How the hell did he always do that shit? He and the other guys, from what the other women said, all had this crazy way of knowing what we were thinking. I’d heard their stories and not only was their past some serious shit, but their relationships were a whirlwind romance meant to be.
Was that true for Lyric and me?
He gave me a tender smile. “I know this to be true, sweetheart, because I know you. And what’s not to love?” Lyric squeezed my hand. “Everyone loves you.”
My heart stopped for a minute and then started fluttering rapidly. Did he mean he felt that way? He’d said it so sincerely but kind of nonchalantly. But when he glanced over I saw it. Love radiated from deep within his eyes. That was when I realized I’d witnessed it before but was too scared to admit it.
Love was brewing between us. I felt it in my heart and soul.
We pulled up to a cute, blue single-story home with white shutters that was located in a nice neighborhood, and my focus switched immediately. Lyric wasn’t going anywhere, he’d be back for me, but right then I needed to see my sister.
But some of my words hit me like a freight train at top-notch speed, crashing into me with amazing force.
Lyric isn’t going anywhere.
All my life I was scared of people leaving me. But he said he wasn’t going anywhere and I believed him. We didn’t always know what the future would hold, but without risk, I wouldn’t have Lyric in my life.
He turned in his seat and took both my hands in his and turned them over in his.
“You’ve got this, Red.” He rubbed his thumbs back and forth across the palms of my hands, adding a little bit of pressure, and it soothed me.
“You’ll be back for me.” I squeezed my eyes shut as the words left my mouth. I sounded so insecure and I hated that. Opening them back up, I looked directly at Lyric. “I meant it as I know you will be back for me so you give me strength because you believe in me.”
His smile lit up the car like the beaming rays of the bright sun. It was cloudy and raining outside so it made for a spectacular sight. It warmed me inside and out.
“I’ll always come back for you, sweetheart. Now lean over here and give me a kiss.”
Doing as he asked, I gave him a quick tender kiss. We didn’t need to be caught making out in front of the house. It was good timing too. Just then a car pulled in and I saw Janet, the social worker who was meeting me here, get out of her car.
I gave one last longing look at Lyric. “Take care of Gramps and Jett.”
He gave my hands one more squeeze. “You know I will. Now go meetourgirl so she can come home where she belongs.”
My breath caught in my throat and a single tear slipped down my cheek. He dropped my hands and reached up to softly brush it away.
He saidour.
Lyric nodded in understanding. He knew what he said and why the salty liquid had fallen down my cheek. He was as invested as the rest of us, I could see it in his eyes.
And that was when I knew I’d fallen deeply, madly in love with Lyric Knight.
I rushed in and kissed him one time before getting out of the car and shutting the door. He said I could do this and his faith in me meant the world.
Raising my hand, I waved at Lyric and then walked toward the house where Janet was waiting by the door so I could meet my sister so she could comehome.
Where she belonged.
* * *
She was angelic.
I’d seen pictures of her that the social worker had brought during our visit, but it was nothing compared to seeing her in person.
Autumn was petite even for three, fair-skinned with light rosy cheeks, and a mass of wild blonde curls. She was wearing a cute, simple, pink dress with long sleeves and white tights. And she looked like an angel.
The moment I saw her I thought to myself that Gramps would need to call her angel instead of me. I also couldn’t help thinking how crazy it was that as siblings we all looked so different, even knowing we all had different fathers. Our hair was completely different colors, but our names all had meaning. Mine and Jett after our hair color, but Autumn after the time of year she was born.
I sat down at the request of the foster parents, who seemed to be great. The house had a homey feeling and there were a couple of other kids that lived there too that had gone into their rooms to play when we arrived. I could feel my heart beating steadily while I watched Autumn who stood in the corner of the room with her head bent down, a beige-colored teddy bear gripped in her tiny little hands.
