Page 93 of Sterling Touch
“There’s going to be questions about why I was with you.”
I nod slowly. “I think I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.” I pause a second. “But I’m grateful you were here.”
While I could have handled this situation on my own, I’m relieved I didn’t have to.
“I hate to leave you to the firing squad in the morning, but I’ve got Josh’s graduation later today.”
I press back while holding onto Cort’s shoulders. “Oh my gosh.” Glancing at Cort’s phone, the time reads two a.m. West Virginia University is three hours away. “You need some sleep.”
Cort meets my concerned eyes. “I don’t want to leave youalone with them yet. I’d already planned that if I leave by five, I’ll make it to Morgantown by eight. The graduation is at nine.”
“Cort, I’m so sorry I forgot.” Weeks ago, he mentioned this achievement for his son. The Haven Hitters don’t have practice this weekend because of Cort’s commitment.
“Why don’t you head to bed? I’m gonna hang on your couch for a while, then I’ll head out.”
Everything in me wants to invite Cort back upstairs and return us to our previous position, him wrapped around me, but too much has happened in such a short period.
“You don’t have to stay,” I whisper, contradicting all I want.
“I’m not leaving, Vale.” He swipes his finger down my nose. “Go to bed, sweetness.”
Cupping his bristly jaw in my hand, I lean forward and kiss him, slow and deliberate, hoping to convey how grateful I am that he was with me tonight. That he came to me, despite the risks, and we shared ourselves with one another in a new way.
Pulling back, there’s no doubt about what Cort would hear if he could read my mind.
I love you.
34
[Vale]
The following morning, Cort was gone and as much as I tried to remain hopeful, making pancakes and bacon and plastering on false positivity, the inevitable happened.
A mediator came to talk with the kids and then Deputy Sheriff Andy Whitehall took Atticus and Amelia back to their home despite my offer to let them stay with me a while longer.
“Got no immediate reason to keep them with you.” Andy leveled me with a hard glare, upset that I removed the kids from their house without their father’s permission—according to Henry—despite the shiner on Atticus’s cheek.
Henryclaimed the boys were horsing around and Hudson threw a baseball at Atticus. Atticus missed the catch.
There was no way my boy lied.
“Waste of money being on that expensive travel team if theycan’t even teach boys how to toss a ball or catch one.” Andy repeated Henry’s accusation.
I couldn’t believe Henry had done such a thing: dismissing his own crime and blaming it on my son. Even with each of the kids telling their truth and my statement about their obvious fear, Andy didn’t listen.
“You had no right removing those kids from their father.” He spoke with a patronizing tone, like I was some busybody meddling in family affairs. He said I was fortunate Henry wasn’t pressing charges against me.
“On what grounds?” I’d demanded, glaring at Andy like he’d lost his mind.
He shrugged. “Kidnapping.”
“What the hell, Andy?”
“Deputy Sheriff Whitehall, Valentine,” he corrected me.
“Where’s Stone?” Even though I knew the answer and I didn’t really want to bother my brother with this situation—he’d learn about it soon enough—but I did not appreciate how Andy was handling things.
“Don’t you worry. The sheriff will hear all about this.” Andy spoke as if that sheriff wasn’t my oldest brother, and I didn’t know his position in the law.Andimplying my son had done something wrong, as well as I had.
