Free Surviving the Pain (A Baby Saved Me Series Book 1) by P. J. Belden Page B

happiness. It was more than that, though. You are my only peace. When things got worse, your memories were the reason I was able to smile, to keep moving, to survive.
    I know I keep saying this, but I need to explain this all to you. I’m going to be away for a little while, and I’ll explain that then (whenever you allow me to talk to you, and I’ll wait forever if I need to) too, but please should our paths cross again… I hope you’ll let me explain things, if for nothing else but for you to have answers to all the questions that I know have been spinning in your beautiful mind. I won’t lie, I hope to get a chance to rekindle things with us, but I also understand that the bridge may have already been burnt for that.
    Take care of yourself. Enjoy your life. Love ‘til your heart’s content. Laugh often. Forgive freely. And remember that no matter where our paths take us, my love will forever be yours to carry you through any tough times you may have.
    With all my love,

    Looking at the jewelry boxes, she knew at that moment that she needed to hear him out. Nothing about her heart would be involved, though. She’d make sure that was locked up tight. No, this was for answers. Answers she definitely needed to have so she could finally move on with her life. The hurt – and still pissed – part of her wanted to not believe a single word he wrote. Then there was the other part of her – the part that still loved him – that knew he loved her. Even that side, however, questioned if it was enough to move past the pain and years he’s missed.
    Just then another loud crash filled the silence followed quickly by a lot of thumping. Hudson whimpered beside her, and she knew she needed to fight back. The problem was that Ember had no clue who or how many were out there. Hiding in this closet seemed to be the smart thing.
    “Hudson,” Ember whispered.
    She could see the pile she had on him shift in the darkness of the closet. “What,” came Hudson’s scared little voice.
    “Do you think those dinosaurs know we’re here?”
    “Dinos? Huh?”
    “Well,” she worked to laugh past the panic. “We are being attacked by dinosaurs, aren’t we?”
    A huge grin – that Ember could see even in the darkness of their close quarters – spread across his face. Right there, in that single smile, she knew pretending they weren’t in any real danger was the right call. There were a lot of things that Ember wasn’t sure she was doing right when it came to raising her son alone. This wasn’t one of them.
    “Uh huh! Shhh!” He put his tiny little finger to his small mouth. “Day hear you,” he whispered loudly.
    For an unknown amount of time, they pretended they were climbing mountains and swinging through trees. He was laughing, and Ember held her breath every time praying they didn’t hear. She heard a knock on the bedroom door. Turning back to Hudson – whose smile just fell – she forced a smile and continued their charade.
    “You hide in the bushes over there. I’m going to go see if the dinosaurs can see us.”
    His smile wasn’t so bright this time. Still, he climbed back under all the things she’d previously covered him in just as she’d asked. Quietly, she opened the closet door and crawled quietly out of it. Another knock. The absurdity of why they’d be knocking on her door hit her like a ton of bricks. She stood from the floor and walked to the door. Another knock sounded on the door. This time, it was followed by a voice.
    “Ember? Are you in there?”
    Holden!
    Quickly, she unlocked the door and flung it open. The minute she saw his face her body started to shake. Holden immediately held her tightly. He joked about having to stop using him as a tissue but never loosened his hold. The soft whimper from the closet reminded her that she needed to keep it together. Wiping away the tears, Ember looked up at Holden.
    “D-d-did you get whoever was out there?”
    His face dropped as he shook his head.