by Shyla Colt
“Hey, buddy.” I scratch him behind the ear. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”
“Why don’t you walk us out, for old time’s sake.”
I tense, unsure if he’s warning me away or rubbing things in.
“Sure. Are you ladies okay here?”
“Of course. Put the sweet thing out of his misery. He’s ready to jump out of his skin to get to you,” Carole insists.
I step from behind the counter and follow Preston.
“You know it’s a matter of time until she agrees to relocate to California. You put up a good fight, but my girl is smart. She knows what’s good for her and the baby.”
“Does she?” I arch my brow and smile. The bastard has no clue what’s coming.
“Of course.”
“And that’s you?”
“Obviously.” He rolls his eyes.
“I think you actually believe that.” I shake my head, disgusted.
“It’s the truth.”
“Why? Because you have money? You think your bank account is going to make you Father of the Year?” Preston blinks dumbly. I press on. “How are you going to help her grow up and be the best version of herself? Emotionally, how will you provide? You’re bullying your way into getting what you want with Faye. Is that how you plan to control Flora? Because kids tend to rebel against that sort of thing.”
“Don’t try to twist the situation.” He sneers, hitting the alarm on his black luxury rental.
“The picture isn’t so pretty when you look in the mirror and see what’s really there, hmm?”
“And you’d know all about parenting why? Is there an ex-wife and children in the wings? Is that why you’re trying so hard to play Daddy to mine? To make up for past mistakes?”
My temper flares. I hold Monty out. “You should go.”
“Ahhh. I struck a chord.” He smirks. “I wonder if she’d see you as her hero once she knew that.”
“Good-bye, Preston.”
“I came here to tell you to stay away from Faye. She’s not yours to take.”
“The way I remember it, she’s not yours either. “
“Yettt.” Preston draws out the t.
“Keep telling yourself that.” He takes Monty, and I step back. “Bullies always meet their match eventually and find themselves alone. Because fear only gets you so far.”
“Are you threatening me?” he barks.
“I’m making you aware of how the world works. Free of charge.”
“Faye is mine. You can’t have her or my child. I’ll make her life a living hell before I let that happen.”
I spin on my heels and walk away, ignoring his shouted insults. His time is coming. I won’t jeopardize everything we’ve worked so hard to set up to make myself feel good.
Chapter Five
Faye
This must be hell. I sit on the couch beside my mother and father as Preston charms them with talk about California. How lovely the weather is, and how much he thinks I’ll enjoy it. He canceled the lawsuit, but I know he’ll push for more. I need to figure out a way to get back from under his thumb. But first, I have to give birth. Sadness sweeps over me. My coach is gone, and I’m alone again most days. Except for the one person I don’t want to see. He’s here nearly every other week, asserting some misplaced dominance, like an overgrown dog pissing on things. The sound of the lock in the door is a relief. Warren is here. He walks in, and a second later, James follows. My jaw drops.
“What is he doing here?” Preston jumps up.
“Boy, sit your ass down,” my father booms.
Preston flinches.
“Now,” Warren growls.
“We have something we want to show you,” James says with a smile.
I drink in the sight of him. My heart speeds up, and Flora goes crazy. I’m not the only one who missed him.
“What is this? Why is he here, Jason?” he asks my father.
“That’ll be Mr. Ferguson from now on.” Dad turns on the television and presses play.
“Oh, God.” I immediately recognize the drug store.
Preston pales and sinks down onto the couch heavily.
“I wonder what the courts would think of this tape. Or the interviews of the customers who were literally afraid for Faye.”
“This is one instance.”
“Did I mention I have cameras taping outside the front of my office?”
I turn to Preston, furious. “You went to his job?”
“I wanted to let him know,” Preston mumbles.
“Let him know what?” I scream.
“That you’re his,” James says.
I shove Preston. “I belong to myself.”
“I don’t think any lawyer in their right mind would grant a misogynistic, raving lunatic full custody, do you?” Warren asks from where he’s leaning against the wall.
“Probably not even partial.” James shakes his head. “That’d be too bad.”
“What do you want? Money?”
“No. I want you to leave my sister alone. You will see Flora on her terms, and if you ever try to blackmail her into anything again, this will go viral.”
“N-No. We don’t have to let things come to that.” He shakes his head. “You’re not worth it.”
My hand is moving before I can think. His head snaps back. “Fuck you, Preston.”
Suddenly, James is between us. “Time for you to leave.”
Warren tugs him onto his feet and ushers him out. My mind spins as I take in the turn of events.
“Breathe, baby. It’s okay. He’s gone.”
“James,” I whisper.
“I’m right here, love.”
I bury my face into his neck, inhaling his scent, and enjoying his warmth.
“We’re so sorry, pumpkin. We had no clue what he was like.”
“But you knew what he did to me.” I turn as James supports me. “And that should’ve been enough. I know you guys worked hard to support us, but we were happy. We had a good childhood, and if that’s what Flora has, she’ll be blessed.” I grab my mother’s hands in mine. “Stop thinking you let us down when we were kids. Because you didn’t.”
“No, but we did now, and as much as I’d like to take that back, I can’t. Neither of us can,” Dad says softly. “I think it’s time we accept the fact that our baby girl is all grown up and fully capable of making her own choices. We support you and your choices, baby. We want to watch Flora for you while you work. We’re retired and ready to put our time toward something worthwhile.”
“Dad, I couldn’t do that. You just retired last year.”
“And he’s already going crazy in this house.”
“What she’s not saying is I’m driving her crazy, too,” Dad says sheepishly.
I laugh, relieved to have them back in my corner. I won’t pretend their snubbing didn’t hurt, but they’re here now, and they’ve apologized. I need everyone in my corner.
“You did this for me?” I whisper shakily to James.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my girls.”
“I think we should let these two talk a bit,” Mom says as the room clears out.
“James, I am so sorry.”
He rests a finger over my lips. “You were doing what you felt you had to for Flora. But what I need you to know is that I love you, Faye. I can’t say what the future will hold dealing with Preston, but we’ll face it together.”
“I love you, too, James. I really do, even if it terrifies me.”
“If you trust me with your heat, I will never make sure you regret it. Things can’t always be perfect, but I know we can make this work.”
“I do, too.”
He places a chaste kiss on my lips. I pout.
“I don’t want your parents to catch us necking like a pair of horny teenagers.”
“It’s okay, James, you’re not the one who knocked up their little girl out of wedlock,” I tease.
“Girls with naughty mouths get spanked.”
> “Please do.”
He throws his head back and laughs, and I know things are going to be okay. I place his hand over my belly, and he grins. “She’s moving around.”
“Both your girls missed you, James.”
“They won’t have to again.”
It’s a promise I trust in.
“Should we tell them it's okay to come back in?” he whispers.
“No. Let’s enjoy the silence before they put you through the paces.”
He laughs. “You know I’ve already been over here and met them before, right?”
“What?” I snuggle up to him. “Tell me everything.” My love grows as he recalls the way he stood up for me and won over my parents, bringing them in on the overthrow of the tyrant I’d almost been oppressed by. I didn’t lie when I said I wouldn’t keep Flora from him, but he will see her on my terms and with supervision. My life is my own again, and I’m choosing to spend it with the man willing to fight for me.
Epilogue
James
I lift my little girl into my arms and toss her high in the air and catch her. She giggles, and I pull her in for a hug.
“She’s getting too big for that,” Faye calls in a sing-song voice as she steps out of the passenger seat.
“What’s Mama talking about? Say that’s not true,”
“Na true, Mama.”
“No, you’re True.” Faye sweeps over and playfully tweaks her nose as she giggles. Flora True Ferguson came into the world fifteen months ago with me by her mother’s side and Preston in California, where he remained a majority of the time. While he had no problem sending money, his presence tended to be sporadic. I can’t say either of us minds.
At three months, she and her mom moved in with me, and now we’re meeting the rest of the family to celebrate our engagement. My family has flown in, eager to meet the tot that’s captured their hearts over the computer.
We’d opted for a long engagement to make up for the whirlwind romance. Faye tilts her head up for a kiss, and I do the same.
“Spoiled fiancée.” She kisses my lips, and I smile.
“Lucky fiancée,” I counter.
“Ditto.”
I press my forehead against her.
“I love you, James.”
“I love you, too, Faye. Ready to meet the British side of your family?”
Laughing, she nods. I wrap my hand around her waist and lead her into the airport. I used to doubt I’d ever have a family. Now I have a woman who owns my heart, a daughter I couldn’t love more if I tried, and plans to expand the Bailey family in the future. I’ve been dreaming about a Christmas baby. After all, when it comes to the holidays, ’tis the season for love when it comes to us.
About The Author
As a full-time writer, stay-at-home mother, and wife, there’s never a dull moment in Shyla’s household. She weaves her tales in spare moments and the evenings with a cup of coffee or tea at her side and the characters in her head for company.
You can interact with Shyla Colt online via:
Her website: www.shylacolt.net
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Twitter: @shylacolt
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