Page 76 of Come Back for Me
It’s been months of this, and I’m starting to think it’s not real fear anymore and that she just likes being at Connor’s.
“No, we both need to go.”
Mainly because once the divorce happens, it won’t be my house any longer, so we need to get everything out. Kevin owns all of the land and the house on his farm. I don’t know anything about it and it was his family’s home, not mine, so I have no rights to it even if I wanted it.
“I hate it there.”
“You know that nothing can hurt us there, don’t you?”
Hadley looks up at me, her green eyes wide and trusting. “I know. Daddy’s in jail.”
And that is the saddest thing. She only feels safe because Kevin is in jail.
I’ve come close to telling her that Connor is her daddy so many times. I’ve wanted to blurt it out instead of agonizing over every word I want to say. It’s been hard knowing the truth and keeping it from her, but Connor and I decided to wait. I want Kevin to be served with the papers, which happens this week. This is also the week I’ll be filing for dissolution of paternal rights due to the fact that DNA has proven Kevin is not her father.
Sydney was able to get Kevin to agree to a DNA test, and she is holding those results for legal proceedings.
All of it is messy and ugly, but each step has been necessary to get him removed from my life.
“All right, how about you run back and get started on your homework and I’ll meet you there in a bit?”
Hadley grins and takes off running.
I start back toward the house, not in a rush as I enjoy the crisp, fall air. It reminds me of my mother. She loved this time of year. Our house smelled like apples, pumpkins, and spices. Baking gave her a great sense of joy, and my father loved all things horror themed, so Halloween was his favorite holiday.
I move through the tall grass, just breathing without worry. It’s a totally different life for me now. I don’t worry about having dinner on the table or making sure the house is immaculate. As my way of thanking Connor, I do cook and clean up, but it’s appreciated not expected.
And he demands that the cook doesn’t clean. So, I get to sit there after the meal and...do nothing.
When I get closer to the house, I see his tall frame with the sun at his back.
God, he’s gorgeous.
His ball cap is backward, hiding the hair I love to run my fingers through, and his white shirt is straining against his muscles as he lifts the bale of hay.
Apparently, farming is really freaking sexy.
I stand a few feet away, chewing on my thumb as I drink him in.
He tosses the bale with little effort, and I let out a soft sigh.
Our eyes meet, and he flashes me one of his effortless smiles. “Hi there.”
“Hi, yourself.”
“Like what you see?”
Do I ever. Instead of giving him the satisfaction of my response, I shrug. “It’s all right, I guess . . .”
His voice dances with amusement. “You guess?”
“Well, I mean, you’re okay and all.”
And then he lunges for me. I squeal and run, but I don’t have a chance in hell of him not catching me. Connor grabs me and pulls me up into his arms. My legs kick, and then Hadley rushes outside.
“Connor!” she yells, and he takes off with me in his arms.
“You can’t catch us!”
