Chapter 112 Captain Maverick
Heaven paused, trying to make sense of what he had said.
Her brows knitted as she pulled away slightly, turning just enough to look at him.
Maverick realized immediately how his words had sounded. He tried to explain.
“He’s part of you. And since you are mine,” he said carefully, “that makes him mine too.”
His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’ll love him the way I love you. Wholeheartedly.”
Something inside Heaven softened.
Warmth spread through her chest, slow and unfamiliar.
“Don’t you find it hard… loving a child that isn’t yours?” she hesitated, her gaze dropping. Her fingers twisted together before she forced the words out.
“I mean… most men won’t. They’ll think I’m a loose woman since I don’t even know who Liam’s father is.”
Maverick’s jaw tightened l.
“You are not a loose woman,” he said firmly. He hated the way she spoke about herself.
“And there’s a reason you don’t know his father.”
She looked up at him. “You don’t want to know why?” she asked quietly.
Of course he wanted to know.
He wanted to know where she had been, how she had vanished from his life only to return with amnesia. He wanted every moment of the seven years he’d lost.
“I do,” he admitted, pulling her closer until her head rested against his chest. He needed her warmth as much as she needed his.
“But only if you’re comfortable telling me.”
Her fingers moved absently, tracing slow circles over his chest.
“I had an accident.”
Maverick stiffened. Heaven felt his heartbeat turn erratic.
“When I woke up… I couldn’t remember anything,” she continued, her voice heavy.
“It’s been seven years. The scars are gone, and I don’t remember a single thing.”
She sighed.
“Fabian said I didn’t want to remember that I forced myself to forget because of how painful they were.”
Maverick hated that he was the pain she had erased. Yet he wanted her still so desperately he would do anything to keep her in his arms, even if it was lying to her.
She was his ruin. His damnation.
“Do you want to remember?” he asked softly, even though his teeth were clenched.
Heaven was quiet for a moment, her fingers slowing.
“I did,” she whispered. “I searched. I asked questions.”
Her voice cracked.
“But I found nothing. Nobody wanted me.”
She swallowed.
“And now… I don’t know anymore.”
He had searched for her too desperately, silently, never publicly.
He wanted to tell her she had always been wanted. That she was the only thing that had ever grounded him, the only reason he could breathe without choking on air.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he held her silently, fiercely knowing one thing with absolute certainty:
This time, he would never let her be unwanted again.
“Maverick?” she murmured.
“Yes?”
“What do you do?”
\~~~~~~~~
The door opened immediately.
“Uncle Fabian, good morning,” Liam said, his voice a little too quick.
He dropped the phone instantly, hiding it behind his back.
Fabian had heard enough to know what the boy had been doing.
But instead of anger, guilt settled heavily in his chest.
He wasn’t Liam’s father but he had been constant. A steady presence since the boy was born. And now he regretted ever letting his issues with Heaven make Liam question whether he was still wanted.
Rayan had told him how the strain between him and Vera had affected Liam, something Fabian hadn’t realized until now.
He saw clearly the tense posture, the instinct to hide.
Fabian crouched until he was eye level with the boy, his expression softening as he brushed Liam’s hair back.
“Good morning,” he said gently.
After a pause, he added,
“Uncle Rayan had to leave early. I’ll take you to school today.”
Liam’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Really?”
Fabian nodded. “Really.”
And as Liam slipped his small hand into his, Fabian made a silent promise.
Whatever was broken between the adults, he would never let it reach this child again.
The car ride was unusually quiet.
“Liam,” Fabian finally said.
“Yes, Uncle Fabian?”
“Your mama and I had a small argument,” Fabian said carefully.
“But that will never make me stop being your uncle.”
He glanced at the boy, his voice steady and sincere.
“So you don’t ever have to feel guilty or torn. And you never have to hide anything from me, okay?”
Liam nodded slowly.
“Okay, Uncle.”
That was all Fabian needed to see.
He dropped Liam off at school and drove away.
Havilah had been watching from the gate. The moment Liam stepped out of the car, she ran toward him.
“Liam, you’re late,” she said, slightly out of breath. “Why?”
“I woke up late,” Liam replied simply. “I stayed up late.”
She huffed as they walked inside.
“You’re so lucky. You get to stay up late and your father drops you at school. I barely even see my dad.”
“He’s not my dad,” he said casually. “He’s my uncle. I don’t have a father.”
Havilah’s steps slowed. Her eyes widened.
“Oh… I didn’t know there were kids without fathers,” she said softly, suddenly worried.
Liam reached out and flicked her forehead not hard, just enough to sting.
“Ouch!” she yelped, rubbing it.
“When I tell you you’re dumb, you always argue,” Liam said flatly.
“And I’m not a kid.”
He shrugged, like it didn’t matter.
“Everyone has a dad. Mine just doesn’t want me… or my mama.”
The words landed heavier than he intended.
Havilah stared at him, her chest tightening.
At least her father wanted her even if he was busy. Liam didn't even want him.
“Well,” she said after a moment, trying to sound brave, “you can share my daddy for the Father’s Day event.”
Liam rolled his eyes.
“I don’t care about those stupid school things anyway.”
But he walked a little closer to her as they entered the building.
\~~~~~~~~~
Maverick didn’t take the air route this time.
He chose a jet-ski instead so he wouldn’t have to let go of her warmth.
Heaven had been skeptical.
So he picked the position he thought would calm her fears best her straddling him, arms wrapped tightly around his torso like a koala.
“Are you sure this is the safest position?” she asked, her cheek pressed to his chest.
His hands gripped the handlebars firmly.
“You want to get Liam from school on time, right?”
She nodded against him.
“Well,” he chuckled, “there’s never been a better position.”
Despite herself, Heaven laughed.
The ride was exhilarating. Wind whipped through her hair, water sprayed into the air, and everything felt unreal, perfect, fast, too much like a dream.
Her dress was somewhere back on the island, torn and forgotten.
But she was leaving with something else.
Someone who had loved her enough to write her name across the sky.
She hugged him tighter, enjoying the waves rushing past beneath them.
They reached the dock far too soon.
She didn’t want it to end.
“You want us to go back?” Maverick teased as he helped her down. “I don’t mind.”
She laughed again.
Then a familiar voice cut through the moment.
“Captain Maverick.”