Page 97 of Pucking Secret

“Owen… why didn’t I get this letter?”

“Gerald,” he says bitterly, his jaw tightening. “He replaced it with that other bullshit. I never knew until Elise found the one you actually got outside my apartment and I realized just how far he was willing to go to control me. When I confronted him, he gave this one back to me.”

I can’t breathe, can’t think. I’m overwhelmed with so many emotions, I don’t know what to feel. All this time, we both believed the other had just abandoned our relationship, but we were being played like pawns.

“Say something,” he pleads, his voice breaking.

I take a shaky step toward him, holding the letter to my chest as tears fill my eyes.

“I loved you, Owen. I waited for you, and you never came back. I was so angry with you… I thought the worst of you. I’m so sorry I didn’t believe in you…”

“Don’t apologize,” he whispers, raising his hand to cup the side of my face. “You have nothing to apologize for. None of this is your fault, and I’m the one who’s sorry this happened. I should’ve tried harder to find you. I shouldn’t have given up when you didn’t reply to the letter and changed your phone number. I should have found you and told you in person that I loved you and wanted to still be with you. That hasn’t changed, Stace. I love you with all my heart, and I want to be with you and Millie. You’re my family. My real family, and I’m never leaving you again.”

I hesitate a moment, the truth of everything finally setting in., “I need you to promise me that you won’t keep me in the dark about things anymore. When I found out that you went to Canada again without a word…”

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he quickly says. “I’m sorry. I was just so desperate to show you the truth instead of just try to convince you of it. I swear to you that it won’t ever happen again. I will never keep things hidden from you again.”

“And Elise? Why did you send her instead of talking to me yourself?”

He looks a bit sheepish as he answers, “I thought it would be good for you to have some…girl-on-girl support.”

That makes me laugh.

“All right,” I say, smiling. “I forgive you…but you will never do something like that again.”

“I promise. There will be nothing but total honesty between us from now on.”

At that, the dam inside me breaks, and I throw myself into his arms, clutching him tight as I sob against his chest. Everything, all the hurt, confusion, and sadness I’ve felt over the years melts away and is replaced by absolute joy and relief.

“It’s always been us,” I whisper against his chest.

“Always,” he murmurs, holding me tighter. “And it always will be.”

The sound of small footsteps shuffling down the hallway makes me freeze in Owen’s arms. I pull back just in time to see Millie appear, rubbing her eyes, her hair a wild tangle. She’s been in bed asleep, and is wearing her pajamas and slippers.

“Mommy?” she says, her voice thick with sleep. “Why are you crying? Did Daddy do something bad?”

I laugh, swiping at my cheeks. “No, baby. These are happy tears.”

Her head tilts to the side as she processes this, her little face scrunching in thought. “Happy tears? Why?”

I look at Owen with a soft laugh before answering, “Because Daddy’s moving in, sweetheart. We’re going to be a family and you’ll never be without him again.”

Owen stares at me, wide-eyed and clearly shocked. But he looks shocked in a good way. A very, very good way.

Millie’s eyes light up, and she claps her hands. “Really? You’re staying forever, Daddy?”

“Forever,” Owen promises, sounding choked up with emotion.

Millie throws her arms around his neck, and he scoops her up, holding her close. I can’t help but smile as I watch them, my heart swelling so full it feels like it might burst.

But then Millie leans back, her little brow furrowed in a way that looks so much like Owen, it’s uncanny.

“Hmm,” she says thoughtfully, tapping her chin with one little finger.

“What’s that face for?” Owen asks, grinning.

“Well…” Millie starts, her tone so serious I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. “Maybe we should get a bigger house first.”

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