Page 49 of The Soul that Redeems Me
It’s a win-win in my book.
I spent the first few days back from Columbus hiding in my apartment, still angry at my family when Josh reminded me, they all had my best interest at heart and I broke down and called my brother.
We cried and yelled for a few minutes and I promised Josh and I would come for dinner the following weekend. We gathered at Caroline and Andrew’s house and I was engulfed in a group hug by my family as soon as I entered the front door. Caroline passed off a sleeping Lillian to me and I sat in the rocking chair, playing with the soft tuft of blonde hair on top of her head, her little lips suckling as she slept peacefully.
I felt Josh kneel next to me as I looked down at my niece. A feeling of peace overtaking me as I looked around at the family surrounding me. I missed my parents every day and knowing they were up in heaven, with Lucas’s dad and Maddie’s mom made getting through the tough times easier. I knew Mom had sent Aunt Lisa to me that day in Columbus finding me before I went out on my own, possibly tainting the evidence needed to keep him locked up.
Caroline came and took Lillian from me, my arms suddenly feeling empty. I watched my brother embrace his wife and baby before Caroline took a sleeping Lillian to nap. My heart panged for the decision I’d had to make after my attack and I prayed, one day, that I would have a family of my own. A baby to hold in my arms, to love and protect, to cherish and comfort.
I stood up walked into the kitchen, Josh settled in behind me, his strong arms wrapping around me, giving me strength and courage to face any challenge thrown at me. I turned in his arms and pulled myself up, placing a kiss on his lips as he pulled me tighter against his strong body.
I heard my brother loudly clear his throat, a noisy plea for us to cease our display of affection, so I playfully wrapped one leg around Josh and deepened the kiss. Again, another throat clearing, followed by a loud cough. Laughing, I broke my embrace with Josh and swung around to see my family all smiling at us, no discomfort at our loving embrace.
After we ate dinner, everyone gathered in the large family room while the babies slept peacefully in their parents’ arms. Josh, watching me observe the sleeping infants, leaned in, and whispered, “Whenever you’re ready.” His strong, tattooed arm around my shoulder as he placed a kiss on my temple before reengaging Jason in conversation.
Was I ready to have a baby now? No. Not yet but in the next couple of years, I would love to have a baby with Josh. He would be an amazing father and I have no doubt he would pamper our children like he does everyone who is lucky enough to gain his love and trust.
I heard the conversation going on around me but I was content to listen and not participate. The wordstrial periodspoken by someone had my brain focused on the recent developments Jason lawyers had informed me of. When we came back home, I called Jason over to the apartment and he allowed me to chew him out for his invasion of privacy and let me cry when I thanked him for protecting me from theasshole. That’s officially his name, as far as we all are concerned.
The lawyers still report to Jason since he is paying the bill but I am consulted on any and all developments at thesametime as Jason. Either conference call, e-mail, or meeting, he knows, I know.No secrets.
“Jason, can you do me a favor?” I spoke, the room suddenly silent at my request.
“Anything you need, Emily. All you have to do is say the word and it is yours.” Jason replied to me as he leaned forward, reaching a hand out to me as I reached back and held on to his strong grip.
“Emily?” Josh asked, a quizzical look on his face.
“I want to meet with him. Face to face. Can you set that up somehow?” I asked, the words sounding right as soon as they passed through my lips.
“Hell no!” Andrew’s stern voice causing James to whimper. Maddie and Caroline took the babies and put them in the pack-n-play in the connected dining room and returned to a pacing Andrew and a smiling Josh and Jason, “Why would you want to meet with him?”
“I realized something over the last few months but in particular, since I went to Columbus. He has no power over me. He never did. He took a moment of my life and altered the path I walked on. The path we all walked on. Now, I look at you and the love of your life, my beautiful niece asleep right there,” pointing to a sleeping Lillian and James, “The amazing home you have, the family that surrounds us, the family that is no longer with us. I realized how lucky we all are. To have this moment. Today. Tomorrow. Every second until the good Lord calls us home and I am tired of being angry.”
Blowing out a breath, Andrew sits down and Caroline begins to rub his back, his posture slumped over his knees his hands folded between his legs. “Why do you want to see him? The lawyers can handle everything now that his parents realize they are facing a lawsuit in Texas from that girl and her family. They dropped his appeal as soon as they received the flash drive with your video diary, and the lawyers have the feds looking into the interstate charges. He will never see the light of day, Emily. Not after all the jail time he is looking at. Why put yourself in front of him when you don’t ever have to look at him again?”
“To show him I won. He is nothing to me, Andrew. The sooner I can look him in the eye and say, for myself to that cowardly man, whoyoulocked away, from good, decent people for the rest of his life, the quicker I can leave him where he belongs. In the past.” Andrews’ head popped up at my words.
It was his memory of the license plate that allowed the cops to catch him. That allowed them to collect the evidence to lock him away. Now, an unknown girl in Texas who is the same age as me will be able to receive the justice she deserves.
“Me?” my big brother’s voice thick with emotion.
I stood up, my hand holding Josh’s trailing behind until I was outside of his reach. I walked up to my brother who had tears glistening in his eyes, “Yes, you. You remembered his tag number. Without that, he would have never been caught. You have always protected me, Andrew. You took care of me when Mom and Dad died, made sure I went to school, taught me to fight,” I giggled when he smirked at me.
“You still can’t beat me.” He joked as he pulled me into a hug.
“There is someone else who can take care of me now. You did a good job, big brother.” I whispered into his ear.
Releasing me from the hold, I looked around at my family, all gathered together. Andrew nodded his head toward Josh who stood up and pulled me into an embrace. I had found my forever and with him, I could face the last of my demons and finally put them to rest.
