Everly

He opened the door, and the whole speech I’d prepared in the car on the ride back from the jail fell away. Cameron, I’m sorry. I know I kept the truth from you, and I’d go back and change it if I could, but I can’t.

But this is no longer about me. It’s about so much more than that—it’s about you and that little girl. Piper is beautiful, and I’m sure she’s yours. I’ve looked into it, and I think you should not only prove that she’s your flesh and blood, but file for custody and ensure you win.

Piper was snuggled into his chest, her arms around him, those sweet curls resting on his shoulder, and my heart ached. That was family. That was worth more than any paperwork could prove.

“Paternity test. You need to get a paternity test,” I blurted.

Cameron stepped back, his eyes uncertain.

I took the movement for what it wasn’t—an invitation inside—and strode into the house backward, still facing him. “Cameron, I’m sorry for what happened between us. I never meant to deceive you, and then things kept progressing, but making love to you was everything to me, and—”

“Everly,” he said, his eyes flashing a warning.

“Sorry. I’m off topic.” I shook my head. “Let’s talk about Piper. That’s why I’m here. She’s—”

“No, no. Please go back to the making love part.”

What the hell?

I spun around. There, on the couch, was the man I saw with Cameron the first day we spoke on the beach. His dark eyes sparkled as he stood and extended his arm. “Nicholas Mackelroy. But you can call me Mack.”

“Hi.” Heat rushed my cheeks. Oh God. He’d heard me tell Cam making love to him was everything? “Everly Jenkins.”

“Ah! The Everly. It’s so nice to officially meet you. Tell me, just when did you and Cam here take things from friends to a little bit more?”

“Okay, Mack. Enough.” Cameron stood between us, facing me. “Why are you here?”

I shot a quick look at Mack.

“You can talk about it in front of him,” Cam said.

I took a deep breath. “I’m here because I went to see Giselle.”

His eyes widened, surprised.

“I think she’s lying, Cam.” I licked my suddenly dry lips. “In fact, I’d bet my house she is.”

* * *

When I told Cam I visited Giselle, I thought he’d be mad. Instead, he calmly nodded, accepting my information. When I mentioned that I had someone who could offer legal advice pro bono, he gave a polite “thanks” then ushered me out the door, as if he couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.

I didn’t know what I’d expected. It wasn’t as if I’d thought I’d go in there, all guns blazing, and have him sweep me up into his arms, saying he was miserable without me and that we’d take this on together.

Well, maybe I had thought that. Maybe a small, tiny piece of me believed he’d missed me as much as I’d missed him, that now, on the fourth day since that night, the one that changed the course of our lives forever, he’d have come to his senses.

But no sexy man with broad shoulders and muscled forearms pushed a pram into my driveway at ten the next morning. No hottie with the dark hair I loved running my hands through, with kissable lips that had scorched my skin, called me, saying he’d take me up on that legal advice.

Nothing.

I heard nothing.

Perhaps that was why I came. Perhaps it was because I needed to be close to him but didn’t know how, and this was the only place left I could think to go.

I sank down next to the headstone, crouching so the tips of the wet grass tickled the backs of my thighs. Dark clouds loomed overhead, and it seemed fitting. I wasn’t here on some kind of sunny errand. This wasn’t a place for happiness and light.

I dumped my handbag on the footpath beside me, pulled out a pen and notepad from its cotton interior, and began to write.

Dear Bella,

I’m not sorry.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I’m sorry for a lot of things. I’m sorry you went through doubt about your child’s health. That would have been incredibly hard, even for a strong woman such as you.

I’m sorry for the fact that your life was brutally cut short. That you never got to watch your stomach get rounder and rounder, that you didn’t experience the agonising lows and heart-wrenching highs of childbirth, resulting in a beautiful baby.

I’m sorry that just as he lost you, you lost Cameron. The two of you were separated long before your time was due, and it is unfair, and unjust, and unkind of the world to let that happen.

I’m sorry that you have to watch him go through this pain. He’s in a dark place right now. I’d thought my offer for free legal advice would make things easier. I know Cam’s not exactly strapped for finances, but sometimes, you need a little push to help you take that leap.

But Cam hasn’t called, and even though I’ve given Bentley a brief rundown on events, he can’t do anything without Cameron’s involvement and permission.

The thing is, I don’t want to see him give up on Piper. She saved him. I watched their relationship grow over the weeks, the way she helped him feel, care, love—I swear, he loves her, Bella. And I know that while you might wish it could have been your child, you won’t begrudge him that. He needs a family right now, and this blonde-haired angel can give that to him—if he’ll just open his heart and fight for her.

There is, of course, the possibility that I’m wrong. Piper could be Wayne’s baby, and then I’ve pushed Cameron down this path for nothing. But it seems too coincidental that as soon as the ‘C’ word was brought up, the stories about paternity started.

Sometimes in life, we have to take great risks to earn great rewards. And Piper is a risk worth taking. I know she is, and I think deep down, Cam knows it, too. He just needs the strength to fight this final battle.

I want to be the strength he needs, be by his side in this time of need.

Because I care about him, Bella. I hate that you’re apart, but I care about Cameron Lewis.

I know what you two had was a love worth everything. I’ll never be you. I’ll never try. Yet I feel that with time, there can be room in his heart for both of us. That perhaps I can be what he needs now.

I truly care about him, and I’m not sorry.

I just can’t apologise for that.

Everly