Page 91 of Black Roses

I suppose the latter would have been difficult considering Cassidy went right from jail to rehab. She and the guy she was with were arrested on drug charges. Hers was reduced to a misdemeanor because she wasn’t carrying much on her, but only if she agreed to an inpatient program.

Mason has since filed for full custody. He’s scared to death to even consider the possibility of Hailey going through anything like what Charlie and I endured. He’s been more than fair about it, however, taking Hailey to see her mom when visitors are allowed.

Two things thathavehappened are that Mason is now looking for a house just outside the city, and we have been interviewing nannies all week.

His small two-bedroom condo has been pretty crowded since moving all of Hailey’s belongings in. I, on the other hand, only took up a couple of drawers and a few inches of closet space. Every day when I come home, I find more clothes; more undergarments; more of my favorite toiletries and cosmetics. He’s putting forth a true effort to make it my home as well as his and Hailey’s.

I take a peek over at Hailey playing in the corner of the church vestibule as she’s supervised by my mother while the rest of us participate in the rehearsal for Skylar and Griffin’s wedding.

Baylor nudges my shoulder. “Mom is perfectly capable of watching her for two minutes, Piper.”

It’s not lost on me that since the night of her accident, I know where Hailey is and what she’s doing at all times. My need to protect her is growing stronger each day I spend with her.

She is so much like Mason, not only in looks, but in personality. Even at two years old, she’s learning compassion, despite the fact she’s got a mother who possesses none. Just last weekend, at her birthday party, a little boy dropped his piece of cake on the ground. Hailey quickly walked over and offered her slice to him. Jaws dropped. People whispered about how cute it was. It didn’t even matter that we still had twenty pounds of uneaten cake—her small act of kindness was monumental. And it dawned on me that I was beaming with motherly pride.

“You’ve really taken to her,” Baylor says. It’s not a question. It’s a statement. A truth. My new reality.

I watch Hailey get down on her knees and try to show nine-month-old Jordan how to crawl. “What’s not to love?” I ask, laughing at the adorable little girl’s antics.

“Love?” Baylor’s voice raises by two octaves.

I give her a confirming nod. “I know she will never replace the little girl I lost. I don’t expect her to. And I know I’m not her mother. But, Baylor, she’s fantastic. That child is magical. A true gift . . .” My throat tightens and I can’t get any more words out.

Baylor hugs me. “You don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that, Piper. It makes all this so much better.”

I push her to arm’s length. “Makeswhatbetter?”

She swallows air. “Uh . . .this, you know, Skylar and Griffin’s wedding. It’s just all so romantic and perfect.”

I look at Skylar while she and Griffin talk to the pastor as we get ready to practice our walk up the aisle. “Yeah, it is pretty perfect.”

I get enveloped in a hug from behind. A hug I’ve been familiar with since childhood. Although not so much in the past few years.

Dad.

I turn around and let his large arms take me in completely. I’m not sure how many seconds or minutes pass while we share this reuniting embrace. He leans down to place a kiss on the top of my head like he always did when I was little. “I’m sorry, Peanut,” he says, using the nickname from my childhood. “I didn’t know how to deal with the situation. It threw me. It was more than this stupid father could handle. But that’s no excuse for letting you down; for further lowering your expectations of men.

“The day I found out you were raped was the day a part of me died. It will never compare to your own loss, but I let it consume me to the point of alienating you.” He pulls back, his wet face breaking into a prideful smile. “I have never been more proud of you. You have grown up to be a wonderful, compassionate woman despite all your hurdles, and I love you more than this old man’s words can even express.”

I throw my arms back around him. “I love you, too, Daddy.”

A small part of me wonders why he chose now to have this special father-daughter moment. Shouldn’t he be having a talk like this with Skylar? But I let him hug me as long and hard as he wants to because I know we both need it. And just like that—another piece of my heart falls back into place.

“You guys about ready to start?” Gavin asks. “We’ve got a seven o’clock reservation for dinner, so can we move this along?” He winks at Baylor and they share a look that makes each of them smile like they’re about to burst with a huge secret.

Is this what love looks like after that many years? I mean, they met in college and they’re still crazy about each other. Yes, they spent some years apart, but that only seemed to deepen their bond, not break it. When I see them, I wonder if I could be looking at my future with Mason.

It amazes me still, how far we’ve all come to get to this very point. My sisters and I have all faced very different demons and come out on the other side. Better. Stronger. Tougher.

I can’t wait to make my toast tomorrow at the reception. They don’t know I know they postponed the wedding for me—so that I would have a fighting chance with Mason. But Mason and I have no secrets from each other anymore. We’ve spent countless hours lying in bed, talking. Well, more than talking if I’m being totally honest.

I look over to catch him staring at me and I blush. After almost getting caught bare-ass naked by one little Miss Curious on more than one occasion, Mason finally took me to his bed—ourbed. He reminded me over and over that it was ours and ours alone. That no one else had ever or would ever be there except the two of us. He made love to me so passionately and gently that the rest of the world, along with my nightmares, simply melted away.

It’s not that I don’t have them anymore. I do. But now, Mason is there to comfort me every time. Just like I’m there to comfort him when he has his.

We support each other. We love each other.

We get each other.

---