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They exchanged goodbyes before Darren ended the call. Change was in the air. And he had a few things to say to Reese before she walked out of his life forever.
The sheriff took a phone call. He said a fewuh-huhsand anI seebefore thanking the caller and ending the call. “Looks like Andrew was pulled over on a minor traffic infraction and arrested. He went peacefully and said he would testify against his brothers. He’s willing to cooperate for a lighter sentence.”
“I don’t know who he is,” Tandra said honestly as her parents hugged her tight. She was waiting for the doctor to confirm she could go home.
Her father stepped up to Darren and Reese. He was a big man. Someone who looked proud. Tears ran down his face, and droplets stained his overalls.
“I don’t know how to thank you for bringing me my little girl,” he began with a shaky voice. “There’s no way in the world I can ever repay something like this.”
He didn’t finish his sentence before Reese and Darren started shaking their heads.
“You don’t owe us a thing,” Darren said. “We are happy enough that your daughter is alive and well.” Darren paused as emotion clotted in his throat. He looked Mr. St. Claire straight in the eyes and said, “I’m a father. Twin girls.”
Mr. St. Claire nodded. He gave a look of understanding.
“I hope your girls stay safe,” Mr. St Claire finally said. “And if they ever need an uncle or guardian angel...they can count on me.”
Now, Darren was the one trying to hold back tears.
“It takes a village, right?” he asked but it was more statement than question.
“It sure does,” Mr. St. Claire agreed before his daughter wrapped her arms around him. They weren’t long enough to clasp her hands together, so she grabbed fistfuls of his overalls.
“I won’t ever talk to strangers online or otherwise and I’ll never leave the house again without you and mom knowing where I’ll be at all times,” she promised.
“You did nothing wrong,” her mother said. “But your father and I plan to be home every night, together, to take care of you.”
Tandra beamed through big teary eyes.
The family of three huddled together.
“Are you ready to get out of here?” Darren asked, turning toward Reese.
“Yes,” she said, then added, “But I’m not ready to leave you.”
“Then don’t,” he said. “Let’s go home and clean up. I’d like you to meet my girls before you go to back to your family’s ranch.”
“I’d like that very much,” Reese said, warming his heart.
After saying their goodbyes, they walked outside and to his vehicle. She scooted over to the middle seat for the ride back to the farmhouse. They sat in companionable silence with her curled up against his arm.
Back home, they showered, ate and set up the place for his girls. He should probably be tired, but going to sleep meant losing his few precious hours with Reese before she walked out of his life again. They’d promised to be friends, but he knew as much as she that their schedules would make it a challenge to stay in touch.
Still, it was better than nothing.
By the time the house was set up, his former in-laws called. They were on the way, saying they wanted to check out the new space for the girls. Darren heard something in their voices that alarmed him, but he’d been running on adrenaline all night and tried not to read too much into it.
“Is it strange that I’m worried I’ll make a bad impression on eighteen-month-olds?” Reese finally said after pacing around the room a couple of times.
“They don’t always take to new people right away,” he warned. “But don’t let that put you off.”
She nodded as a knock sounded. And then she followed him to the door before he opened it.
His former in-laws were normally put together to a T. His mother-in-law’s hair was pinned in back and his father-in-law had bags underneath his eyes.
“Who are these angels?” Reese said as the girls were carried inside and then set down on the soft rug in the living room.
“Our granddaughters,” his former mother-in-law Alice quipped.
