by J. M. Walker
“You had it hard,” Lucy said.
I laughed. “Lady, you have no fucking idea.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. I know it doesn’t help but it’s true. I see that you’re happy though. Whatever it was you went through, you survived it.” She stood from the couch.
“I just wanted you,” I blurted. “Even though I was told you died, I still prayed for you to come find me. For you to come save me.” My voice cracked. I suddenly felt like a little boy.
“I know.” She came toward me. “I’m sorry, Lucas.” Once she stood right in front of me, she placed her hand tentatively on my chest right above my heart. “You look like him.”
“Is that good or bad?” I mumbled.
She gave me a soft smile. “That’s good. I loved him. Even though I was young, I still loved him. But he was older, your typical bad boy, and he made some stupid decisions which cost him his life.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmured.
“Don’t be.” Lucy stared up at me, her dark-colored eyes bright and shining with unshed tears. “I’m sorry for everything you went through. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you like I should have. I’m sorry for not being the mother you deserve. I-I’m…” Her breath hitched.
“I…” I swallowed hard, covering her hand that was still on my chest. “I’ve spent my whole life missing something. And then my wife, Lily, showed up and that was when I realized it was her, I had been missing.”
“I’m glad. I’m really glad.” Lucy wiped under her eye.
“But I…” I didn’t know this woman. Hell, I didn’t even trust her. But… “Do you have proof?”
“That you’re mine?” Lucy chewed her bottom lip. She pulled two pictures out of the pocket of her jeans. “I’ve aged quite a bit. But I was able to sneak in a picture before you were taken from me. And this…” She handed me the other picture. “Was your father.”
I took the images from her and glanced down at them. The picture of the man staring up at me was like I was looking in the mirror. Although he didn’t have as many tattoos as I did, his eyes mirrored my own. But was this proof enough? The second image was of Lucy as a girl, sitting in a hospital bed, staring down at a baby in her arms. The baby looked like Ettie. My daughter. My breath caught.
“I know it’s not enough proof. We can get a DNA test. Whatever you need.” Lucy placed her hand on my arm. “I just wanted you to know that I’m here. I know it’s over thirty years later, but I promise, I’m here. Even if you want nothing to do with me, I’ll always be here.”
I looked between her, the pictures, and back to her.
The hairs on the back of my neck tingled. I glanced up, finding Lily standing at the entrance to the hall leading to our bedroom. She was wiping under her eyes, smiling softly at me. She nodded gently.
That was all the encouragement I needed.
I pulled Lucy closer, much to her surprise, and wrapped my arms around her.
She gasped, a sob breaking free.
My eyes burned, my throat working hard over the lump lodged in it.
“Lucas,” she whispered.
But I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My mother was now in my arms. I didn’t need a DNA test. I didn’t need any further explanations. I needed my mother. My mom.
“I’m so sorry, my sweet boy,” she said, her voice muffled by my shirt. “I’m sorry for everything.”
I held her against me, not knowing what to say.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me.” Lucy stepped out of my embrace. “I don’t expect that at all.”
“Would you like to stay for a coffee?” I asked, my voice thick.
Her eyes welled. “I would love to.”
“Lucas?” Lily came up to me when Lucy moved to the couch.
I cupped Lily’s face, bending down for a kiss.
“You good?” she asked against my mouth.
“I don’t know,” I told her. “But I know she’s not lying. I don’t know how I know that, but I just do. Can I forget?” I glanced at Lucy who was staring our way. “No, but I am willing to forgive. Maybe not now. Maybe not tomorrow. But some day.”
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“No.” I wrapped an arm around Lily’s shoulders. “Thank my wife.” Because of Lily, I was able to open up my heart and break down the walls surrounding it. It would take time. I knew it would. But I would give Lucy, my mom, a chance. Even if it was more than thirty years later.
Lily sat on the couch beside Lucy. They talked quietly amongst themselves while I excused myself to make all of us coffee.
When I reached the kitchen, a breath left me. A weight I didn’t know was there, lifted free from my shoulders.
I always craved having a family. A mom. A dad. A wife. A child.
My mother.
My mom.
She was here. She was sitting in my home.
I never had a family before.
Now, I had a wife. I had a daughter. And I also had a mom.
Although Lily and I were still battling the demons of our past, together, we were strong enough to face them. We were strong enough to heal. To love. To be happy.
And to conquer.
Unexpected Surrender (A Standalone Novel)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44525540-unexpected-surrender
Before Us (A Next Generation Novella)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44422325-before-us
Control Us (A Next Generation Novel)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44422339-control-us
J.M. Walker is an Amazon bestselling author who also hit USA Today with Wanted: An Outlaw Anthology. She loves all things books, pigs and lip gloss. She is happily married to the man who inspires all of her Heroes and continues to make her weak in the knees every single day.
“Above all, be the HEROINE of your own life...” ~ Nora Ephron
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Table of Contents
DEDICATION
THANK YOU
PLAYLIST
PROLOGUE
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THIRTY-FOUR
THIRTY-FIVE
THIRTY-SIX
THIRTY-SEVEN
EPILOGUE
BONUS EPILOGUE
BONUS SCENE
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