Page 84 of Grasp The Moment

Sienna squeezes Delilah’s leg softly. Concern clouds her features as she looks Delilah over. Delilah’s head pops up from my neck, and she gives Sienna a small smile.

“How are you, Deli Belly?”

Delilah gives me a quick look before looking back to Sienna, giving her a small thumbs up. We each coo at her, in an attempt to get her to feel better, just as a throat clears from behind us.

Turning on my heels, I’m ready for anything. Handing Delilah back to Sienna, I prepare myself for another fight, only to come to a stop at the sight of Lidia standing there instead of Rosemary.

“Can we talk?” she asks, her eyes guiltily searching the ground as I narrow my own on her.

Instead of acknowledging her, I turn to Sienna and the girls.

“Take Delilah to the seats, I’ll be there shortly… If you see Derek before the game, donottell him what happened; he needs to focus.”

The girls nod skeptically, looking between the two of us before carting Delilah away, leaving us alone.

“You’ve got five minutes. I already missed walking him out onto the ice, and I refuse to miss face-off,” I say, turning back to Lidia as she nods, her tail tucked between her legs.

She gestures for me to follow her, and I do, careful to keep a small distance between us as she begins speaking.

“Derek has always been an independent kid, never really needed me to do most things; he got that from his father, you know? Anyway… he’s never done anything wrong. He got amazing grades, played sports, and cooked all the time because he wanted to,” she says, a fond smile decorating her face as she takes a seat at one of the benches outside of the rink.

Sitting next to her, I give her my undivided attention.

“When his father passed, it was around the same time as when he began to date Rosemary… They became inseparable immediately, and it seemed like he was super happy—he was happy, Georgia… I know he was.” She sighs, rolling her lips in.

“Was he actually happy, or was that what you believed because it made you feel better?” I ask, my voice free of malice as I finally look at her.

Her eyes darken as her shoulders slump; she looks absolutely drained.

“I have no idea… But I know that when he found out about Delilah, he was the happiest guy in the world. He was scared, sure—what seventeen-year-old boy isn’t? But Derek wasexcited…he’d vowed to raise his kid with the same love his father had for him times ten. He never wanted to leave her andvowed to give Delilah an amazing life—only for Rosemary to leave them. It hurt him so bad, he was absolutelydevastated.” She sighs, giving me a half smile before continuing. “He’s always been a protector, and what you did today showed me that he has someone who can protect him too.” Lidia places a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you, Georgia.”

Sucking in a breath of the crisp air, I nod. “Someone’s gotta be there for the two of them… I’m just happy that someone is me.”

She flinches.

“You pushed the same woman who left them back onto them. Why?” I clench my jaw, a headache forming as she sighs.

She looks up at the sky before responding, “I wanted Delilah to know her mother. Everyone deserves to know their family.”

I scoff, “Did you ever stop to think about what Derek wanted? He’s been Delilah’s sole provider for her entire life. You went behind his back and brought around someone who hurt them. I can’t forgive you for that.No onehurts my family.”

“I like you, Georgia?—”

“Don’t lie to yourself.”

“No, I do. You’re good for them. When Rosemary approached me a few months ago, she only mentioned my son. I should’ve seen that as a red flag, but I didn’t. Just now, you called them your family. If you can ever find it in your heart to forgive me, I’d love to have a relationship with my daughter-in-law.”

I hold her gaze, certain that she’s playing a trick on me, but when I see nothing but brutal honesty reflected back at me, I nod.

“I’d like that.”

Lidia gives my knee a squeeze, and it means everything to me. The squeeze of her warm hand erases all malice and hard feelings between us. She gives me a sideways hug before standing, dusting off her jeans.

“It was good talking to you, Georgia. I’ll see you down there.”

When Lidia walks away, I let out a deep breath. Today has been hell, and it’s only just begun. I think over Lidia’s words about Derek’s father and frown. He’s been through so much at such a young age. Running a hand through my hair, I shake everything off and head down to our seats. The girls and Delilah are already ready, munching on hot dogs and popcorn as the boys begin to skate out onto the ice for the face-off.

Everyone in the arena is on a hundred, and the energy of Summerfield’s fans is through the roof as the boys win the face-off and immediately break into action.