Page 72 of The Finding Series: Vol. 1

“I did what anyone with the right training would have done,” he said quietly.

“You saved his life,” Callan repeated firmly. “Rhys told me what you did in the hardware store for him and Finn. How many people stood around and watched that clerk treat Finn and Rhys like dirt? You stepped up when you didn’t have to.”

Dane fell silent as his insides churned.

“And my God, Dane, you’re raising a baby by yourself. And she’s happy, Dane – she’s happy because you’ve loved her so well.”

He felt Callan take his hand and put Kirby’s reins in it. “Don’t make the same mistake I did. If you love him, trust him to choose the life he wants. Maybe he’ll choose you, maybe he won’t. But know that you’re strong enough to deal with whatever he decides.”

* * *

“Rhys, we’re fine. Go get what you need,” Dane said as he got Emma out of the car seat.

“You’ll stay in the bookstore?”

“Yes,” Dane said with an exasperated sigh. As much as he appreciated Rhys taking the time to play bodyguard for the last two weeks, he was growing tired of the hovering.

“I’ll be five minutes,” Rhys promised.

“We’ll be here.”

Rhys gave him another hard look before turning and heading down the sidewalk towards the sheriff’s station.

“Dr. Winters, how are you this fine morning?” he heard Harriet Greene say from behind him.

“Good, Mrs. Greene. How are you?”

“I’m off to feed my babies,” she responded as she held up a bag of bread. He must have looked confused because she said, “Don’t look at me like I should be taking tours of the nearest funny farm. Ducks, Dr. Winters. I’m off to feed the ducks.”

“Right,” he said with a smile.

“Emma, would you like to come see the ducks?” Mrs. Greene cooed as she held out her arms.

Dane hesitated even as Emma reached for the woman.

“No worries, Doctor. You’ll be able to see us the whole time from the window,” she said as she motioned to the small park in the town square across from the bookstore. He could see a few people milling about and sitting on benches and there was a small flock of ducks along with their babies near the edge of the water.

“I’ll just be a few minutes,” he said as he handed Emma over.

“No rush,” Mrs. Greene said dismissively as she walked across the street. Dane waited until she was sitting comfortably on a park bench surrounded by birds before he went into the bookstore. He went to the children’s section and started picking out a few more books, willing his brain not to drift to thoughts of Jax. He hadn’t seen the other man since the morning he’d told him he didn’t love him and left the house. By the time he had returned the next day to get some fresh clothes and some of Emma’s things, the house was eerily silent and the only proof that Jax had ever been there was the alarm that had been engaged when he walked in the door.

As each day passed, he kept hoping the painful need for Jax would ease and he could get on with his life but he was beginning to suspect the dull ache in his heart would be there until the day he died. And while he hadn’t heard his father’s cruel taunts or dreamed of Isaac’s lifeless eyes since he’d walked away from Jax, his torment hadn’t ended because now all he saw was Jax’s wide smile as he played with Emma. All he felt was the whisper of Jax’s gentle touch and all he heard were Jax’s declarations of love.

“Hey, Dane.”

Dane looked up at the sound of the familiar voice and nodded at Gray. “Hi.”

“No ladybugs today?” Gray asked as he glanced at the book Dane had been flipping through.

Dane laughed but it sounded hollow even to his own ears. “Not today.”

“Where’s Jax?”

A sharp pain went through him at the question and he knew he wouldn’t be able to answer so he just shook his head.

“Sorry,” Gray said gently. “Seemed like a smart guy.”

The jab actually irritated Dane and he said, “He is.”

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