Page 89 of All of Me

Owen exhales slowly, his eyes darkening. “I’m not sending Barrett back there until I’m absolutely sure he’s safe. If Sabrina doesn’t follow through, I’ll figure something else out. Whatever it takes.”

His voice is firm; I can see the strain in his shoulders, the way his hand rubs over his beard like he’s trying to scrub away the worry. It’s not just about Barrett or Sabrina. It’s Katie’s letter. It’s Adam. It’s the shadow of every doubt we’re both trying to fight off.

I cross the room and take his hand, gripping it tightly to anchor us both. “You’re doing everything you can, Owen. And we’ll figure this out. Together.”

“I know,” he says quietly, squeezing my hand. “I just… I hate feeling like I can’t fix this. Like I can’t make it right for him.”

“You already are,” I say firmly. “But you also have to remember, this isn’t Sabrina’s fault. She’s trying, Owen. And she’s doing this while trying to recover from what Alex put her through. It’s not easy, and the last thing she needs is more pressure.”

Owen’s jaw softens, the tension in his expression shifting as my words sink in. “You’re right,” he admits after a moment, his voice low. “I know you’re right. I just… I want Barrett to feel safe. I want her to be safe.”

“And she will be,” I say gently. “But we’re all going to need time to work through this. You don’t have to shoulder it all alone.”

He looks down at me, his brown eyes softening just enough to chip away at the tension in his face. “I know,” he says again, “Thank you, Callie. For keeping me grounded.”

Something inside me breaks at the sincerity in his words, the way he looks at me like I’m the strongest person he’s ever known. I lean into him, my forehead resting against his chest as his arms wrap around me, holding me together when I feel like I might fall apart.

For a moment, the chaos fades. The fears and doubts quiet, and all that’s left is the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my cheek. I close my eyes, clinging to the strength in his embrace, and let myself believe, if only for a moment, that we’ll find a way through this. Together.

thirty-two

LET’S GET MARRIED - JAGGED EDGE

OWEN - APRIL 30, 2014

The sun filters through the windows, casting streaks of gold across the hardwood floor as I sip my coffee, my thoughts miles away from the kitchen table. Callie is upstairs with the girls, probably wrangling Sara into an outfit she swears she doesn’t want to wear before deciding it’s her favorite. Ruby’s babbling drifts down the stairs, a steady hum of innocence in a world that feels unsteady.

My phone buzzes against the table, and I glance at the screen, the name “Will” flashing across it. I hesitate to answer, bracing for whatever news he might have.

“Hey,” I say, pressing the phone to my ear.

“Morning,” Will replies, his tone even, lighter than I expected. “I figured you’d want an update.”

I set the mug down, leaning back in my chair. “Yeah, I’ve been waiting to hear from you. What’s going on?”

“The judge approved the order of protection,” Will says, and relief rushes through me. He continues before I can respond, his tone firm but reassuring. “Alex hasn’t been back since that day. Sabrina’s been staying at her parents’ house for now, and they’ve got a solid setup to make sure she’s not alone. She’s also working with an attorney to get the marriage annulled.”

“Good,” I say, exhaling slowly. The tightness in my chest eases slightly, but it doesn’t disappear completely. “That’s really good to hear.”

“I know you’re still worried, but I’m keeping an eye on things,” Will assures me. “She’s taking this seriously, Owen. She’s not going to let him worm his way back in.”

“I know,” I say, but the words feel hollow. Knowing and believing are two different things. “I just… I can’t stop thinking about Barrett. If Alex decides to come back, I don’t want him anywhere near my son.”

“And he won’t be,” Will says firmly. “The order of protection applies to Barrett too. Sabrina made sure of that.”

Of course she did. Barrett is her first priority too. That calms him a bit. “Thanks, Will. For being there for her. For all of us.”

“That’s what friends are for,” he says easily. “You’ve got enough on your plate, Owen. Focus on that. I’ve got this covered.”

We talk for a few more minutes before hanging up. Knowing that Sabrina is taking steps to protect herself, that Will is in her corner, makes the weight in my chest feel better, but the worry is still there. It lingers like a shadow I can’t shake.

The sound of Callie’s footsteps on the stairs pulls me from my thoughts. She appears in the doorway, holding Ruby against her hip while Sara darts past her, already chattering about something she saw on TV.

“Everything okay?” Callie asks, her green eyes searching.

I nod, though I know she can see through the half-truth. “Will just called. The judge approved the order of protection. Sabrina’s safe for now, and she’s looking into an annulment.”

Callie shifts Ruby to her other hip, her gaze steady on mine. “That’s good, Owen. That’s progress.”

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