Page 76 of The Disputed Legacy

“Yeah, Mama,” Oscar said. He came forward and took my hand, something he’d been starting to protest since he was a “big boy” now. I didn’t have to ask this time, and I knew he was so perceptive that he must have realized I needed this tether to him for my own sanity.

We walked home, and Saul was quiet. Oscar, like usual, kept up his chatter and prevented a single second from feeling awkward.

But unlike all the other times we’d done this, I couldn’t grasp the idea that we could look like a little family, walking home together. To stay together.

Tension lingered between me and Saul, and it was all my fault. Reacting to the cops had triggered me to show him how scared I could be. He’d want to know why. He’d insist.

I guess it’s time, then.

I only hoped that when we had privacy for this conversation, I would be able to start off strong. That I’d be able to ask him what I needed to know first. He had to come clean about exactly what he did and who he worked for. Depending on that answer, I’d have the information I needed to determine what else I could share with him.

Or if I’d need to sever this and run as fast and hard as ever before.

Go figure I’d be such an idiot to fall in love with someone who could ruin me.

30

SAUL

Willow was quiet the whole walk to her apartment. She was reserved but watchful. Tense yet timid.

Without either of us having to say a word, she’d intuited that I would need to know why she reacted like that at the diner. From my looks, she had to be clued in to how curious I was.

Don’t push.

I had to remember that rule I’d given myself.

She was acting too much like a caged animal. Ready to run away or fight back. Or even worse, dig in even harder with her stubbornness to keep me at arm’s length so I couldn’t know her fully.

In the darkness of the night, in bed, she would do all she could to invite me as close as possible. No gap would separate us when we came together like that, with her sweet pussy milking my dick deep inside her. Like that, in a physical sense, I knew her well.

On this walk home where she was so clearly on edge, likely from the intimidation of having to talk with me soon, I wantedher to have that kind of undeniable closeness with me in a non-physical manner.

I wanted her to let me into her heart. Into her secrets.

But I still couldn’t push. Not now. Doing so would result in more harm than good. It was still my objective for her towantto open up to me, to choose me as someone to protect her.

I couldn’t put her on the spot in front of Oscar. She would stonewall and go silent. She might even try to think she could tell me to go away.

I would have to stay on course and take this slowly. The time for some truths had come, but I would bide my time until we were alone in her room. For once, I would need to keep my hands to myself when Oscar was asleep.

We had to have this conversation, and we would. Just as soon as I got Oscar settled for the night.

I gave him part of my dinner from the diner, but he hadn’t been hungry then. Once we got into the apartment, I told Oscar that I was in the mood for a snack, knowing he’d bite. Literally. He sat at the table while I made some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for us.

“I’m going to clean up,” Willow said, looking at Oscar and not me.

I gritted my teeth, hating this distance.

“Do you have a headache, Mama?” Oscar asked. “You seem tired.”

He really was observant.

“I do, actually,” she admitted. I suspected it was a lie with the guilty look she gave me. “But a good night’s sleep will help.”

“Okay.” He got up to kiss her. “Saul can tuck me in. You go to sleep.”

My heart swelled with affection for this kid. He was a good boy, loving and considerate. I’d be so damned proud to call him my son if I could. Willow had done an excellent job raising him.