Page 112 of Wilde In His Arms

Stacy had loved spending time with her grandparents and aunts and uncles.But she missed them.

And even though Nick had kept them busy the whole time they were gone, he and Aria missed her, too.They even felt guilty for leaving her at home.So they made sure to bring her a few gifts from the island.

She was wearing her dolphin ring right now.

“Mom says you have something you want to show me.”

Nick kissed Aria as she joined them near the backyard fire pit.He held both his girls in his arms and looked into Stacy’s pretty green eyes.“Aria and I have something to tell you.”

“Is everything okay?The adoption is done.You said so.”Her worried gaze made his heart clench.

Aria put her hand on Stacy’s cheek.“Yes, sweet girl.The adoption is done.It can’t be undone.You’re ours.”

“Stuck with us forever,” Nick added, hoping that reassured her.

It was taking Stacy a little while to process everything that happened to her.Therapy brought up a lot of emotions for her.They took things one day at a time, always checking in with Stacy to be sure they were giving her the help and support she needed.

She’d been through so much in her short life.And unfortunately, Nick only had more bad news for her today.

But they’d promised her they’d always be open and honest about the case, her father, and anything having to do with her.

“Then what is it?”she asked, wariness in her eyes.

“It’s official.Your father made a deal with the prosecutor.He plead guilty to the charges against him and agreed to spend the next five years in prison.They’re going to move him tomorrow.”

Stacy sucked in her lips and looked from Aria to him.“Did he say anything?”

“I didn’t talk to him, sprite.His lawyer called me to tell me.”

Aria brushed a lock of Stacy’s hair behind her ear.“Do you want to talk to him?”

Stacy shook her head.“No.I…”

“What is it, sprite?”he asked.

“I just…I like it here so much I forgot.”

“You forgot what?”Aria asked.

“Him.”Her bottom lip trembled.“Is that bad?”

Nick hugged her close.“No, sweetheart.It’s been a long time since you saw him.And when you did, it scared you.And I get that being here lets you kind of forget the bad things.You want to focus on the good things.”

“I can’t forget that other stuff though.”

Aria rubbed her hand up and down Stacy’s back.“We know, sweet girl.And it’s okay when those memories come back and you’re sad and angry and just want them to go away.Those things happened and you will deal with them as they come in the best way you know how and with our support and with your therapist.As for your dad…he hurt you.You can be mad and upset and hurt as long as you want to be about it.”

Nick nodded.“I asked him to do something for you.”

“What?”

“I asked him to wait to talk to you again until you were ready.You get to decide when and if you talk to him again.”Nick wanted her to know she had control.No one, not even her father, could force her to interact with him.

She’d been forced to do things against her will far too many times.

Stacy breathed a sigh of relief.“I have nothing to say to him.”Maybe not now, but in the future, she might have a lot to say to the man who turned his back on her and handed her into the arms of a monster.

“Okay,” Nick agreed.“If you ever change your mind, you just let us know and we’ll make it happen.If you never change your mind, that’s okay, too.”

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