Noah shot a couple of glances her way but didn’t ask anything until he pulled into his garage. Then he turned to her. “What’s going on?”
“I think I’m going to call Jules.”
“You sure you want to do that now?”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep if I don’t.”
His gaze shifted between her eyes before he nodded. “Okay. I’ll wait in the house for you.” He squeezed her thigh before climbing out.
Her finger hovered over Jules’s name for a few moments before finally, she squeezed her eyes closed and dialed the other woman.
Jules answered immediately. “Addie? Are you okay? Are you safe?”
It was strange, but even her voice sounded different. Or maybe Addie only heard it differently because everything about Jules had changed. “Is it true?”
There was a small pause. “Yes. I…I’m your birth mother.”
Unexpected tears filled Addie’s eyes, and she wasn’t quite sure why. She’d never felt the need to find her birth mother, but now that she had? It was like this piece that she’d never known was missing just slotted back into her life.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was going to. There were so many times the words were right there on the tip of my tongue. But you’ve told me how great your parents are and I just…I always got scared. That you had them, so you wouldn’t need or want me. I have so little time left, and I didn’t want to risk you not wanting to be a part of that time.”
And that was the added pain…that Jules didn’t have long.
Addie swiped a tear from her cheek. “You should have told me.”
“I should have. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry about Toby. I didn’t know. You’re safe now?”
“Noah and Jesse got there in time.”
“Thank God.”
Addie ran her finger down a seam in her jeans. “I need some time to recover from today and get used to this new information, but after that I’d like to see you.”
There was a small pause. “Really?”
“Of course.”
“I-I would love that.” Emotion clogged Jules’s voice. “You rest now, honey. Talk soon.”
Even though the other woman couldn’t see her, Addie just nodded before hanging up. Then she leaned her head back. So much bad had come from today, but learning that Jules was her biological mother? That felt like a small bit of good.
He’d almost been too late.The thought was on repeat in Noah’s mind, taunting him. Making him sick to his fucking stomach. A few more minutes and he might have been. Hell, even getting there to find the gun against Addie’s head made it hard for him to breathe.
A text came through on his phone, and he lifted it to see his sister’s name.
Indie: Colt just got home and told me she’s safe. But I need to hear it from you. Is she okay?
Noah: She has a concussion and some scratches.
Indie: And what about you?
How was he? He was in a world of fucking pain and what-ifs.
Noah: It will be a while before I’m okay.
Indie: What can I do?
