Love Survives(112)

“Apparently it runs in the family. She must learn those skills from her mother,” I teased.

Her smile was contagious. “Maybe.”

“You could always come join us,” I asked in a whisper.

“I’m going to help your mom with dinner. I’ll come check on you in a bit.”

Before she could leave the room I called her name, patting B on the backside so she’d settle back to sleep. “Kat, wait. How are you doing – with all this Branch and Melissa business?”

She held onto the door when she answered. “It’s weird. I guess I need to get used to it. They probably feel the same way about us.”

“I’m sure.”

“I like seeing you so happy, Brooks. I still keep thinking about when I assumed you were dead. Sometimes this still feels like it’s a dream.”

I kept my arms around my daughter, kissing her on the head before I replied. “I’d come back from the dead for this, Kat. Nothing could keep me away.”

I saw tears in her eyes as she grinned. “That’s why I love you so much, Brooks. I know you would.”

When she left the room I took a few minutes to think about how far we’d come. The little girl in my arms was worth every bad day because it was all in order to lead me back to this. If I was dead, then this was my heaven. Only a marriage certificate with her mother could make this any sweeter.





Chapter 48

Dinner out at the pool was pretty relaxing. Actually, every meal with my parents had been great. I wasn’t used to family sittings, but I sure did like them.

It was pretty obvious my brother was infatuated with Brooklyn. He wouldn’t stop talking to her and being playful. Even though she hadn’t admitted it, I knew Kat noticed too.

Once we were settled in for the night, with my brother right across the hall after deciding to stay, Kat seemed upset again.

I pulled my shirt over my head to prepare for bed, noticing Kat staring me down again, particularly on my tattoo. I gave her a mischievous grin. “If I would have known that you’d be so into it, I would have sent pictures with my letters.” I climbed on the bed, perching my head on her thigh. “What are you in here thinking about?”

Kat peered down at her hands. “I don’t know. Life, I guess. It’s just hard to believe that I’m here, with you, in your bed. It’s surreal, you know? Us being together and everyone being okay with it?”

I laced our fingers together, reminding her that she wasn’t alone. “To be honest with you even if they had a problem it wouldn’t change us. We’d still be together, Kat.”

“I love how you just know what you want, Brooks. I want you to know that I looked up what I need to do to get a divorce. It should be easy since we don’t have children or belongings together. Bobby can walk away with his home and business while I keep my house and all of my money.”

“He doesn’t have access to those accounts?”

“No. I put them in Brooklyn’s name as soon as she was born. Only she and I will be able to draw money out of them. Bobby doesn’t even know how much I have left. He thinks I used almost all of it on the house.”

I was shocked and curious at the same time. “How much did they leave you?”

Kat seemed to get a kick out of me asking. “Eight-hundred fifty four thousand-two hundred thirty dollars and fourteen cents was how much I got when I was able to finally access the account. I memorized the amount because at the time, I was so hard up and needed it. The house cost me three hundred grand. I gave my friends that helped me twenty five grand and I bought everything new for inside the home too.”

This was hilarious to me. “You have half a million dollars hidden from your husband and he never knew?” It led me to believe that she never fully trusted him.

She flashed me a guilty look. “Yeah. I wanted Brooklyn to have the best life. I knew that after I built the house, I wouldn’t have to work to afford a mortgage. I could be home with her, where I wanted to be.”

“I can see where he wouldn’t even ask. Look, you know I don’t care about that money. Your parent’s house and the life insurance was for you anyway. That money isn’t for me or for your husband. I just have one question for you.”

“Anything.”

“When can I move in because me living on the base isn’t exactly going to work for me when my girls have that nice big house and I can’t be with them?”

“I told you already that you’re going to live with me. I thought you knew that I meant now.”

I leaned up in her face. “I’m teasing you. Do you really think I’d spend one night without the two of you? I’ve literally been to Hell. I’m in this for the long haul, woman. There’s pretty much nothing you can do about it, either. I hate to break it to you, but you’re stuck with this forever.” I motioned over my body.