Chapter 35
Avidya
I was right in my assumptions. Once Toby laid eyes on my Joshua, he was a totally different person. He wanted to know how to do everything for the baby. I think Toby was more protective over my little boy than even Zachariah was, and that was hard to pass.
“I think we found our babysitter for the rest of our lives,” Zachariah joked as he stood behind me with his arms wrapped loosely across my torso.
“I bet they will fight over who watches him constantly,” I said. Not that I minded. I really didn’t want to be bombarded by everyone every day, though. I needed my time with my son as much as I needed time with my husband.
“When can he do a sleepover?” Toby asked as his eyes bounced between me and Violet, who now was holding the baby.
“Not few a few months,” I answered. I didn’t want my baby anywhere without me for too long. He was so little. Letting Zachariah take care of Joshua during the night was a stretch alone, but that was only happening because I had to have sleep.
“Maybe you could stay over one night and help me take care of him?” Zachariah hinted.
“Maybe,” Toby said wide eyed. The surprise on his face was apparent. It wasn’t often at all that Zachariah willingly talked to anyone younger than him.
“Wow, you really have changed,” Melio joked.
“Did no such thing,” Zachariah stated.
I shook my head at their antics. My husband did change for the better. We may have had our differences a year ago, but now things were so much better. The time apart did do us both good as we got time to figure out that some things were just not as important as we had first thought.
~oOo~
Before I knew it, everything was coming together all too well. For some reason, I kept thinking something would happen to cause me to doubt coming back. Zachariah did much better at the whole father thing than I ever thought he would. His entire family was surprised, too.
Lynn tried to contact me once, and after listening to her side of the story, I couldn’t really find it in myself to care why she did what she did. She was the woman that raised me, but never stood up against Cody on how I was raised. She may have been in an abusive relationship and didn’t know how to get out, but that didn’t mean I could forgive her.
She lied to me. She deceived me.
Yes, Lynn may have gotten me into Zachariah’s hands and that alone made my life so much better than it could certainly have ended up being. But I couldn’t forgive her. She was also responsible for my best friend’s death.
I didn’t want her to meet my son and I didn’t want her anywhere around either of us. I knew it was harsh, but I didn’t trust her after what she let Cody do, and what she kept hidden from me my entire life.
I couldn’t trust Lynn anywhere around my child.
Surprisingly, she understood. She said she hoped that I would someday change my mind, but she wouldn’t push. I was welcome to call her anytime.
Coming back to this life, I had expected things to be different between me and everyone. I wasn’t sure why, but I just had this feeling things would have been strained. Nothing was, though. I fell right back into where I had left them all.
I had been back for three months, and luckily Zachariah had put his foot down about not having everyone bombard us constantly, unless one of us asked for help. He knew that I wanted to take care of Josh without a bunch of people around at every moment.
Once a month, until now, someone had stayed the night to watch Joshua so Zach and I could get a full night of sleep. Joshua still wasn’t a huge sleeper, so that one night was more than welcome. He never left the house without me. Not until tonight anyhow.
Tonight, Zachariah wanted us to do another double date with Travis and Kenna, since the last one failed so miserably. This time instead of at the club, it was at an upscale restaurant where the four of us would be mostly secluded.
Per Zachariah’s request, I dressed in a little black dress that dipped in the back. The material flowed easily over my body, hugging my curves only slightly. My blond hair was left in soft waves down my back.
He wore black slacks and a dark blue button up shirt, and my heart soared at seeing him all dressed up for me. He knew how much I loved it when he didn’t shave, leaving a dusting of hair on his face. Every time I looked at this man, my heart beat twice in speed and I was filled with so much desire, I wanted to let him have his wicked way with me.
Soon. Soon he would do just that.
I also wore the necklace that he had given me that was meant to show the world that I was his. I couldn’t deny that it was one of my most favorite necklaces ever. The cross hung down past my collar bone. An infinity symbol held the chain around my neck.
Although it was dainty, it fit me perfectly.
Zachariah wanted to get me something that would be able to hold up to being pulled on, and I knew he would soon since Josh was a pro at wrapping his little fingers around everything he could. I think that Zach was happier about the fact that I put his ring back on my finger.
