Page 107 of Take My Kiss
He breathes out in relief, and I finally release my hold on him.
“So, you believe me now?”
“Yes.” Amelia lunges at him, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
Tears follow quickly after from both of them.
“I can’t believe this.” She pulls back, scanning over his features. “It’s really you?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” He smiles, smoothing his beard. “Just hairier.”
“H-how? You died when I was sixteen.”
“It’s areallylong story. I’ll tell you everythin’.”
“Not to break up the reunion, but I still wanna know how he found you and why he was sneakin’ ’round here at night,” I say firmly.
“I can explain. I’m the one Sam saw at the grocery store. He looks just like me when I was his age. Except both of his eyes aregreen, like yours. I was shocked to learn you named him after me.”
Amelia shoves her palms against his chest, startling us both. “Wait. You tried to kidnap my son?”
“No, I swear!” He holds up his arms in defense. “That was a misunderstandin’.”
“You offered him candy and told him you knew me. Then you vanished like a criminal, so how did I misunderstand that?”
“I was there shoppin’ and recognized him from his photos. He was reachin’ for a chocolate bar on the top shelf, so I grabbed it for him. When he thanked me, his name slipped out when I responded, and he asked me how I knew it. I didn’t wanna scare him, so I mentioned knowin’ you.”
“How’d you see photos of my son?”
“That’s another long story, but it’s not what you’re thinkin’.”
“Then why’d you disappear from the aisle?”
“That wasn’t the time or place for us to reunite. And given that I’m supposed to be dead, it couldn’t be done in a public settin’.”
“Oh, but showin’ up to my house in the middle of the night outside Sam’s bedroom window was the right time? Do you have any idea what I went through after that? How scared everyone’s been? I’ve been hidin’ out here thinkin’ I had a stalker who was tryin’ to steal my son!”
And there it is.She won’t have to hideout anymore if he’s the one she was hiding from.
“I’m so sorry. I really can explain all of this. I came back to protect you from Mom before she does the same thing that she did to me. Has she contacted you?”
“Yes, once,” Amelia admits. “But I kept it short and haven’t called her back.”
“Maybe we should go inside and talk. We’re both half naked,” I remind Amelia.
“You wanna let him into our home?”
For a split second, my heart stops at her words.Our home.
Maybe that means she’ll stay anyway.
“I’ve got a hundred pounds on him, baby. Pretty sure I can handle him.” I throw the bat up and catch it.
“Fine, but he stays in the kitchen, away from the bedrooms.”
All that joy she felt a moment ago quickly disappears.
“Mellie, I’d never hurt you or your kids. I promise.”
