Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
I smile as Bellamy perches on the arm of the recliner, smiling down at her dad and our daughters. “It worked out,” I tell Candice.
“It did, but there were so many years of heartache and pain. My son-in-law helped with a lot of that.”
“Yeah,” I agree. Because Reid proved to Bellamy it wasn’t his career, or the game of football, that caused the rift between them. It was more miscommunication and misunderstandings. She was young and didn’t get the full picture, and her dad, well, he didn’t want to force her.
William “Will” Warner is a big ole softie. We can all see it.
“He was a good dad, and he’s excelling at this grandpa gig.” Candice laughs.
I watch as her new husband, Cliff, comes over and offers Mia the toy she just dropped. He smiles at her before saying something to Will and Bellamy.
“I never thought I’d see the day where I’d be in a room with my first love and my forever love, with everyone getting along,” Candice says wistfully.
“It’s not weird for you?”
I feel her shrug, but I don’t take my eyes off the five of them. “Nah, not anymore. Sure, at first just because of the years that had passed, but Will’s a good man. I want nothing more than for him to find someone to share the rest of his life with. He poured himself into his work for us. I can see that now. But back then, I was just tired of doing it alone. As I said, we were young, and we didn’t fight for us.”
“It’s not for the weak.” I chuckle.
“It’s not, and you’re doing an incredible job with her, Amanda. Truly, she’s thriving, and I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you. It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” I tell her, voicing my earlier thoughts, “but I love that little girl more than anything. She’s the greatest gift of my life. I’m just not looking forward to the ‘where’s my daddy’ conversations as she gets older.”
“I know right now, your heart is aching, but don’t give up on love.”
I turn to look at her, and she smiles.
“It took me some time, but I found him. I have faith that you will, too. You’re going to find a man who will love that little girl as if she were a part of him. Don’t let your ex keep you from opening your heart again.”
“It’s not just my heart on the line this time.” The thought of my sweet baby girl getting attached to a man, only for him to rip her heart out when he leaves, kills my soul. I won’t let that happen. I won’t bring a man into her life unless I’m sure, but then I remember that I was sure about my ex, Ethan. He was my high school sweetheart, and never in a million lifetimes did I think he would hurt me the way that he did.
I can understand falling out of love. That’s life, and as we grow and change, our hearts do, too, but to cheat? To get his assistant pregnant when he knew how badly we were trying to have a family. That’s a wound that cut deep, and if I’m being honest, I don’t know if it will ever heal.
More than anything, I wish Ethan had been honest with me. Sure, it would still have hurt to lose him. He was my first and only everything, but knowing he cheated, that he didn’t care enough about me to be with someone else, and get her pregnant? He shattered my heart, and I never want that for my daughter.
“Give yourself some time. Just promise me you won’t give up on love.” She smiles and nods toward where Bellamy, Will, Cliff, and our daughters are sitting. “It worked out for Bellamy and me,” she says, leaning her shoulder into mine.
“I promise,” I tell her, even though the thought of giving my heart away again, of having not only my heart broken, but my daughter’s… I can’t stomach the thought.
“Is there anything I can help you do?” I ask Bellamy. Everyone has gone home except for her dad and me. We’re still hanging around, albeit for different reasons.
“Absolutely not. We’ve got this. You go home and get some rest.” She pulls me into a hug. “I’m glad you let us spoil both of you today.”
“And that’s different from any other day, how?” I ask, laughing.
My best friend shrugs. “I’m so proud of you, Amanda, and you’re one hell of a mom, but it’s okay to ask for help.”
“She’s right,” Reid says, wrapping his arms around his wife. “Look at how many times you’ve helped us out with Coral. We’re here if you need us,” he tells me.
“The birthday girl is down for the count,” Will says, walking into the room. “I didn’t even get through half of the book, and she was sound asleep.” He smiles.