Page 35 of Never Forget You

“He won’t need to, Georgia,” Mom reassures me. “He will be locked up for this for sure. It doesn’t matter who he is. You can’t go around kidnapping the children that you signed your parental rights away for.”

“Really?” God, the idea of his being locked up loosens the tight knot in my chest a little. The thought that he could end up in a cage and unable to ever come anywhere near me anytime again. He wouldn’t be able to get any more private investigators following me or anything. I would be free. “You think that will happen?”

“Oh, for sure.” Mom’s smile actually helps me a little bit this time. “For sure, it will. You’re going to be fine.”

I breathe deeply a couple of times, trying to get used to what might well become my brand-new reality. I won’t ever have to deal with Ben again, my life will be blissful, I might have my family back, and I may even be able to date Harry in public…ifhe ever wants to be with me again, of course. There’s no guarantee of that.

“Okay, well, that will be good.” But my eyes soon find their way out toward the window once more. Nothing is changing, nothing is shifting yet, which is killing me. I can’t stand it. “If we ever get Ella back.”

“Your dad is on the case,” Mom reminds me. “He won’t stop until she is back. You’ll see. I have complete faith in him, and you should as well. You’ll see. He will be back here soon with that little girl. Hewill.”

I so wish that I could share some of her confidence. I’ve never put any faith into my father before, so this is hard for me. But I’m willing to try because I don’t have anything else at the moment. Since I can’t be out there myself looking for my daughter, then I’m glad that someone is my eyes. Even if it is Dad.

“The police officer.” The breath sticks in my throat as I see the man outside moving, shifting, acting like something is definitely happening. I can’t tell if this is good or bad news, so I feel a bit ill. “Oh, God, Mom.”

Mom leaps up and stands beside me, her emotions pulsing off her and mixing in with mine. The atmosphere could be cut with a knife as we both try to work out what’s going on because there is definitely something.

“We need to go outside, don’t we?” I ask her with just a little stammer in my voice. “See what’s happening.”

She takes my hand and we walk outside together. My heart is in my mouth, pounding heavily, shortening my breath, making my legs turn to jelly, but with my mother beside me there’s nowhere for me to fall. She’s supporting me, holding me up, keeping mestrong when I really am at the weakest. She’s got me tight the whole time.

“That’s Dad.” I don’t know whether to rejoice or puke. “You said that he won’t come back until he has Ella.”

I stare desperately at Mom, but she says nothing. All the color has drained from her cheeks. Maybe she doesn’t have so much confidence in him after all. If she loses faith in my dad, then I really don’t know what’s left.

“He’s here.” I slip my hand away from Mom’s and run over to the car. I can’t stand the anticipation any longer. I need to know one way or the other why he’s here, if he has Ella or not. I can’t move either way until I know for sure. I run so hard that my whole body slams into the car before it’s properly come to a stop and I dart my eyes down…

Oh, my God.I can’t speak, I can’t cope, I can’t believe that this is happening. She’s here, Dad has her, he’s done it.

“Ella.” I tug the door open and slide into the car beside her, pulling my daughter in for a hug. “Oh, my God, Ella.”

She leans into me and cries hard. She’s sobbing, but it seems like a happy cry to be back with me.

“What happened?” I ask Dad. “Oh, God, thank you so much, Dad. Thank you for saving her.”

“I caught up to Ben and stopped him from getting out of the state. He wasn’t driving as fast as me.” He shrugs like it’s simple, but I know that isn’t the case. I know that he must have fought hard to get to where she was. “Nothing had happened, you don’t need to worry. He was just trying to get away from here, that’s all.”

“I’m so glad you stopped that from happening.” I can’t express my gratitude. I know that I will never be able to say it enough, but I’m hoping that one day, I will find a way to try. “Thank you, Dad. Thank you so much.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I was only doing what was right.” He might say this, but he smiles happily. My words must mean more to him than anything that has ever come before. “I was just helping out. Now come on, we need to get out of the car and see your mother because she is probably losing her mind out there.”

I can’t let go of Ella. I don’t think that I will ever let go of her again. I’ll be far too terrified for that. Mom wraps her arms around the pair of us because she totally understands. She hugs us both and finds out the details of what happened from my father over my head. I let some of it sink in, but not enough. I don’t know if I need all of the details, though. As long as I have Ella back and she’s fine, that’s all that matters to me.

“Mr. Jones,” she whispers into my ear, clearly thinking back to the moment when everything was calm before the storm. He brought her from school to home to look out for the pair of us. He cared enough and she recalls that.

“I know, darling. Mr. Jones was here. But he’s in the hospital right now, getting looked after.”

“No. Mr. Jones,” she continues, pointing over my shoulder. “Mr. Jones is here now.”

“No, darling, he’s in the hospital. He’s being looked after. We will go and see him when the time is right.”

“But he’s there, Mommy. Look. I’m not making it up. He’s over there right now.”

She forces me to turn, and I see just what she’s looking at. It really is Harry, and he’s half staggering toward us, like it’s a struggle for him to walk. He is still in pain. He really should be in the hospital still being looked after, but he’s here. He’s walking toward us with tears shining in his eyes. I can see them from here.

“Oh, God,” I whisper as well. “It really is Mr. Jones. He’s come to check on you, Ella.”

I’m sure that he’s come for the both of us. He’s come even though he knows that my parents are here, which speaks volumes. He cares enough to take the wrath of anyone for us. For me.

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