Jack nodded and started down the hall. When he stepped out onto the porch, Miranda had her arms crossed, her butt against the rail. As soon as Jack closed the front door behind him, she started talking.
“I just have to get this out while I can.” She braced her hands on the rail behind her. “I realize I didn’t give you a lot to believe in. I still have a hard time dealing with my past, so I don’t talk about it. Looking back, I know that made it hard for you to know whether or not you could trust me. I never intended for this to… For us to…” She shook her head as if she couldn’t find the words. “Anyway, when I looked at things from your perspective, I could see why you might doubt me, and I see my contribution to the perception that I might be less than honest.”
“Miranda—”
“Just let me finish. Please. I promise to let you say whatever you need to say when I’m done.”
He pushed his hands into his pockets and nodded.
Miranda took a deep breath and started again. “I told you that my mom abandoned me and that I stayed with Marty, but I didn’t tell you what happened in between. After my mom up and left, I stayed in the apartment until I was evicted. I escaped to the streets before I could be put into foster care, and I lived there for about a year, until Marty found me.”
Jack envisioned a younger, rougher version of the woman in front of him making her way on the streets every day, and his chest tightened. He crossed his arms over the discomfort.
“It was a really rough year. I was caught stealing food from a corner market, and I found a gun in an alley and kept it for protection. Never fired it, but I showed others I had it when I needed to.”
She paused but kept her eyes on the porch floor. “I met up with a guy who stole things and sold them, and I really needed money, so I did a few jobs with him. It was trashy stuff from small businesses—a laptop, a cash register, that kind of thing. But it gave me money to buy food and keep warm. We were caught and arrested. When I got my one call, I called Marty.”
With an exhale, she shifted on her feet and finally looked up. “I never stole after that day. Marty was the first real parent I’d ever known. I got my GED. Marty taught me to weld and got me a welder’s assistant job. I eventually got my welding certificate, and I’ve been welding ever since. I swear I didn’t steal that wire. I’ve never stolen anything from Pinnacle. Not a freaking nail. But I understand why you think I did.”
By the time she stopped talking, Jack felt raw. “Are you done?”
She shifted and shrugged. “I just wanted you to know I don’t blame you, and I’m sorry I’m so…difficult.”
That made Jack laugh. “Difficult you are. No argu
ment there.” He sighed and sat on the edge of the swing. “I know you didn’t steal the wire. Alex did.”
Her head came up. “What?”
“He found out about us through friends of friends who saw us together—”
“At Warrior Homes. Alex and I had a fight about it the morning he was arrested.”
“He never could stand to see me happy,” Jack told her. “Even as kids, no matter what he had, it was never enough. He always thought I had more—more attention, nicer things, better grades, more opportunity. He couldn’t stand seeing me with you. You were just one more thing I took from him.”
“He framed me for the wire to get back at you?”
Jack nodded. “And I’m so pissed I didn’t see it. I should have trusted my gut and believed you. I hate myself for everything—for doubting you, for suspending you, for fucking up your investor funding. You’ve worked so damn hard to get where you are, and I tore it all down in a day.” He shook his head. “I’m so sorry, Miranda.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Did Alex tell you all this?”
“Only when I offered him a lighter sentence. He was all too pleased to explain just how completely he’d fucked me over.”
She released a heavy sigh, dropped her head back, and closed her eyes. “Oh my God. That is such a relief.”
Jack stood and pulled Roman’s check and the contract from his back pocket. “This will be an even bigger relief.”
She unfolded the contract, looked at the check, and her mouth dropped open. “What…? How…?”
“I went to see him. Explained everything. He wants to invest—in you, Miranda.”
Her dark eyes flooded with tears. “Jesus Christ.”
She flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him so tight, he couldn’t breathe. Jack welcomed her, wrapping her close.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry, and I want you, Miranda. I want us.” He released her and cupped her face in both hands, wiped at her tears with his thumbs. “I will never doubt you again. Can we try? I want this more than anything.”
He didn’t wait for her answer. Jack lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers, pouring his love for her into the kiss. All the pain inside him evaporated, all the wounds healed.