Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
My chest clutched with devotion, and I held her close, tight to the thunder that raged. “I promise you, I am doing everything I can to make that happen. Do you understand?”
She nodded against my neck, and I could feel her tears seeping onto my shirt. “I know, Dad. I know you want us here. Because you have love.”
My arms tightened, and I squeezed my eyes shut as I relished this moment. “I do, Remy, I have love. I have love because you showed me I deserve it. I have love because of your brother. I have love because of Tessa.”
We stayed in that embrace for the longest time before Remy mumbled, “Is it okay if I still miss Mom?”
Agony sliced me in two, and I pulled back so I could take hold of the sides of her shoulders. I squeezed in emphasis. “You’re always going to miss your mom, Remy. Always, and that’s okay. You should never be ashamed of it or feel like you’re doing something wrong. I will always miss her, too. But we also can love the people who come into our lives after, and we don’t have to be ashamed of that, either.”
A rock lodged itself in my throat.
Fuck.
I needed it to be true.
Needed Autumn to forgive me.
“Do you understand the difference?”
“I think so.”
Tears tracked down her face, and I wiped them with my thumb. “Would you do something for me, Remy?”
She gave a furious nod.
“Whenever you start to question it, I want you to talk to me. You and I can remind each other that we have love. That we deserve it. That no one is allowed to take that away from us. Okay?”
She nodded again. “Okay.”
Sniffling, I straightened and held out my hand. “Are you ready to go inside?”
Her smile was small and perfect and everything that was this intuitive, amazing child. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
We climbed the porch steps and headed in through the door.
We stepped inside to the stampede of footsteps that pounded the floor.
Scout appeared at the head of the hallway that led to their room, so much joy and excitement on his face it nearly dropped me to my knees. “Oh my gosh, you’re not even gonna believe it, Remy. We got our own room and our own tree fort and our own lake and everything. I think we really are camping.”
Remy peeked up at me like she was telling me she wasn’t surprised that they did have their own room.
Maybe my kids really did know me, after all.
Tessa followed behind Scout, fighting laughter that played all over her face as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the edge of the entryway.
“He’s already gone through every room to check things out. Rocket power speed, right?”
She ruffled a hand through his hair.
“It’s the only speed I got, my Tessa.”
Affection soared as high as my kid.
It blistered between me and Tessa.
The connection strong.
Bold.
Unbreakable.
“You want to check it out, Remy, before I go get your things?” I asked.
“Can Tessa show me?”
I looked back at Tessa, my heart hammering at my ribs, wondering how the fuck I got so lucky. “Sure.”
“Remy-T Wreckers back together at last,” Tessa sang as she stretched out her hand. My daughter took it, giggling as she did.
And I realized then I’d totally forgotten what it felt like to have the ground sit solid beneath my feet.
Scout zoomed out in front of them so he could get to their room first. “Wait ’til you see it, Remy!”
With the emotion close to locking up my throat, I slipped back outside and down the porch steps. I leaned against the side of the SUV, unable to catch my breath through the rush of bliss.
Inhaling deeply, I dug my phone out, dialed the number, and pressed it to my ear. My mom answered on the first ring. “Milo. Aren’t you supposed to be at your visitation right now? Did something happen?”
She tried to keep the tremor from her words.
I gulped around the joy. “Yeah, something happened…the kids are here.”
“What do you think we should have for dinner?” Tessa asked as she searched through the fridge.
“Pizza!” Scout shouted from behind her.
“Pizza?” She grinned at him from over her shoulder.
“Um, yes, pizza. Doncha know you can’t have a party without pizza, and my dad said this is a party.”
Tessa slanted me a grin, affection riding on her mouth before she looked back at Scout. “Well, then, pizza it is.”
“I like her, Dad,” he told me, so nonchalant from where he was on his knees on the living room rug, playing with a bunch of cars that had been sitting on his shelf waiting for him.
“Yeah, Scout, I like her, too.”
Tenderness danced around her being, and I couldn’t do anything but wrap my arms around her from behind. I hooked my chin over her shoulder and murmured at her cheek, “Thank you, Little Dove.”