Page 52 of Falling for You
Finally we hear the clicks of the locks and Wayne walks out onto the porch.
“Where’s Olivia?” Rome asks through grit teeth.
“Listen Roman, we thought we could do this. We thought we could follow Blair’s wishes, but we can’t. We won’t be giving Olivia back to you. We will be keeping custody of her.” He explains this too calmly. His hands are clasped in front of him, and he speaks at a very even tone.
“You can’t just keep her! I’m her father, you made sure I knew that, and now it’s official. Give me back my daughter. I’m bringing her home.” Rome’s hand squeezes mine, my knuckles crunch together as he tries to keep himself in check. Tears spring to my eyes.
They can’t do this.
“I’ve already spoken to my lawyer. I can. We still have custody of her as the executors of Blair’s estate, and the guardianship that was granted to us after her passing. You’ll have to take us to court if you want Olivia back, but we have custody of her now.”
Wayne turns and walks back inside his house, the two locks clicking back in place.
Rome spins around and steps off the porch. “Fuck!” He runs his hands through his hair, tugging at the ends.
I stand there frozen, staring at the Ryans’ front door.
“They can’t do this,” I whisper.
“I need the police. Now. My daughter’s grandparents won’t give her back to me after an overnight visit.” I turn to see Rome with his phone to his ear, next he rattles off their address.
No, no I can’t lose another baby. I can’t—
I start hyperventilating. The world gets fuzzy and dark. I slide down the railing and lay my head between my knees, sucking in lungfuls of air.
Strong arms wrap me up and carry me off to the truck. I’m placed in the passenger’s seat, and he takes my face in his hands.
“Breathe, Sunshine.” He sucks in a deep breath, and exhales. I follow him on the next breath. We do five more breaths together.
“Hey. You okay now?” He swipes at my cheeks.
“I can’t lose another baby. Blair has my baby. I have hers. This was making things better, equal somehow. And now, now I’ve failed her.” My breaths return to shallow pants and Rome starts deep breathing again. Subconsciously I follow him once more, but the tears come faster.
A car pulls into the driveway behind us and the cops step out. Rome kisses my forehead and steps away to go talk to them, and I’m left deep breathing on my own.
I’m so sorry Blair, I promise I’ll get her back and love her for you.
Emma collapses on the porch, I can hear her shallow breaths after I hang up the phone. I need to get her to the truck, I don’t want her having a panic attack on the ground in front of this house.
I get her in the truck and do the only thing I know to do for someone having a panic attack. I help her take deep breaths and calm down before the cops show up.
I kiss her forehead and walk away. As much as I don’t want to leave her, I want my baby girl back.
“Roman Thomas?”
“That’s me.”
“Could you tell me what is going on?”
I explain to the officer how they have guardianship of Olivia because their daughter passed away but that they brought her tome and I’ve had her for the last couple weeks. I show him the positive paternity test proving that I’m her father.
“Do you have any court paperwork granting you permanent or temporary guardianship?”
“No! I didn’t even know I was a father until two weeks ago when the Ryans brought her to my house. I haven’t even gotten as far as hiring a lawyer.” I pace the small space in front of the deputy.
“Okay, let me go talk to them and get their side.”
“Their side! I’m herfather!”
