Desi appreciated Harry’s hand on her shoulder as they left Byron’s father behind, arguing with his attorney. She was still surprised and happy with herself for standing up to him, but everyone had their limits.
Harry opened the car door for her and put her crutches in the back. They were free for the rest of the day since the court proceedings hadn’t lasted long, but Harry hadn’t said much once they were done. From the tight set of her jaw, she was mad about something.
“Honey?” She reached for Harry’s hand and entwined their fingers. “I’m sorry for all this. Please don’t be mad.”
“The thought of hurting someone, I mean really hurting them, never crossed my mind until today. I’m angry, but not at you.” Harry smiled at her briefly. “What gives him the right to touch you like that?”
“If you wouldn’t have gotten in trouble, part of me would’ve loved seeing you break his hand. That man deserves to be taught a lesson.” She didn’t move away from Harry, but it was embarrassing to have her see what her life had been like. “He taught his son well.”
“His behavior, as well as Byron’s, has nothing to do with you. He raised men who have no respect for women, much less themselves. What you should think about is how fast your relationship with these people will come to an end.” Harry ran her hand through Desi’s hair. “It may take a little longer than we’d like, but the plus side is once they’re caught, they won’t be a problem. If they’re in jail, they can’t bother you.”
“They won’t be locked up forever, so will it ever truly be over? It’s like Clyde cast this shadow over me, and I’m never getting rid of it.” She gazed at Harry and wished things weren’t so complicated. “The worst part is that I’m bringing all that to your doorstep.”
“My love, the only thing that worries me is that you understand our home is ours. It’s a place that’ll keep you safe from people like Byron and his family. You’re never going back to that life or to them. Even if you decide not to stay with me, you’re never going back.” Harry touched her cheek and smiled. “Do you believe me?”
“I want to, but it’s so hard when I have to face them like that.”
“Eventually you’ll see what I do,” Harry said as she looked her in the eye. “You’re a strong woman who can stand on her own. With what you’ve been through, that’s going to take time to absorb, but no matter what you decide is best for you, I’m here. All you need to do is believe me.” Harry cupped her cheek. “Let me help you cut these people out of your life forever.”
“You’ve been taking care of us for what seems like my whole life. This time, though, I can’t bring all this into your life. What happened to us wasn’t something either of us wanted, especially not something I would’ve chosen, but Byron and his entire family are dangerous,” she said as her bottom lip trembled.
“Do you want to go back to that life?”
“No,” she said, louder than she meant to.
“Then right now what I can offer you is a way to make it to the life you want. A place where you can stand on your own and be proud of the woman you are. If there’s a place for me once you get there, I’ll count myself lucky, but don’t ask me to walk away because these guys are dangerous.” Harry pressed her lips together as if trying to keep her emotions in check.
“What? You can tell me.”
Harry took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Don’t disappear and sacrifice yourself to keep me safe.”
“You’re all I thought about every single day we were apart. Sometimes all my reasons seem like such stupidity when I look back on them, but I panicked, and then I was trapped. Eventually, I became such a pathetic thing that I almost lost hope, but there was always you.” Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. “You were that voice in my head and in my heart telling me to get up and live one more day. Now, though, I don’t know if the cost of something happening to you is worth the gamble. You saw what his father is like. Byron isn’t much better.”
“I can offer you a way to cut those ties, Desi, but the final decision is yours. The best proof that you’re ready for that is how you stood up to that idiot today and said enough. You started claiming your future when you did that.” Harry pointed to the courthouse. “That’s something you can take pride in. Those guys tried to break you, but you survived long enough to stand on your own.”
She nodded and laughed despite her tears. “That felt really good.”
“I’m sure it did, so now all you have to do is convince yourself that I’m not going anywhere. What we have is solid. That’s the last time we have to talk about that because it’s simply the truth—just like you don’t have to apologize for anything ever again.”
“I know, and I want to believe that. Why you’d still want me is what I can’t understand.”
“In my life, I’ve loved only one woman. I’ve only ever wanted to share my life and all that I have with one woman. That’s you, and our future is something you can count on as real. Nothing in this world will ever change my mind about that.”
“I love you so much,” she said, leaning in and resting her forehead against Harry’s. “You can’t know how much I want all that.”
“Then accept it. Being happy and looking forward to what comes next doesn’t erase the past, but it does put all you went through in the past.”
She tilted her head slightly and kissed Harry for her sweetness. “Thank you. It’s going to take time for me to have your courage, but I don’t want to lose you. I don’t have much, but I’ll gladly share what I have with you.”
“That makes me richer than anyone I know. It’s an honor that you picked me to love, and I’ll do my best to not ever make you sorry you do.” Harry kissed her again, and the darkness faded a little more.
“Let’s go home,” she said and laughed. There was nothing holding her back except herself. “I want to spend the rest of the day enjoying all the happiness you bring into my life.”
* * *
They drove home, and Harry took a different route, checking often to make sure she wasn’t being followed. What had happened to Monica was fresh in her mind, and there was no way she wanted a repeat if these guys knew where she lived. She was glad to see the marked car of the security company she’d hired parked by the gate, and the guy waved as they turned in.
“Who’s that?” Desi asked waving as well.
“I hired a security service to keep a couple of guys posted so I don’t drive myself insane when I’m at work, worrying about you, Rachel, and Mona. They’ll be here until the Brothers Dumb are caught.”
“Thanks for thinking of that,” she said as Harry moved around to open her door.
From outside they heard Butch’s excited chatter and it went into overdrive when they walked in. He was on one of the high stools at the counter with Mona at his side, having waffles. Rachel was nowhere in sight, making her think Serena had done more than take her to a jazz club.
“Hey, buddy,” Harry said. “Mona made you waffles? Are there any left?”
“Uncle Harry!” Butch said loudly. His face was pure joy at seeing her. “You’re home and it’s the daytime.” He drummed his hands on the granite.
“I’m home for the whole day, and we’re going to have fun,” Harry said, picking him up and kissing his cheek, then holding him out so Desi could do the same. “What do you want to do?”
“Granny Mona said you put on the hot water thing, so I want to swim.” He was always quick with an answer if there was something he wanted. “You can come too, Aunt Desi.”
“That does sound fun, but I still have a cast. How about I watch you guys from the side?” She combed his hair back and smiled at him.
“Our first stop is going to be my office then,” Harry said. “It’s time to set you free, baby.” Harry sat him back down and grabbed a juice out of the refrigerator. “After that, we’re going shopping.”
Mona stood and took a thermometer out of a kitchen drawer and headed to Harry with it. “You better put her to bed, Desi. She’s delusional with fever if she’s volunteering to shop for anything. Usually it takes threats to get her to agree.”
“You better be nice to me, or I won’t buy you anything,” Harry said, laughing. “You two get ready while we go change. It’s crazy warm today after yesterday’s cold front, so we’ll be swimming when we get back.”
“What are we shopping for?” she asked Harry as she held on when Harry carried her to save time.
“We’re getting you out of this cast first,” Harry said, putting her down and watching her closely. “Does it hurt to walk?”
“No, just uncomfortable to limp with this thing on.” She hobbled to the closet and waited for Harry to unzip her. “What are we shopping for?”
“That’s a surprise.”
“What are you up to?” She wrapped her arms around Harry after she’d taken her jacket and shirt off. “I think spending the day in this room would be surprise enough, but we’ll be good and go out and play.”
“I’m up to nothing, and as soon as we get all the people coming over later out of here, we’re not leaving this room. Right now, though, you’re going to love where we’re headed.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to give me a hint?” She encouraged Harry to lower her head so she could suck on her earlobe.
“I’d tell you to behave, but I don’t have that much willpower,” Harry said, lowering her hands to her ass and picking her up.
This close, she couldn’t help but suck on Harry’s neck, and she didn’t let up until she was flat on her back on the bed. “Do we have time?”
“We’ll make time.”
They were done and showered in forty minutes, and her face flushed when they saw Mona in the kitchen with her arms crossed. Mona shook her head and laughed when all Harry did was wiggle her eyebrows. That made her face hotter than it was before.
“Were you having trouble with your shoelaces or something?” Mona asked, carrying Butch on her hip.
“No, it was the zipper on my pants. Ah-ah-ah,” Harry said, pointing to the door. “No more comments are necessary. Everyone get in the car.” One of the security cars followed them out.
Harry’s staff played with Butch while Harry cut the cast off her leg, revealing horrible looking skin. After some more X-rays, Harry recommended a lightweight boot for when she was going to be on her feet for long periods of time, but she wouldn’t have to wear it all the time. “Don’t push it, and you won’t need my services after a couple of weeks,” Harry said.
“Bite your tongue, lover,” she said and pressed her hands to her face when her ears got scalding hot. “Sorry, I’m not sure what’s wrong with me today.”
“I do, and I totally feel the same way. Let’s go. We’ve got another stop to make.”
Harry stopped and picked up Tony, who gave directions as Harry drove. They were headed out of town and Desi wasn’t sure what the business was from the nondescript name.
“Let’s go, people,” Harry said opening her door. “You sure you don’t want the boot?”
“Not yet.” She got out with Harry’s help and put both feet on the ground. “What’s Dixie Supplies?”
“Aunt Desi, this place is the best,” Butch said, clapping his hands and pulling Mona along. It was obvious he’d been here before.
“Come on, baby, let’s go shopping,” Harry said, and they entered the largest art supply place she’d ever seen.
It took two hours to find everything on Tony’s list, and the guy promised they’d have it delivered in a day. Her new studio would be ready as soon as they unboxed everything. She helped Butch pick out a new easel, smaller than the one Tony got, and she looked forward to spending time with them in that space.
“The cleaning crew said they can’t make it until next week,” Mona said.
“We’ll get it done,” Harry said as Butch ran between them. “I don’t mind a little dirt.”
They worked together for the rest of the day to get the studio cleaned. Even Butch pitched in, not minding that they’d skipped the swimming. The equipment arrived just as they finished, which surprised Desi, but the delivery guys just shrugged. Harry tipped them, and the delivery guys were happy to assemble all their purchases.
By nightfall the studio was done, and Harry grilled steaks to give Mona a break. Rachel joined them for dinner after much teasing about how late she’d gotten home, and Serena called after they were done and asked if they’d mind keeping Butch one more night.
“We’d love to,” Desi said as Harry put a movie on for Butch and set him up on the sofa. “Do you need anything else?”
“The grand jury true-billed the case against the Simoneaux brothers, so I’m slammed with work. They accepted all the charges the DA filed, so the police have stepped up their investigation. Once we get them in court, they’re going away for a long time.”
“Thank you for all your hard work, and don’t worry about Butch.”
“I know that, Aunt Desi,” Serena said. “He’ll make a good juror one day. You won’t find a better judge of character, and he loves you, so I know he’ll always be okay with you.”
“Thank you.”
“All set?” Harry asked when she hung up.
“This has been a great day,” she said. They sat on the floor of the den and enjoyed the fire Harry had kindled, while they kept an eye on Butch. He was engrossed in the movie, with his head in Harry’s lap. “I love you. Thank you for being you.”
“You’re welcome, and I can’t wait to see all the stuff you’ll create.” Harry kissed the side of her neck and leaned back more. “As for the rest, promise me you’ll talk to me throughout the process. Don’t ever think you’re alone, or that I don’t want to hear it.”
“I promise.” She kissed her. “It’s almost bedtime for cute little boys,” she whispered.
“Five more minutes and I’ll carry him up.” Harry smiled and kissed her hand. “Then I don’t want to share you for the rest of the night.”
“Where’s Rachel?” She hadn’t seen her sister after dinner.
“She was going to watch some show with Mona, and then she was going to bed. The late night must’ve done her in.” They shared a smile at that and turned to watch a few minutes of the film.
“You ready for bed, little man?” Desi asked as she ran her hand through his hair.
“Would you read me a story?” Butch sat up and put his arms around them.
“I’d love to, and I’ll get Uncle Harry to help. You want anything before we go up?”
“A cookie?” he asked.
“Nice try, buddy, but a story, then sleep.” She waited for Harry to move and help her up. She’d been walking most of the day and surprisingly her leg didn’t hurt. “I’m sure Mona will make up for the cookie with a treat for breakfast.”
“That’s good,” Butch said, happy with his story and a kiss from each of them.
“Will you hold me tonight?” she asked Harry when they finally went to bed.
“Tonight, and all the ones yet to come,” Harry said.
“You’re my miracle, Harry, and I’m so glad you found me. So glad.”