25. You Can Help Her

25

YOU CAN HELP HER

“ I appreciate you taking this drive with me,” Sloane said to him the next morning.

Dane turned to look at her while watching the traffic.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else for a number of reasons,” he said.

When he’d heard what was going on with her and the fact she’d let her guard down to call him, he realized beyond a doubt he was in love with her.

He was positive he’d never tell his kids about another woman in his life if that wasn’t the case, but he’d been fighting it for so long.

He’d like to think that wanting to call him first meant that she was working toward love on her part too.

“I know,” she said. “I feel like I’m sucking you into this crazy drama that I wish was a nightmare that I will wake up from when the lights come on.”

“Things happen,” he said. “You’re doing the right thing.”

“It didn’t feel that way last night as I watched my life flash before my eyes.” She turned to look at him. Her eyes filled with tears and it might be the first emotion he’d seen from her. Where the wall was slowly being lowered. “I felt like shit when that crossed my mind too. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”

“And you’re scared. I know. But you’re not alone. I’m right here with you. Trent has already talked to Miranda. There is a good chance you’ll be home tomorrow with Shiloh. Could be tonight if you wanted to leave and get back. It’s all your choice.”

“Probably tomorrow,” she said. “I need to go through my mother’s stuff and get what is Shiloh’s. If it wasn’t for the fact that I could almost put myself in her shoes I worried I would have said to let someone else deal with this. Do you know how many half siblings I’ve got out there? I have no idea. I’m sure this is going to come up too.”

“Trent will be on the call when we are meeting with Miranda and the social worker. He will most likely bring it up prior. You want no secrets.”

“I’m sure my mother has it in her file,” she said. “She’s been in the system since she left. In a few states too. They’d probably be able to get that information.”

“That’s right. It could be they want to just make sure that you’re an upstanding citizen. Trent is getting notarized statements today in your favor.”

“I know,” she said. “I appreciate you putting me in contact with him. I hate that he’s asking Diane and Carolyn and they will know what is going on. I don’t mind my staff’s statements.”

“There is no reason for you to worry about that,” he said. “Your mother passed away and the county is only doing their due diligence. There are character testimonies from people prominent in the area where you live. You’re showing up with your doctor boyfriend too. ”

“You’re so proud of yourself aren’t you?” she said, forcing a smile.

He laughed. “I got you to smile a bit.”

“I’m really glad you’re with me,” she said.

“I am too. Sloane, you’re going to get hit hard with grief. Don’t fight it.”

She turned to look at him. “I haven’t talked to my mother in years. I don’t know the first thing I feel. Just numb. I’ve got so many questions and I know I won’t get any answers.”

“You’ll get enough. Then you’ll slowly work your way to get what you need to help Shiloh. You know exactly what it’s like to have your life uprooted. In a different way, but you know. You can help her.”

“I don’t know if I can even help myself and that is a horrible feeling.”

“I’m right here,” he said, reaching over and holding her hand.

He let her silently cry and stare out the window while he got going on the five-hour drive.

He’d stay as long as he had to with her and already told Mel that he had to go out of town with Sloane for a family emergency. He didn’t tell his ex why, but wanted her to know he wasn’t around but to call if she needed him. He hoped to be home Sunday, but if he wasn’t, she’d have to keep the kids.

She’d hesitated but then said yes. He didn’t expect her to say no but didn’t expect the silence either before she agreed.

The rest of the drive they talked on and off. Mainly Sloane asking questions about his kids and things she should or could expect with a child that age.

The truth was, she had to be open to expect anything and he’d been honest there .

This wasn’t a normal situation.

Both Shiloh and Sloane were going to have to add grief into the mix and there was no way to know how either of them would handle it or when it might happen.

After the long drive, they pulled into a gas station to go to the bathroom and for him to fill up. They had thirty minutes still and he knew she needed to compose herself.

“Do you want me to get you something to eat or drink?”

“At a gas station?” she asked, grinning.

“Looks like they’ve got soft pretzels there,” he said. “Just like the one at the festival.”

“Sure,” she said.

They both went into the bathroom after he’d pumped the gas. He was out before her, bought them two pretzels and some water, then two candy bars. Maybe a hit of chocolate would help them both.

“Hungry?” she asked, moving over to him while he was checking out.

“Got to spoil my girl,” he said, laughing.

She grinned and bumped her hip into his, then went back into the car. He pulled to the side and they ate their pretzels.

“Do you think Trent got them everything already?” she asked.

He pulled his phone out and looked at his text. “He said everything was good. Did you check your email? He was cc’ing you on everything.”

“Oh yeah,” she said. “I feel so scattered.” She pulled her phone out and started to look through it. “Oh my God, I don’t want to cry, but I’m going to.”

“What?” he asked. He was starting to panic. “Whatever it is, we’ll take care of it.”

“No, it’s not that. It’s the nice things that Carolyn and Diane said about me. There are two letters. Not really long but perfectly written.”

“One of them was an English teacher. I think Diane but not positive. The other elementary,” he said. “Not only would they put something together well, but they’d know what would be the right content. So would Trent.”

“I never thought I’d have so many people going to bat for me,” she said. “Never thought I’d need it either.”

“Well, you do have people in your corner. You ready to get this started?”

“Yeah,” she said, taking the last bite of her pretzel. “I wonder if Shiloh even knew about me. I should have asked that.”

“You’ll find out soon enough. Do you have any way to get a hold of Sabrina?”

“No,” she said. “She doesn’t need this in her life. I don’t know what she’s doing or going through. I suppose I could try to find her, but for now I can’t process that.”

“If you need to do that or find anything else out, you could hire Zander Conway. He’s Royce’s best friend. He’s a PI and has his own firm in one of the Fierce buildings.”

“I’ve heard the name,” she said. “Carolyn and Diane were in once and talking about all the people they were setting up or trying to. Your name was thrown out there with his and a few others they’d had in the works.”

She knew that he’d had his sister tell the Fierce women he was taken, but now he started to wonder if they’d been trying to set him up with Sloane all along.

No, no way it could have been that. They didn’t know him well enough or her.

“Now we know they are throwing it around trying to find out how things are going,” he said. “But if you find yourself needing information, he might be your guy. ”

“I’m sure I’m going to,” she said. “I’m going to need to find out who Shiloh’s father is. Or if anyone knows. I was listed as her guardian and I’m going to honor that, but I need to know if trouble is out there.”

“What kind of trouble?” he asked.

She looked at him. “I told you my mother stole money when she left the cult. I don’t know how much, but maybe someone could come looking for it. I didn’t know she had another child. I don’t know what she was doing in Tennessee or if she was in contact with anyone there. The fact she gave birth in a hospital tells me no at that time.”

“One step at a time,” he said. “And we are here. Take a few deep breaths. Calm your heart rate and know I’m right here by your side.”

She closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, then got out of the car with her big tote bag on her shoulder holding all the documents she needed.