Page 70 of Second Goal

But I know the truth, I can’t protect her from everything. There will be trials and heartbreak ahead of us. And that’s okay. Because what I can do, the only real thing I’m capable of is making sure she’s loved.

“I love you,” I murmur against the top of her head.

It seems insane to me now, that I’d tried to deny the emotion existed. Because there’s nothing more real than the way I feel about her.

Kiley leans up and kisses me softly. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For giving me strength.”

I grunt. “You’re the strongest person I know, Kiley.”

A small smile touches her lips. “I’m stronger when I’m with you.”

I nod, understanding. Because it’s how I feel too.

“I’m ready,” she says, exhaling a heavy breath and straightening her shoulders.

I squeeze her hand and we walk up the steps.

The woman who meets us at the frontdoor greets us with a broad smile, her dark eyes friendly and welcoming. “You must be Blake and Kiley. Come in. I’m Heather and this is my husband, Jeremy.”

“My God,” Jeremy says behind her. “I didn’t believe it when you called, but you really are Blake Starowics. Shit, Blake Starowics is in my freaking house.”

I shake his hand and chuckle. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

They usher us into the living room, and we sit on the couch, Heather and Jeremy across from us on the matching loveseat. The house is warm, inviting and I see Kiley relax slightly.

“Lucy is napping, but she should be up soon,” Heather says. “It’ll give us a chance to talk.”

“Thank you for letting us come by,” Kiley says. “I know it’s probably awkward for you.”

“Not at all.” The woman takes her husband’s hand, leaning into him, and it’s easy to see their connection. Right away, I get a good feeling about them, even if the guy is slightly star-struck by my presence.

“Blake told me a bit about your story on the phone,” Jeremy says.

“I’m so sorry about your friend.” There’s real compassion in Heather’s eyes. “We didn’t know anything about Amy, but I’ll always be grateful that she gave us Lucy. I was happy when I heard you called, because we want Lucy to know where she came from. Who the woman that gave birth to her was.”

“Amy had a... a hard life,” Kiley says. For a moment, she goes silent, eyes glazing over, but then she swallows and refocuses on Heather. “But I’m hoping Lucy’s will be better.”

Jeremy places an arm around his wife’s shoulder and squeezes it. “We’ll make sure of it. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“Mama.” A little girl with white-blonde pigtails runs into the room, jumping into Heather’s arms and burying her face against the woman’s chest.

“Hey cupcake.” Heather strokes the girl’s cheek. “We have visitors. Can you say hello to Kiley and Blake? They came here to see you.”

Kiley tenses beside me, and I can feel the emotions rolling off her. “Hi Lucy.”

The girl twists slightly, peeping over her shoulder at us. “Hi.”

“I know you don’t remember me,” Kiley says, swiping at a tear that rolls down her cheek. “But I knew you when you were a baby.”

“I’m f-ree now,” Lucy says, holding up three fingers.

I’m free.It hits me square in the chest. I know the child was trying to say three, but it’s poetic that it came out as free. Because in a way she is. Free from the cycle of neglect and abuse Amy finally succumbed to.

And so is Kiley.

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