Page 23 of Falling for You (Balsam Cliffs #2)

“Two rings means he ignored my call.” His eyebrows furrowed together in worry. Something is definitely not right.

I know we’re late but they still haven’t answered our text from earlier about traffic.

“Let me try.” I pull out my phone and type in Wayne’s number, since he ignored the call we know he at least has his phone on him.

You have reached Wayne Ryan, please leave your message after the tone.

With shaky hands, I hang up and try Diane.

You have reached, Diane, please—

“Both of their phones are off now.” I want to vomit. What does this mean? Where are they and why are they ignoring our calls?

“Should we just go to their house? Wait here? What do we do?” I ask, panic rising in my throat.

“Let’s wait fifteen more minutes and try to call them again.” He is saying the words, but he doesn’t want to wait, I can tell by his fidgeting in his seat. He keeps wiping his palms on his shorts.

I reach out and lace my fingers with his as we both sit in the cab of his truck, listening to the music as the minutes tick by. Our worry increases with each change on the clock.

The clock changes once more and it’s been fifteen minutes with no one showing up, and no one returning our calls or texts.

Rome tries to call each of them one more time and it goes right to voicemail again, for both.

He doesn’t say anything to me, he just throws the truck in reverse and burns rubber out of the park and ride.

We’re on the back roads this time, flying through small towns to get to the Ryans’ house.

I’ve never been so thankful that I insisted on getting their address and looking like the crazy one when I made sure that I had every single piece of information I needed, including the hospital closest to their house.

“Rome what is going on? Why aren’t they answering our calls? They should have been here almost an hour ago.” My voice cracks as I speak.

“I don’t know, Sunshine. But we’ll figure it out.”

The truck is going faster than it should on the curvy backroads, but we’re shaving minute after minute from the GPS.

Finally the GPS is telling us to turn onto the road we need. Most of the last hour has been filled with silence, neither of us wanting to talk.

Rome puts the truck in park and looks at me, “Do you want to come with me?”

“Yes!” I throw my door open, not waiting for Rome to come open the door this time.

We walk hand in hand up to the front door and knock. I notice the curtains swaying in the window and nod to it for Rome to see what I’m looking at.

He knocks hard on the door. No answer. He knocks harder. Still no answer. He hits harder again, on the verge of trying to break the door down, but knowing he can’t do that.

Finally we hear the clicks of the locks and Wayne walks out onto the porch.

“Where’s Olivia?” Rome asks through grit teeth.

“Listen Roman, we thought we could do this. We thought we could follow Blair’s wishes, but we can’t. We won’t be giving Olivia back to you. We will be keeping custody of her.” He explains this too calmly. His hands are clasped in front of him, and he speaks at a very even tone.

“You can’t just keep her! I’m her father, you made sure I knew that, and now it’s official. Give me back my daughter. I’m bringing her home.” Rome’s hand squeezes mine, my knuckles crunch together as he tries to keep himself in check. Tears spring to my eyes.

They can’t do this.

“I’ve already spoken to my lawyer. I can. We still have custody of her as the executors of Blair’s estate, and the guardianship that was granted to us after her passing. You’ll have to take us to court if you want Olivia back, but we have custody of her now.”

Wayne turns and walks back inside his house, the two locks clicking back in place.

Rome spins around and steps off the porch. “Fuck!” He runs his hands through his hair, tugging at the ends.

I stand there frozen, staring at the Ryans’ front door.

“They can’t do this,” I whisper.

“I need the police. Now. My daughter’s grandparents won’t give her back to me after an overnight visit.” I turn to see Rome with his phone to his ear, next he rattles off their address.

No, no I can’t lose another baby. I can’t—

I start hyperventilating. The world gets fuzzy and dark. I slide down the railing and lay my head between my knees, sucking in lungfuls of air.

Strong arms wrap me up and carry me off to the truck. I’m placed in the passenger’s seat, and he takes my face in his hands.

“Breathe, Sunshine.” He sucks in a deep breath, and exhales. I follow him on the next breath. We do five more breaths together.

“Hey. You okay now?” He swipes at my cheeks.

“I can’t lose another baby. Blair has my baby. I have hers. This was making things better, equal somehow. And now, now I’ve failed her.” My breaths return to shallow pants and Rome starts deep breathing again. Subconsciously I follow him once more, but the tears come faster.

A car pulls into the driveway behind us and the cops step out. Rome kisses my forehead and steps away to go talk to them, and I’m left deep breathing on my own.

I’m so sorry Blair, I promise I’ll get her back and love her for you.