“You don’t understand,” she said when she lifted her head, tears streaking down her cheeks. “I don’t want to go with Grandma and Grandpa. I want to stay here.”
Standing, Lexi moved closer, wrapping her arms around her.
“I want to be here with you and Jonah, and I want us to build campfires on chilly nights and make s’mores. I want us to do homework together.” She let out another shuddering breath. “I want us to be a family all the time like we were for the last few days before they showed up.”
Oh, boy…
“They ruined everything. You and Jonah were supposed to move in with us. We were gonna make the cabin like a real home, and I was finally going to have a little brother. But all my grandparents care about is our stupid last name. They don’t care about what I want or what Dad wants.”
No argument there.
A breeze rustled the trees, and she heard the pounding footsteps of everyone coming to them. But she wanted to protect Annabeth a little longer.
“You’re not going anywhere,” she promised, bending down so they were eye level. “No one is going to take you away from your dad. We won’t allow it.”
“But…but last night I heard Grandma say…”
“It doesn’t matter what she said,” Lexi said fiercely but lovingly. “Your dad would never let you go, and neither would I. We have all our plans that we started making, remember? Do you think we’re going to let anyone ruin them?”
That’s when she realized she meant it. She let the Winslowes rob her of the life she and Connor were planning all those years ago. It would be a cold day in hell before she let them do it a second time.
“I love you, Annabeth, like you’re my own daughter, and no one’s taking you away.”
The next thing she knew, Annabeth was wrapped around her like a vine, holding onto her for dear life. “I love you too, Lexi.”
And that’s how Connor found them as he wordlessly stepped in, hugging them close.
She felt Jonah join the group hug, and the wave of relief that washed over her nearly made her weak.
But she knew she wouldn’t fall.
Her little family was there to catch her.
Chapter Eleven
Connor had never been so scared in his entire life.
He’d also never been more relieved.
Holding his daughter, Lexi, and Jonah was just…it was everything.
Behind him on the path, he knew there were dozens of people who had all been aiding in the search, but thankfully they were giving the four of them some space.
He held on so tightly because he was afraid to let go. He heard everything his daughter was saying to Lexi, and it gutted him. He was beyond furious that his parents’ behavior had led to this, and he didn’t want his daughter—who was clearly wise beyond her years—to see that side of him. But when she started to squirm, he knew he had to put his anger aside and focus on what was important.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she said quietly.
Cupping her face, he just marveled at the fact that she was safe. “I’m not going to lie, what you did was wrong, baby girl. You scared all of us.”
She looked down, and he saw her bottom lip tremble.
“You should have come and talked to me,” he told her gently. “There isn’t anything in the world that you can’t talk to me about, okay?”
“But Grandma said…”
“I don’t give a damn what Grandma said. I’m your father. You belong here with me and no one else.”
“But what about Lexi and Jonah?” she asked shyly.
