Am I shocked that he’s basically moved me into his? No, not really, but I am shocked that my dad encouraged me, especially when he wanted me to get rid of Lyra after everything came out about Adam.
“Your student's father, huh?” my dad asks softly as he takes a seat next to me on his back porch, and I look his way to see his eyes on Matty, who has Lyra glued to his hip while everyone watches them with a slight smile and some with sadness because of what they wanted me to do.
Apparently Aunt Lyra wanted her reception at my parents’ place, meaning for the first time in eight years, I’ve come home but it doesn’t feel like home, not anymore.
“I would have thought you’d focus on the fact that he’s a part of the Rebels,” I say before I take a sip of my water, trying to dodge my mother’s glare from where she’s standing with Aunt Lyra’s friends.
She spent the whole funeral tense, her eyes darting between me, Lyra, and the door, barely containing her restlessness.
The woman is full of emotions and doesn’t even know how to bring them out right about now, but the one she is focusing on is the anger, especially towards me.
Aunt Lyra left me everything, her whole estate, which is worth over a million dollars. What pissed Mama off even more is that I gave three hundred grand to Matty. I also has the lawyer place two hundred thousand into a trust for Caleb, because, dammit, he’s my son, I can feel it, even if I didn’t carry him, even if he isn’t my blood, he is my son and I want him set up. Another two hundred was placed in a trust for Lyra, one that gains interest for both kids and the rest, to be placed in another trust just in case I was to have more children. If not,then the lawyer set it up so it would be split down the middle between Lyra and Caleb which Matty instantly agreed with, heck, even Dad agreed, but I have to admit, when she found out, I’ve never seen her get so mad before, it was weird.
Dad scoffs, “Sweetheart, you dated the high school quarterback who was supposed to be a poster boy but went crazy and tried to kill you, I think a biker is probably the best option right now because at least he can keep you both safe.”
I snort, I can’t help it as Lyra’s giggles echo, and I watch in awe as my family members all melt.
“She’s fucking amazing, Holly,” Dad whispers, “You’ve done a good job with her.”
I hum, “Thanks, she makes it easy,” not taking my eyes off Lyra to ensure no one who knows Mrs. Collins and Freya goes near her.
Those two are not aware we’re in town, Dad lied and explained I couldn’t make it for Lyra’s sake but considering some people here still talk to them despite them now being outcasts in town, it won’t be long until they hear we are indeed here.
“Does he make you happy?” Dad asks, and I sigh.
“He does, but his son's mother has caused a lot of trouble,” I explain, “She isn’t in Caleb's life, he doesn’t want anything to do with her, but she wants Alex, or more his patch than anythingelse and what it entails. She tried getting me fired from my job and even tried getting me arrested for kidnapping. It’s just, it’s a lot, especially with Adam’s mom trying to get full custody of Lyra.”
Dad growls, “That woman will not even lay eyes on Lyra if it is the last thing I do.”
I nod, “The courts laughed her out, but it isn’t the point, it’s just a lot to handle, especially when I’ve always had a me andLyra in a bubble with Matty’s one-night stands flittering in and out.”
“That boy, I swear, he should have been a biker,” Dad mumbles and I chuckle because yeah, he’d fit in, especially with Ace.
My smile vanishes at the thought of my friend who has pleaded with me to speak to his brother several times by text, and I sigh.
“Don’t let anyone come in between you and that man, sweetheart,” my dad suddenly says, and I look at him with furrowed brows. He smiles, “You’re lighter, there’s no longer a dark cloud hovering over your head, everyone can see it, several people have commented on it. Even though you’re ignoring him, even though you’re trying to take a breather, every time he is mentioned or his son, your eyes soften and a small smile appears. You’re in love with him, afeeling you never got with Adam, so don’t lose it because someone is jealous, fight for him and let him in.”
I lick my lips and decide to let dad in a little and ask, “What if he hurts me?”
A soft smile appears on his face, the stubble stretching, and he counters, “How many times has he called since you’ve been in town?”
I wince and admit, “Around fifty,” and he hums and asks, “And how long is he on the phone with Lyra despite you not being near?”
My lips tilt. I admit, “An hour each time,” and he grins.
“I already like the man,” he declares, and I chuckle as I look back at my daughter, and Dad wraps his arm around my shoulders, and I lean into him.
“I know it’ll take time for you to trust me again, to let me in, but I cannot wait to meet the man who treats you like a princess,” he whispers, and I choke, “Thanks, Dad….”
I blink as I climb into my car and take a deep breath.
Dad called twice on our way home to see if we’d arrived yet, and I can admit, I still don’t know how I feel about it.
Eight years without him when I needed support is hard to process and even though I now know he was in touch with Uncle Mathew, always making sure I was okay, it that doesn’t make it right. Dammit, Mama demanded the inheritance before I’d left the cemetery which is when she learned what I decided with said heritance.
That was her focus, not her mistake, kicking me out pregnant and scared after I witnessed my boyfriend not only cheat on me, but also him die, his eyes wide open but dead, no the money was more important.
I sigh as I put the keys in the ignition. So much has been thrown at me these past few weeks.
