Whatever that was. As long as they weren’t going to play catch with a grenade, she was sure Ledger would be in good hands.
“Close the door behind you.” Vi watched Leo and Ledger leave before turning her troubled, deep brown eyes back to her. “I’ve missed you, Ky.”
She rubbed at the ache deep within her chest. She and the woman sitting behind the desk had been close for a majority of their lives. They had done almost everything together. For years.
While Kyra had missed her family after she left, she missed her partner in crime even more.
“I’ve missed you, too, Vi. I hope you now understand why I left without a word.”
Vi sank back into her office chair and shook her head. “Why come back at all?”
“You’re not the only one I missed. My brother’s family is here. My parents are here. Everyone I know is here. I was also tired of keeping Ledger isolated. It wasn’t fair to him. I had hoped your cousin had moved on. Even so, it was stupid of me to go to that fundraiser. I wasn’t thinking.” But, realistically, she couldn’t hide here and not isolate her son, either.
Now, she needed to put on her big girl panties and deal with the fallout.
“I’m glad you did.” Vi flipped a hand toward one of the empty chairs.
Kyra reluctantly perched on the edge of the closest one and waited, since it was obvious Violet was gathering her thoughts.
“You left Zeke because of what he did. But you left Shadow Valley because of him.” She jerked her chin toward the closed office door.
Violet had always been hyper vigilant and intelligent. She had been the perfect candidate to step into her father’s boots.
She ignored that comment and instead asked, “Can you call Zeke off? Convince him that what he’s about to do by getting a court-ordered DNA test isn’t a good idea?”
Vi stared at her longer than Kyra liked before shaking her head. “No. Anyway, he doesn’t need a DNA test if you tell him the truth. A truth that’s pretty damn clear to anyone who has functioning eyeballs and a handful of brain cells in their head. I thought he was simply using Ledger as an excuse for me to find you. It turns out his instincts were right.”
“I never said Zeke is Ledger’s father.”
Vi pursed her lips as she leaned forward. “You didn’t have to, Ky.” She blew out a breath. “I know you’re worried about Ledger, but being around all of us for so long, you also have to know that boy will be extremely loved. Not to mention, as a Jamison, protected. Zak and Sophie alone will be over the freaking moon when they find out they have a grandson. Theirfirstgrandchild.” She smiled as if she was witnessing their reaction.
Of course Vi was siding with her blood over Kyra. Her heart jumped into her throat, making her force out, “Vi. You know how Zeke is. You have to agree that he’s not good father material. He wasn’t even good boyfriend material.”
“But you were with him anyway.”
Shots fired.“Despite his faults, it was difficult to be immune to his charm. I wish I had been stronger and resisted.”
“Believe it or not, you weren’t just anyone to him, Ky. Youwere his ol’ lady. The truth is, there’s been no one like you before or since. Obviously, your relationship was far from perfect, but it meant something to him.”
“You could’ve fooled me. And Bunny. And everyone else who witnessed that display that night.”
“I get it. His fuck-up can’t be undone. But you didn’t see him after you left, Ky. I did. We all did. He put on a good front, but I’ve known him my whole life. We’re closer than siblings, so despite him hiding it well, I can read him better than anyone. His behavior also got worse after you left. More fights. Being reckless. He was lashing out at anyone and everyone.”
“You’re blamingmefor his bad behavior?”
“No, I’m blaming him. He did it to himself. He fucked up, he knew it, and didn’t know how to fix it. What I’m trying to say is, he wouldn’t have acted like that if you truly didn’t mean something to him. Yes, he deserved you breaking up with him. He certainly deserved your ire. What he didn’t deserve was you hiding the fact you were pregnant with his son.”
Debatable.
Kyra wasn’t liking the direction this conversation was taking. She was hoping Vi would have had her back since, like Vi said, she knew Zeke better than anyone. “I had to look out for my child.”
“You didn’t even give him a chance to fix his fuck-up, whether you stayed with him or not. So, instead of asking me to call him off, why not give him a chance now? You don’t need to be with him to co-parent, but why keep a child from his father?”
“Because his father is Zeke.”
“Ky,” Vi breathed. “I understand that you’re worried. Zeke broke your heartandyour trust. But he knows howimportant blood is. We all do. Just give him a chance to prove it. To you and to Ledger.”
“I came here hoping you’d convince him to leave us alone. Instead, you’re trying to convince me to let him back into our lives.”
