Page 134 of Take My Kiss
“Considerin’ they have footage of her at a hardware store, it wasn’t gonna be anythin’ good.”
She winces. “I think my dad knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That I was in danger. He told me to run after I mentioned Samuel was alive, and Mom wanted my trust fund. But before I could confirm what he meant, the nurse walked in, and then my mom told me to follow her. I think he knew there were cameras in there and that she’d be listenin’ in the whole time. She also never told me what he was sick with, which makes me wonder if she did somethin’ to him.”
I finish packing her things as the nurse reviews the discharge papers. Before they wheel her out, I pull Maddox into the hallway and wrap my arms around him.
“I dunno how to thank you for what you did. Put your own life at risk to save the woman I love. I owe you.”
“It was my pleasure, man.” He smacks me on the back. “Now, go take care of her and gimme an update when you hear from the police.”
“I will.”
“If they drag their feet, let me know. My dad can call and put pressure on ’em. He loves screamin’ at people.”
I chuckle lightly at how easy it is for him to offer a solution.
“Thanks, I’ll let ya know.”
I give him another hug before he peeks into the room and waves to Amelia. “If you have a boy, I expect an honorary middle name.”
She laughs. “You got it.”
Her mom got arrested the day after Amelia left the hospital, and when she had her bail hearing, Maddox decided he wanted to go since he personally knew the judge.
Not sure exactly what he did to influence him to set the amount at five million, but I knew better than to ask. That’s unheard of for this type of crime, but I’m not complaining.
She has the means and resources to flee, so whatever it takes to keep her ass behind bars until her trial.
When they finally found her, she put up a fight and threatened to sue the town if they arrested her. So, some of that higher price tag was her own doing.
Amelia’s dad passed shortly after, and since there wasn’t anyone else, she decided to make the arrangements. Samuel and I did as much as we could to relieve the burden while she was supposed to be taking it easy. Once a casket was picked out and his stone was ordered, she held a small memorial in his honor while they waited for his autopsy results.
After talking with his doctors about his condition, she suspects her mother was poisoning him since they couldn’t figure out why he was deteriorating so suddenly. If so, she can go to the police to press additional charges.
I can’t pretend to understand the complicated relationship she had with him, but I think it’s the closure she needed to start moving on from her past.
After an unpredictable and emotionally exhausting few weeks, things are back to normal. Amelia and the kids officially moved in, she wrapped up her summer course and registered for her fall classes, Silas drew up the plans for us to add onto the cabin, and the court is moving forward with charges against Amelia’s mom of assault on her daughter. After the autopsy results confirmed her dad was poisoned with cyanide, an eye drop solution, and traces of pills that weren’t prescribed to him, they added a first-degree murder charge.
Now, we can celebrate Amelia’s birthday without anything weighing on us.
Aunt JoJo and Mom insisted we throw a party at the Summit Views, so I invited all our friends and family, and we formally announced the pregnancy.
Most people already knew, but now everyone does. The kids are so excited to be getting a new sibling and asked a bunch of questions about where babies come from.
I can’t wait to watch them grow up together and hopefully be as close as I am to mine.
“I have somethin’ else for you,” I tell Amelia once we’re home and drinking tea in the kitchen. She hasn’t changed out of her dress and cowboy boots—an early birthday gift from Bellamy—and I haven’t been able to stop staring at her ever since she revealed her outfit hours ago.
“You’ve already done so much.” She beams. “Tonight was so special.”
“You deserved it, darlin’. I’m glad you had a good time.”
“It was nice to see everyone and introduce them to Samuel and Troy. And for Maddox to come. I enjoyed it so much. Plus, the food was fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that much in one night.”
I chuckle, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Baby was hungry.”
