Part 19 (2/2)

So, I ask the possible baby, Are you a little boy or a little girl? A mini-Ward or a mini-Lou?

The baby doesn't answer, of course, but that doesn't matter. I'm pretty sure he or she hears me.

I rub my fingers across the fabric of my dress and tell him or her stories in my mind. About his or her parents' grand adventure and how I ended up in jail. About Ward and everything he's done for me. About everything I plan to do for Ward when I see him again.

Well, not everything. Mini-Ward isn't old enough to hear about some of that yet.

When I run out of stories, I sing to the baby. In my head, of course-the one time I start humming out loud, I get a bunch of glares and one woman threatens to throw her shoe at me. Maybe I've gone completely insane. But I guess sitting in a freezing holding cell for hours on end does that to you. Then again, maybe a few weeks or years of running from all your problems and feelings does that, too.

Now and again my eyes move back to the phone on the wall. I should try Calder again. If that doesn't work, then a bail bondsman. I'm not even sure I know what a bail bondsman is, and I'm not sure I want to.

Just when I'm rousing myself to get up again, I hear voices coming down the hallway. Several of the other women look up. The woman beside me lets out a snore.

”Sir,” I hear someone say, ”if you could please-”

”She's been in there for hours! I swear, if you don't-”

”Sir, I have to insist-”

I stand up and rush over to the bars. I hear Ward. He's here.

But it's only an officer who comes to the door.

”Where is he?” I ask, not even bothering to specify who 'he' is. ”I heard him.”

The officer gives me an exasperated look. ”If you two would hold your horses and let me do my job, this process would be a whole lot smoother.”

I don't say another word. And I step back obediently as he unlocks the door to the holding cell.

”This way, ma'am,” he says finally. He still sounds a little annoyed, but I don't care. I grin and follow him down the hallway to the lobby of the precinct.

When the door opens, Ward is the first thing I see.

The minute I'm through the door, he's at my side.

He grabs me and pulls me against him so hard that he squeezes the air right out of me.

I squeeze him just as hard in return. I know that in the grand scheme of things, we haven't been separated that long, but it feels like forever. But he's here-free and unharmed-and I don't want to let him go. I let my hands roam over his back and arms and chest, instinctively looking for some wound or sign of what he's suffered since I was torn away from him, but he seems to be fine. It's almost too much to take in.

”I love you,” he says in my ear. ”Are you okay? f.u.c.k, I was about to-”

”I'm fine,” I promise him. I look up into his brilliant blue eyes. ”And I love you, too.”

He kisses me. It's only been a few hours since the last time we kissed, but we attack each other as if we're starving for it. I snake my arms around his neck and hold him against me. I can feel his heart beating against my chest, and the places his fingers press against my back burn with heat.

Someone clears his throat behind us. I pull sheepishly away from Ward, even though I want nothing more than to keep touching him, holding him. But maybe it's a good idea to stop now. My whole body is trembling, aching for more, and I'm not sure they'd appreciate us going at it in the middle of a police station. My cheeks are hot as I turn around.

The police officer has my things. And what appears to be some paperwork. But my eyes go right past him and his clipboard to the man standing just behind him.

My brother.

”Louisa,” Calder says, dipping his head at me.

Oh, geez. I was not expecting to see my brother here. I'm still not sure I'm ready for this. I search his face, looking for the anger, the disappointment, the annoyance. But my brother's expression gives nothing away. He's always been good at hiding his feelings.

Ward's fingers brush against mine.

”Your brother posted your bail,” he says softly. ”I saw him coming out of St. Augustine's and told him they'd taken you away.”

It's a lot to take in at once. My brother came to my rescue. Ward wasn't arrested-thank G.o.d. And by the sound of it, these two have been trying to get me out of here for a while. No wonder Ward was upset.

I walk slowly toward my brother. I'm not afraid of him, exactly, but I'm ashamed of all the trouble I've caused him.

It's time to let go of my pride.

I stop right in front of him. ”Hey.”

His face is still unreadable. I look past him, and I spot Lily standing against the wall, out of the way. She smiles and gives me an encouraging nod.

”I'm sorry,” I blurt before I can chicken out. ”I know I've screwed up. I know I've done a lot of things that...” Things that don't matter right now. I rush on. ”I'm sorry for everything. And I...” I look up at him. ”Thank you.”

Before he can respond, I stand on my toes and throw my arms around him.

Calder and I aren't used to hugging. We've never had that sort of relations.h.i.+p, and it's only been worse these past few years. When I wrap my arms around Ward, it feels natural. Perfect. This, on the other hand, is... awkward. But at the same time, it feels right. So I keep squeezing him.

And slowly, Calder's arms come up around me, too. He holds me close, and I feel like a little girl again. Suddenly I have the urge to tell him everything. To share all the things I've been dealing with since our father's death. To explain why I've behaved the way I have. And I want to hear all about him, too. I want to know everything he's felt and experienced these past couple of years. We're family. The only blood family either of us has left. And we have so much time to make up.

It's all I can do not to cry. But for once, the tears I fight back aren't tears of grief or shame or fear. I feel so... so happy. So hopeful. I can fix the things I've done. I can rebuild my relations.h.i.+p with Calder. There's brightness in my life, and instead of pus.h.i.+ng it away, I intend to hold on to it with both hands.

But the cop clears his throat again, and I remember that there are still some things I need to deal with. I peel myself away from my brother.

A few signatures later, and we all leave the precinct together. Ward holds my hand, and Calder and Lily walk on my other side. My brother hasn't said much, but that's not unusual for him, especially when he has a lot on his mind. But he turns to me when we reach the sidewalk.

”I've already spoken to a lawyer,” he says. ”After listening to your friend here”-he nods at Ward-”it seems likely we can get the a.s.sault charges dropped. Perhaps even bring our own case against this Asher Julian.” From the look he gives Lily, it's clear that the two of them haven't forgotten the stories the reporter crafted about them all those months ago. It's a huge relief, knowing my brother doesn't condemn all of my actions.

To my surprise, there's even a hint of amus.e.m.e.nt in my brother's eye.

”What?” I ask.

”I got a glimpse of your work,” he says. ”It looks like you broke the fellow's nose. I can't say I'm very sorry about that.”

I can't help but grin at my brother's approval. But everything that happened with Asher today isn't the only potential mess here.

”What about Huntington Manor?” I say.

I don't want to think about the consequences of my actions, but it's time. I need to know if the Carolsons are suing me for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Or if I might be locked up over this. Ward tightens his grip on my hand.

<script>