Page 77 of Redeeming Melodies

"Sure am, buddy." I flipped the camera, giving him the tour we'd practiced every morning. "Look what came today - your jersey's up on the wall."

His old racing number hung framed above what would be his bed, once this custody nightmare ended. Zayn had outdone himself with this room - built-in bookshelves for his science projects, desk positioned to catch the morning light, everything a kid could want.

"That's so cool." But his voice lacked its usual bounce. "Mom's gone again. Jessica's here."

Jessica. The new nanny. Third one this month, if I was counting right.

"Where's Mom?" Like I had to ask. Like I didn't know exactly what Vanessa's priorities looked like.

"Some brunch thing." Tommy was trying so hard to sound casual it broke my heart. "She said she'd be back for dinner but Jessica says she texted about a dinner meeting so-"

"Hey." I cut him off before that familiar defeat could settle in. "Want to see what Zayn did with the backyard? Got the treehouse plans all drawn up."

His face brightened slightly. "The one with the rope bridge?"

"And a telescope platform." I headed outside, camera steady. "See that big oak? Perfect spot for it. Just waiting on the building permit, then we can start planning how to decorate inside."

"Can I have a hammock up there?"

"Sure, buddy. Whatever you want."

"Have you seen him?" Tommy's voice went quiet. "Sheriff Jake? He probably misses us too."

"Been pretty busy with the house." The lie tasted bitter. "But hey, check this out - Zayn put in a fire pit. Perfect for s'mores once you're here."

The distraction worked, mostly. Tommy started planning elaborate camping adventures, his imagination taking off like italways did when he felt safe. But there was still that shadow behind his eyes, that careful way he measured his excitement like he was afraid to want things too much.

"Dad?" His voice caught slightly. "Two more weeks, right?"

"Two more weeks." I touched the screen like I could reach through and hold him. "Then we'll figure everything out. Promise."

"Mom says-" He stopped, picked at something off camera. "She says you're being selfish. Moving out there, making her look bad to her friends."

Red bled into my vision. Fucking Vanessa, playing mind games with our kid.

"Listen to me, buddy." My voice came out rougher than intended. "Nothing about this is selfish. I moved here because you deserve somewhere that feels like home. Somewhere you can just be yourself, no pressure, no perfect image to maintain. Just you being you."

"With you and Sheriff Jake?" The hope in his voice cracked something in my chest.

"With me." The words came out steady at least. "And whoever else becomes part of our family. But mostly? This is about you and me, buddy. Building something real."

He nodded, processing this with that serious look he got sometimes. "Two weeks?"

"Two weeks." I panned the camera around his room one more time. "And all this will be waiting. The treehouse, the beach, everything."

"Promise?"

"Knock knock."

His smile finally reached his eyes. "Who's there?"

"Promise."

"Promise who?"

"Promise you more than racing."

The doorbell caught me mid-laugh, and for a second I thought I'd imagined it. Nobody came up here except Zayn, and he was back in the city doing whatever design wizards did when they weren't transforming old houses into potential homes.

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