Page 29 of Always a Fake Bridesmaid
Noah gave me a look before moving forward and holding Livvy’s hands.
“The family is safe. We’re all okay and I need you to breathe.” He swallowed hard. “I found Brick, Livvy.”
I moved toward Livvy in an instant, putting my hand on her shoulder for comfort.
“Why are you saying it like that? Does he want Amelia? Oh my God. Should you get a lawyer? Will his family be doing the same?”
Noah’s face went gray, and I knew that it wasn’t anything like her vivid nightmares. But somehow it was worse.
“Brick died six months ago, Livvy. Car accident. He didn’t have ID on him at the time, so he was a John Doe for a long while. I don’t have all the information yet, but I’ll get it. But Brick is gone, Livvy. I’m sorry.”
Livvy stiffened under my hand, and I squeezed her shoulder. I didn’t say anything, there wasn’t much to say. I knew that Livvy did not love Brick. She had never loved him. But he was still her daughter’s father. And she had cared for him at one point.
“Thank you for telling me,” Livvy said, her voice wavering. I met Noah’s gaze, his worry matching mine.
“Do you want to go inside? We can talk.”
Livvy shook her head. “No. It’s good there was some resolution. I don’t know. I should go and make sure Amelia is doing well. Thank you, Noah.”
And then she turned on her heel, and walked away, leaving me behind with Noah.
“I’m sorry, Ewan. I don’t know what to do. She’s always been the one who closes herself off the most from us. She’s going to break soon, and I don’t know how to fix that. That means I’m going to be the asshole who leaves this on your shoulders.”
“I’ve got big shoulders. I’ll be here.” It was a promise I hoped I could keep. Because from the way Livvy had looked at me in that instant, I didn’t know if she wanted me to be there for her. And that thought scared me more than anything.
Noah studied my face before giving me a tight nod. “I believe you. I’m glad she has you.”
Did she? It wasn’t feeling like it at the moment.
“I guess I should go inside. Hell, I don’t know what to say.”
“I don’t think she’s going to want to see me. At least for a little bit. I’ve been trying to find the man for years. Turns out I was too late.”
Before I could say anything in response, Noah hopped in his truck and left, leaving me standing there with my hands in my pockets, wondering what the hell I was supposed to say.
I stood there in the sunset, knowing I couldn’t do nothing for much longer. As I made my way inside, both of the older Montgomerys gave me a worried looks but didn’t say anything.
I watched as Livvy went through the nighttime routine, without saying a word to her parents or me, and pretended everything was okay. Even though it clearly wasn’t.
And when Shep and Shea left, both giving me pleading glances, I stood in the doorway as Livvy tucked in her daughter.
“Will you tuck me in, Mr. Ewan?” she asked, her voice so small, so sweet.
Livvy stiffened, her jaw tightening, and I knew I should probably say no. To not tie myself anymore to this family, but I couldn’t say no to that little girl.
I moved forward to finish tucking in Amelia, and then kissed the top of her head.
“Good night, Amelia. Sleep well, lovebug.”
“I love you, Mr. Ewan.”
It was like a kick to the gut, and I felt more than saw Livvy go straight next to me.
But I couldn’t break this little girl’s heart. So I brushed her hair from her face and smiled down. “I love you too, Amelia,” I whispered. Then I swallowed hard and took a step back, leaving her and Livvy alone.
I found myself in the kitchen again, wondering if I could pour myself a drink. I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn’t help. Not when I knew Livvy needed to have a hard conversation with her daughter, and I would just be in the way. Because every time I looked at Livvy, she was pulling away. Any control or ideas I had were slipping through my fingers like sand.
Livvy came out a few moments later, and I turned to see her staring at me, her eyes slightly vacant.
