As you know, when I was around five months pregnant, my libido was in overdrive, and I eventually didn’t stop you when you tried to progress things along physically. We were like two teenagers working their way through the bases until I didn’t care about my stomach or the stretchmarks on my thighs, I just wanted you.
A month before I went into labor, you pulled me aside one morning, since we rarely slept apart unless you were away on business, and told me you’d like to raise the baby as yours. I accepted.
You were my future. Kristie was Bennett’s.
I was in love with you, and you gave Leia and me a bigger life than I could have ever imagined. I’ll always be thankful for that, even if I might never really know if we were a pawn in you game or whether you ever really loved us back.
* * *
Delaney
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Bennett
As surprised as I am, Emmett gave me some solid advice, so instead of sitting on the news and weighing my options, I head over to Delaney’s parents’ house to have a conversation with her.
After I park in the driveway, a thought stops me from leaving the truck.
Leia is in there. I’ve never seen her, at least not her face. Does she have a resemblance to me, to Wren, or is she all Delaney?
I don’t want to scare Leia, so I pull out my cell phone to call Delaney to ask her to meet me outside, but before I can press the green button, Levi steps out of the house and walks toward my truck. I drop the phone in the center console and roll down my window.
He’s in his usual white T-shirt and beat-up jeans, a sandwich in hand. Levi is a guy you’re intimidated by the moment he walks in the room. He holds an air of confidence I’ve admired over the years, and he makes his decisions whether you like them or not. He doesn’t care.
“Hey, Bennett.” His free hand runs through his hair.
“Levi.”
He nods. So he knows, and I’m sure he’s going to be protective of his sister and niece. “Leia is out with my parents at dinner. Delaney will be out in a second. I need to ask you something first though.”
“Okay,” I say hesitantly. We can’t really pretend that Levi couldn’t kick my ass. He’d be scrappy, and I’d probably overthink every move I was gonna make.
“You know I have to be the protective brother and uncle right now, but I’m glad she told you.”
“You knew?”
He shakes his head, his sandwich long forgotten in his hand. “No. I suspected, but she only confirmed it to me the other night.”
She certainly seems willing to put it out there after years of keeping it to herself.
“I have to know, B, what are you looking for here? Because if you try to take Leia?—”
I quickly shake my head. “No. I would never.”
He nods. “Okay, okay. I didn’t think so, but I had to ask, you know?”
“And had I wanted to?”
His eyes lock on mine. “You don’t want to know.” He chuckles then hits the roof of the truck.
Delaney walking out the front door pulls my attention from Levi. Their screen door shuts, and she takes the few steps down to the driveway.
“Good luck then.” He steps away but backtracks. “I have no right to ask this of you, but don’t be too hard on her. She’s so close to breaking, and I’m trying like hell to see her through this.”
It’s his expression more than his words that make me nod in understanding. I’d be the same if it was Lottie or Romy or any of my cousins.
Levi holds out his arms, and Delaney gives him a brief hug. He whispers something to her, then glances back at me before he walks into the house. Delaney stands for a moment in the same spot, not moving toward me, so I climb out of the truck and approach her.
