Page 178 of When Love Takes Root

“I’ll leave because you asked me to. Love has to have respect, even when it’s hurt.”

My chest caved.

“But I’m not leaving because I agree with you. I’m not leaving because Kayden ran me off. I’m not leaving because your life is too much. And I’m not leaving because I believe God brought me this close just for fear to have the final word.”

A sob finally broke through.

Josiah’s eyes moved over my face like he wanted to remember it and forget it at the same time.

“I’ll still come check Maya’s outlets tomorrow, if you allow it. Her safety matters more than my feelings.”

Even now.

Even after I’d cut him.

He still covered my child.

I nodded because my voice had deserted me.

“Tell the girls I said good night.”

Another nod.

“And JJ.”

I nodded again.

He stood there for one more breath.

Close enough for me to stop him.

Far enough for me to choose.

I didn’t move.

The disappointment in his eyes was gentle.

That made it unbearable.

“Good night, Celeste.”

Not Red.

Celeste.

I watched him leave through the side gate because I didn’t trust myself to walk him through the house. The latch clicked behind him. A few seconds later, his truck door opened, then closed. His engine started.

I stood on my patio with my arms around my waist while the sound of him leaving rolled through the evening like a consequence.

When his taillights disappeared, my body admitted what my mouth did.

I sent him away.

And it hurt exactly like I knew it would.

I went back inside with cold water on my face and my heart lying somewhere on the patio. The girls were in the living room, half watching television and half fighting sleep. Maya looked up from her sketchbook and studied me too closely. JJ stood near the bottom of the stairs with his keys in his hand. Kayden stood three steps above him, one hand on the railing.

I’d walked into the middle of something.