right now, I don’t care. If he loves me as much as I can feel right now, I think he’d understand why I didn’t tell him, why I couldn’t tell him. If he treats Autumn any differently, then maybe he isn’t the man I thought he was.

I’m leaping with him, something I never thought I’d do.

Hopefully, he doesn’t break me….

An hour later, Autumn is sitting on Donald's lap, eating her French fry, while he talks to Theo about the garage I have yet to go to.

Believe me, I’ve wanted to, but when I think to visit him, most times, he’s had to come and save me when my car breaks down. He has offered to get me a new one, but I just can’t. I gave in about the job at the motel, especially now that I’m working at Summer’s Vets, but I won’t give in with this one. I’m not with him for his money, I’m with him for him, even if he’s now my husband.

Husband…. Wow.

I don’t know how I’m going to get used to that.

We’re at the local diner, which I haven’t been to since being in Huntersville. Theo asked Autumn what she wanted to eat to celebrate him now being her daddy, and she wanted burgers.

Donald suggested this place.

His not wanting to be on the birth certificate back then, not wanting anyone to know he fathered a child until he was ready, was probably the best decision he ever made.

I clear my throat, pick up my burger, and ask, “So, whose place are we staying at now we’re married?” I take a bite of my burger, chew, and swallow before adding, “Though, I don’t mind staying at the apartment, Autumn has her own room and space.”

---