by Aliyah Burke
“I was scared.”
“Not saying you weren’t. But I am saying you need to explain this to him. I’m your friend and I’m always behind you but I won’t sit here and sugarcoat what you have ahead of you. He told you he loved you and you told him you needed to take a break.”
She hung her head in shame. Her dad, Arlen, and now Lucy had told her basically the same thing. She screwed up and it was up to her to fix it.
“I know,” she muttered. “I know.”
“Are we good?” Lucy asked.
“Of course we are, Luce. I tell you things because I know you’ll tell me straight. No matter if it’s what I want to hear or not. We’re good.”
“Perfect, now, give me some of your cake.”
Kassidy had a wonderful time and when she made it back home there was a flicker of hope in her chest. Hope that things could and would work out with Justice. He was the one she wanted in her life. He’d been there for her through things she couldn’t imagine having survived without him.
A smile filled her face and she knew she would find a way to convince him she’d made a mistake in pushing him away. That smile remained in place when she crawled into bed. She woke feeling pumped full of renewed vigor. Making sure not to call him too early in case he was sleeping, she waited until about nine. Again, there was no answer on his cell phone and feeling slightly disheartened she debated calling his home.
“Nothing like having a face to face.”
Ensuring that Libby was fine, she bundled up and dashed to her car. While the snow had vanished, it was bitterly cold out. She drove to his apartment building, frowned when she didn’t see his car but decided to take a chance anyway. Climbing the stairs, she paused at his door and knocked.
It swung open and she found herself not facing Justice but his mother, Dinah Graham, with Duke behind her wagging his tail.
“Kassidy?”
Words suddenly seemed hard to come by. “Mrs. Graham, lovely to see you. I… I was wondering if Justice was home.”
“Come in here, child, it’s too cold to be standing out there.”
She stepped in and rubbed Duke’s head while Dinah closed the door. “Thank you. I take it he’s not home?”
“No, he’s not. Now, normally I make it a practice to stay out of my children’s relationships but you did a number on my boy and I don’t much appreciate that. So what do you want to see him for?”
Kassidy understood her anger. “I wanted to explain my stupidity and see if there was a chance for us.”
Dinah’s eyes were shrewd and they raked up and down her body. “You better not make me regret this,” she stepped closer, “I understand the pain of losing a loved one but heed me well, Kassidy Barrow. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, as ferocious as a mama protecting her baby. And that man, no matter how old he is, is still my baby.”
The gauntlet had been thrown down. Swallowing the lump in her throat Kassidy nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
The woman’s entire visage softened. “Good. Because I really like you, Kassidy, and think you’re good for my son. Now, he’s in court today, I’m on my way over if you’d like to go with me.”
“Court? Something to do with Torrie?”
“Yes, Carly—what a darling woman—finagled a way to get him before a judge sooner.”
“Please.” The need to be with him during this time was alive and fierce within her.
The ride was quiet as Dinah drove through the city to the courthouse. They took the elevator up to the third floor and as she followed his mother toward the courtroom her nerves began to work up within her.
With a deep breath, she held the door and they slipped silently into the room. Justice stood in the front at a table with Carly beside him. The judge behind the podium looked like he had a bad case of indigestion. She slid into a seat in the back while his mother moved up further.
“What makes you think you’re the right man to raise this child?” the judge asked.
Justice tugged on his suit coat and spoke with a clear voice. “Your Honor, I was the one who rescued her, it was my boat that found her hiding crouched behind her dog while her mother’s dead body lay before her. When she wrapped her arms around my neck and put her trust in me, my life changed in that second. I wanted to be there for her for the rest of her life.”
“Do you feel that way about everyone you save?”
“No, sir. Torrie is different. She is so innocent, I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be helpless and watch your mother die before your eyes. She thought her mom was sleeping. I stand here before you and swear I will do my best by this child.”
“It says here you drive a sports car, hardly a family vehicle.”
She clamped her lips to refrain from lighting into the judge about his comments. If he was concerned, Justice didn’t show it.
“I don’t have my Corvette anymore. I have a sports utility vehicle now. Torrie will have a room of her own in my apartment. When I’m gone to work my mom is willing to watch her. Torrie has no one now, but with me, she will always have someone who loves her, close. I know I’m single and in the military, but I will give her all the love I can.”
“You seem passionate about this little girl and I’m sure she is lucky for that. But what happens when you have a girlfriend and she doesn’t want a child not her own coming into your relationship?”
“Then that girl isn’t the one for me. My girlfriend will love Torrie as much as I do.”
“I’d like to hear that from the girlfriend that she won’t make it hard on Torrie when she is getting settled in, if I make a judgment in your favor.”
Kassidy stood and smoothed her hands down the side of her black leather jacket. “She doesn’t have a problem with it, Your Honor.”
Every head in the place turned to her. She ignored them all but one. Justice was the man she wanted to see. His eyes grew wide for a moment before he composed himself. He stared at her, his gaze dropped down and ran the gamut of her form.
“Step forward, Miss.”
Kassidy moved up parallel to Carly, who now served as the buffer between her and Justice. “Yes, Your Honor?” The nameplate read Judge Tomas Barken.
“You are the girlfriend?”
She sliced her gaze over to where Justice continued to watch her. All she could do was hope he could ever want her back. He stepped around Carly and positioned himself right before her.
“Kassidy?” his voice low and full of disbelief.
They didn’t move. He lowered his head and captured her mouth. She sighed and sank into him raising her hands and settling them along his chest, feeling the smooth silk of his suit.
“Excuse me,” a male voice said.
“Forgive me?” she whispered.
“Always.” He drew her in close and stroked a hand down her cheek.
“We’re still in session here,” the judge said.
“I’m sorry, Your Honor. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her.” Holding Kassidy’s hand, he tugged her along so she stood at his side.
A smile lifted the corner of one side of the judge’s face. “I can tell. Let me ask you, young lady, do you foresee a problem with bringing Torrie into his life?”
“Not at all. Justice loves her. I saw it in him the day he brought her in. It killed him to have to leave her with Ms. O’Neill. I can’t imagine a better parent for Torrie than this man.”
The judge leaned back in his chair and chewed on the earpiece of his glasses. Justice’s hand tightened around hers and she squeezed back. Silence filled the room. She tensed when Judge Barken leaned forward. He placed his glasses on the flat of his desk and rested his arms on either side of them.
“I think I’ve heard enough. I’ll render my verdict in a week at nine o’clock.” He reached for his gavel and banged it. “Court adjourned.”
She didn’t move while the judge left the room. Nor did she when Carly turned to Justice and talked to him, all she did was lean into him and continue to hold his hand. He s
poke to his mother and grandfather who, after hugging him, left. Finally, it was just the two of them. He stared down into her eyes, his hands cupping her face.
“Kassidy,” he said in a soft almost reverent tone.
“I’m so sorry, Justice.”
“I need to know something, Kassidy.”
“What?”
“I need to know you aren’t going to change your mind and push me away again.”
“I love you, Justice,” she said. The words flowed smoothly from her mouth and the instant she said them, she knew they were true.
“For now?”
“For forever,” she vowed, pressing her lips to his.
His low growl reverberated through her and she smiled into the kiss. Justice was so strong, so powerful, and so gentle. Best of all, he was hers.
“Let’s go home, beautiful.”
Arms around one another, they left the courtroom. He led her down to a black GMC Envoy.
“Where’s your car?”
“I sold her, if I get…when, when I get custody of Torrie she’ll need to be in a safer vehicle.”
“You loved that car.” She looked inside and smiled at the sight of the car seat.
“I love Torrie more.” He faced her. “And you, beautiful. I love you, so much.”
“I love you, too, Justice.”
He drove them to her house where he swept her up in his arms and carried her in to the bedroom. Later when they’d finished making love, they lay in the bed, limbs entwined. She dragged her fingers up and down his chiseled torso.
“What about Duke?” she asked.
“Mom will swing by on their way home and pick him up.”
“They can bring him over here or we could go get him. I know Libs would love to have him back.”
“You missed him, didn’t you?”
She smiled. “I did. He’s a great dog.”
“Marry me.”
If she hadn’t been off her feet surely she would have fallen to the floor. The statement came out of left field and she didn’t know what to say. So she lifted up on one arm and leveled a look at him.
“What did you say?”
Justice readjusted so he was balanced on one arm as well, and she held his gaze. Seriousness leaked from every pore. He wrapped some of her hair in his free hand.
“You heard me. I want you in my life, Kassidy. Forever. I want to be a family with you, Torrie, Libs, and Duke.”
Grab happiness and make it your own. Her dad’s words drifted to the forefront of her mind.
“Yes,” she said, soft but with conviction.
“Yes?” he asked, a grin consuming most of his face.
She nodded. “Yes.”
In the blink of an eye she found herself on her back, Justice over her. “I love you, Kassidy Lyra Barrow.” Then he kissed her.
Kassidy knew her choice had been the right one. This man had the power to make her life go from ordinary to extraordinary. More important than that, she loved him more than she ever believed possible. She would be at his side, no matter the outcome of the adoption attempt with Torrie and she knew he would always be there for her. It was a few hours later before they gave in to the sleep they’d been missing while apart from one another.
A week later, she sat behind Justice and waited for Judge Barken to speak. Her fingers of one hand clenched, she did her best not to fidget. Dinah held her other hand in a death grip.
Barken opened a folder and picked up his pencil. He lifted his head and looked over the few people in the courtroom. His fingers smoothed over his mustache and he nodded.
“I must say I was intrigued when presented with this case. A child’s welfare is nothing to be taken lightly and even more so given the tragic nature of how this little girl lost her mom. I’ve never found it in the best interest of the child to send them with the family member who moves so much being in the service of the country. I think it’s better for them to be able to grow roots, friends, and have as normal a childhood as possible.”
Kassidy bit back a whimper and fought the urge to sit by Justice and hold his hand.
“I’ve listened to your eloquent statement on how you would care for this child. I’ve heard your girlfriend and your parents also speak on your behalf. Even Ms. O’Neill did.” The judge waved one hand and set it back down. “And yet I still hesitate. You are a young man, Mr. Graham, used to a free life of coming and going when you please.”
Get to the point already! Kassidy hadn’t any clue how Justice remained so still and appeared so composed.
“This child is going to need to be put first. And—”
“Jus-is!” the cry filled the courtroom.
Justice moved this time. He pushed to his feet and whipped around. Kassidy looked over her shoulder and saw Torrie being carried down toward them but she struggled to get down and when she finally made it to the floor she, along with her blanket, fairly flew into Justice’s open arms. He picked her up and held her close. A whisper to the child and she fell silent, burrowing her face into his neck and sucking her thumb.
He retook his seat and said, “I’m sorry, Your Honor.”
Judge Thomas Barken smiled. A full-fledged smile. “No need to apologize, son. That only solidifies my decision. I can’t think of a better man to raise this child. I’ll have Ms. O’Neill get started on the paperwork. Court dismissed.” He banged the gavel and with a sharp nod, walked out.
Kassidy jumped up and hugged them both when he turned around. Her heart was as light as it could be. “I can’t believe it. Congratulations, Justice.”
“Thank you, beautiful.”
His mom hugged him next and then his grandfather. Torrie reached over to Kassidy and climbed into her lap before playing with her engagement ring.
“Shiny,” she said.
“Yes, it is, isn’t it?”
“Torrie have?”
“Sorry, sweetie, this one is mine.”
“’Kay.” She sighed and snuggled closer.
Justice sat beside her and asked, “Ready to go home, Torrie?”
“Stay with Jus-is,” she pouted.
“Yes, baby. You’re coming home with me.”
Her grin melted Kassidy’s heart and Torrie launched herself into his arms. “Yay! Go with Jus-is an’ Duke.”
Torrie in one arm, Justice looked down at Kassidy and reached for her hand. Allowing him to draw her to her feet, Kassidy knew this was her future. This man and this little girl. Together, they left and headed back to his apartment where he’d had the other room set up as a bedroom for Torrie.
After dinner, while Torrie was happily playing with Duke and Libby and some blocks, Kassidy curled up on the couch beside Justice. His lips caressed her forehead lightly.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“Likewise, beautiful.” He ran a hand up and down her arm before moving to the floor to help Torrie with the building blocks.
Remaining on the sofa, Kassidy watched them play, a slight smile on her face. She could feel her mother’s love wash over her and she knew her mom would be proud of her. Her heart skipped faster when Justice looked up and winked at her.
She almost lost it all but ended up with the man of her dreams and a beautiful child who loved her. Life doesn’t get much better than this.
She spent the night wrapped safely in Justice’s embrace, the dogs on the floor of Torrie’s room. There were no nightmares for her this night but when she did wake, his deep timbre soothed her enough to fall back into slumber.
Over breakfast she stood there and watched him talk and eat with Torrie. His love for Torrie obvious and yet, when he looked up at Kassidy, his gaze heated and burned her with its intensity. He made her feel like the only woman in the world. He made her feel like she was his woman. She no longer feared the future but looked forward to what was coming next. There was nothing for her to fear, for no matter what came, she knew, Justice is always ready.
The End
Also by Aliyah Burke and TEP
With This Ring
A Denim and Spurs Book
Dream Lover
A Denim and Spurs Book
Justice Is Always Ready
A Graham Family Story
Coming Soon
And We’ve Come Full Circle
A Graham Family Story
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here . She can also be found on Facebook or Twitter: @AliyahBurke96.
She is married to a career military man. They are owned by three Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.
Twisted E Publishing, LLC
www.twistedepublishing.com
