BROKEN COURAGE (Broken Redemption Book 3)

Chapter 14

Lucas

It's Saturday, so watching their car coming up the driveway unannounced doesn't come as a surprise. What does confuse me is why my sister is getting out of her husband's car, with enough helium balloons to carry a small child away. Afraid I'm missing something, I look down at my phone to confirm the date. August 8th. Not my birthday, not Jen's or Embree's, and not the girls' either.

"What is she up to now?" James chuckles beside me.

"No idea. I better go check it out. Pastor David should be back later this afternoon. You good on your own for a while?"

"Yep, got it covered. Take as long as you need."

Hoping to head them off, I leave James in the control room, and with Nero at my side, open the front door. With the grace of a baby hippopotamus, my sister bursts inside, the balloons slowing her down comically as they all fight to enter the space at the same time.

"Happy three-month anniversary!" She screams as the girls come running to see what their crazy aunt is up to. When Embree walks in behind them, her face lights up with a bright smile.

"What is this?" Confused, I look from her to Ben, then back to her again.

"It's your three-month anniversary, silly." Not understanding, I just stare. "Ugh...three months ago today you came back into our lives, dummy. Well, not mine. For me, you came along the next day—which is tomorrow—nevertheless, you've been back in Ruby Creek three months today, which is reason to celebrate!"

When her words register, my gut sinks. Remembering that day, and the person I was back then, is hard. Consumed by my demons, I enjoyed so very little of my life. I hated who I was, what I'd become, and that I could no longer do the job I was put on this earth to do. I was stuck. Unable to see the light. The fight in me had been smothered to the point I'd resigned myself to spending the rest of my days drowning in darkness. Since then, I've grown into a different man. Thanks to Embree and the girls, I found remnants of light peeking through the shadows of my past.

Now I see how riding the high of being with Embree and the girls for the past three months made me careless. It made me forget the precarious position I'm in. I let myself believe the past was behind me, that my mistakes and all my selfish indiscretions didn't matter because she thought I was worthy of forgiveness. Of love. Of them. With her by my side, I was ready to move forward towards a better life.

Unfortunately, that all changed the second Embree told me about the baby. In that split second, the demons that once laid dormant under her love reawakened with a vengeance, demanding I reassess the direction of my life. Even as this is the happiest I've ever been, their voices—a loud reminder that what we have won't last—are impossible to ignore. That she's pregnant with Creed's baby is further proof that maybe we're not meant to be, and I can't help but wonder if getting out now is what's best for everyone involved. At the very least, it might lessen the damage and pain. Hell, with my track record, my getting away from them now might be what saves them in the end.

"Lucas?" Jen's eyes search between mine. The sadness imprinted on her face confirms I'm doing a terrible job hiding my thoughts.

Fuck...

"I'm okay. Come here." I pull her into my arms while avoiding Ben's gaze. "Thanks for remembering, and for the balloons."

"Auntie Jen, can we have one?" Alyssa squeals.

"Of course." When I let her go, she squats down to hug the girls. "Why don't we take them into the living room where we'll have more room to play?"

Standing with Ben, I watch Jenny lead Embree and the girls back to the living room.