My legs shake as I press the brake to stop the car. The police stop behind us. Randy points the gun out the back window and fires. The window shatters, along with my ear drums.
“What are you doing?” I scream.
Suddenly we’re surrounded by police cars, sirens, and a loud voice shouts for Randy to put the gun down. Everything after that happens so fast. Randy opens his door and tries to run, but the police shoot. He falls to the ground. The police shout at me to raise my hands and get out of the car.
I’m shaking so violently I can barely obey, but I manage to get myself out of the car, my hands in the air. They shove me to the pavement, my cheek scraping on the gravel. They yank my hands behind me, handcuff me, and put me in the back of a police car.
I sit up in bed,my tears spent. I was the one who stepped on the gas when the police tried to pull us over, so I went to prison. Randy didn’t die. He lied about what happened, swearing he didn’t pull a gun on me. He went to prison as well, but with a much longer sentence. When I had my baby, I told them I didn’t know who the father was. I didn’t want my baby girl to have anything to do with Randy or his family. I gave my baby up for adoption, and had the records sealed.
If only I hadn’t gotten involved with Randy to begin with, I wouldn’t have gotten pregnant, my parents wouldn’t have kicked me out of their home, and I could have finished high school. I never would have gone to prison. Now I have a criminal record and someone else is raising my daughter.
I fall asleep with a headache, my heart torn into pieces.
CHAPTER 23
TOBIAS BARRETT
Ipick up my phone and swipe to accept the call from Ellie. “Hello?”
“Good morning! I was wondering if you could bring Kiki over to the gallery some time today. We only have a week before the festival, and I need some help. That nanny of yours is brilliant, and I just know Miss Kiki will think of some great ways to decorate.”
I roll my eyes because Ellie and Josephine do a fine job decorating their gallery all on their own. I have a sneaking suspicion they are matchmaking again. But Kiki doesn’t drive and it’s too far to walk. “I’ve got to get some emails out, and I have a zoom meeting, but I can bring her there after lunch.”
“Why don’t you come here for lunch? I could use Kiki’s thoughts on these cucumber sandwiches I was thinking of serving next Saturday.”
I pick up my letter opener and fiddle with it. “All right. We’ll be there for lunch. What time?”
“Twelve o’clock. See you then.” Ellie hangs up.
I shake my head at her antics, but secretly, I’m glad for the excuse to spend time with Kiki. The more I get to know her, the more I want to show her I care. I know she’s been hurt in her past. Her parents disowned her. I don’t care what a person has done, you don’t do that to your own child. I toss the letter opener on my desk and stand.
I find Kiki and Skyler in the kitchen finishing breakfast. Kiki’s wearing another tank top and cut off jeans, and I wonder if she has anything else to wear. She wore ripped jeans to church on Sunday, and I misjudged her for that, but maybe she simply doesn’t have anything else. I should take her shopping.
“Hey,” I say as I walk to the bar stools where they sit.
Kiki turns to me. “Hey.” Her gaze travels over my dress shirt and jeans, and she smiles.
“Daddy!” Skyler says. She gives me a hug and then jumps down from her stool. “I’m done eating breakfast.”
“All right.” Kiki grabs her bowl. “Go into the family room and wait for me. You can pull out your Barbies.”
“Okay.”
Kiki stands and takes the cereal bowls to the sink. Her hair is up in another messy bun, and I realize I’ve grown to like that look on her. The skin on her neck looks soft and I remember how it felt to kiss her there. My fingers itch to touch her, and I take a step back, reminding myself that we’re just friends. Nothing more.
She peers at me over her shoulder. “Did you need something?”
I explain to her what Ellie wants. “Is that okay?”
Kiki nods as she rinses the bowls. “Sure. I’d love to see the space we have to work with. I’m so excited Dustin and Mackenzie are coming.”
I walk to the dishwasher so I can help put the dishes in, but Kiki turns at the same time and runs smack into me.
“Oh!” she says, her hands up clutching dripping cereal bowls. I instinctively grab onto her.
Time slows as she stares at me, her face just inches from mine. Holding her again feels good, and not in a friend way at all. I should let her go and step back, but my arms are unwilling. My heart beats wildly in my chest as the faint smell of lilacs intoxicates me. It reminds me of the night we walked along the beach.
I replay our kiss in my mind, how her lips tasted, and the way her fingers threaded through my hair. She’s so soft, it drives me crazy. I swallow and notice tiny golden flecks deep in the blue of her eyes.
