Page 121 of Fighting With Light

Liam chuckles. “Dude, there’s another bathroom.”

“Well, that one is small, and I’m big, can you just—”

I flip the lock, interrupting him, and push past his large figure. Emerson really is a big guy. Liam follows, and I find a shirt for him and a change of clothes for myself.

Once I’m in yoga pants and Liam’s t-shirt, I plop down next to him on the couch and pull the blanket over both of us. He smiles and tucks me into his side. I feel his lips on the top of my head, and I fall asleep like that. The only place I want to be.

***

We arrive in California and vehicles are waiting for us, along with two women and a child. As we walk closer, Liam’s hand tightens around mine. Cordelia, her son Theo, and the boys’ mom, Esmarie, stand there staring at us, and I’mpositiveI look awful. The jet sink bath did not do the trick. I stare at Cordelia first, and her eyes are glued to Kai as he approaches them.I want that.

He gathers his family into his arms and kisses Cordelia like the world is burning. Then he pulls away and kisses his son’s forehead. The way he looks into those sweet eyes feels like an arrow to the heart. I’ve never thought about what it would be like to be a mother. It’s not something that I wanted to think about. I was too busy trying to survive and give my father reasons to ignore my mother to keep her safe.

Esmarie is wearing black, silk pants and a tucked-in shirt. Her pearl earrings and matching Chanel necklace reflect in the light. My mother used to look like that, a force to be reckoned with. She hasn’t worn her pearls for a long time now.

Emerson hugs Esmarie, and his large frame swallows her small one whole. She’s a small but powerful woman. I don’t have to know her well to pick up on that. He releases her and Liam lets go of my hand to hug his mom, press a kiss to Cordelia’s cheek, and rubs Theo’s head. I stand to the side, feeling like an island, and then Liam grabs my hand, tugging me closer.

Esmarie stares me down with apprehension. I don’t blame her. I would, too. I hold out my hand to her, and she takes it. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Costa.”

“You as well, Mrs. Coldwell.”

She dips her head regally, and Liam’s arm around my shoulder tightens in encouragement.

“The guys will fill you in, Mom. I have to get down to San Clemente for the finals, and I’ll need at least twenty-four hours of sleep for that to happen.”

She stares at her son carefully. “Very well then. I expect you to call me. But answer this one question for me, darling…”

Liam nods and she sets her eyes on me as she says, “Was it all worth it?”

I look up at his profile, wondering what his answer will be. I know what mine is, and he says, “Yes, yes, it was.”

The corner of my mouth pops up, and I try to hide my grin, but I can’t help it. I know he’s talking about a lot more than the evidence we’ve obtained to put both of our fathers away for the rest of their lives.

We said those three magic words. Words that I never thought I would give a man.

“Good,” she says in a clipped tone. “I brought your Range Rover,” she says and waves her hand to a man in a suit.

He tosses Liam’s keys, and he catches them with one hand. “Thanks, Mom, thanks, Clarence.”

The man dips his head once, and the air feels…awkward yet hopeful. We got what we needed, and we’re safe for now. This is the next step in the right direction.

Liam tugs my hand towards his SUV. We load our things in, and he straps his board down and helps me into the passenger side. “Let me go say bye one more time,” he says and kisses me on the cheek.

I watch him jog back over to his family. He hugs Kai and his wife one more time. He pats Emerson roughly on the back, and it’s hard not to laugh as his thick arms pat him awkwardly in return. Then he stops at his mother and hugs her. Her arms grip him, and it feels like another needle in my heart.

There have been many over the years; my heart is full of them, and every beat is a painful thud of a reminder of losing my mom, even though she is very much alive. But all of this was for her, for me, for my brothers, for those women who were forced into a terrible life.

But now, my goals are still the same,ourgoal is still the same. Yet it’s different this time because of three little words that have pulled out some of those needles and healed the bleeding. I have hope that we can see this through, that we all can finally befree.

45

Liam

“It will only takeus about thirty minutes to get there. I rented a house right outside of San Clemente.”

Aelia nods and keeps looking out the window. I think we both just need a lot of sleep. I know I do.

Yet, I feelenergized.We saidIlove you.There is no going back now.