Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
His eyes meet mine, a sly smile spreading across his face, and then he jumps into the mini pool of water and starts tickling me. And as I howl with laughter, for the first time since Pete passed away, I feel like we’re really going to be okay.
“I don’t think I can walk,” Miles mutters, his head landing against the side of my arm in exhaustion.
“Me neither,” Evie adds with a tired sigh as her head falls into my lap, and she cuddles against me on the bench.
It’s almost nine o’clock, and the kids have played, laughed, and eaten their hearts out. Even though Amalia said it was all taken care of, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving until everything was cleaned up and picked up by the rental companies, which means my kids got to play extra long. Unfortunately, that also means my in-laws left a long time ago, taking their vehicle with them.
“All right, everything is back to the way it was,” Brody says, walking over and smiling down at the three of us.
“Thank you for everything.”
“I think you’ve thanked us a dozen times,” Hayden says. “Stop it.” He leans down and presses his lips against my forehead. “We love you, and it’s our pleasure to make sure you and your kids are happy.” Butterflies erupt in my belly, and I close my eyes, letting his words resonate deep within me.
They love me… Despite losing my first love and best friend, I’ve found two guys who love and care about me, who care about my kids enough to make their entire day. I have no idea how I got this lucky, but I vow never to take them for granted.
“C’mon,” Brody says. “Let’s get you three home. I drove here.” He bends so he’s at Evie’s level. “Would you like me to carry you, princess?”
She nods and tiredly sits up, lifting her arms so he can pick her up. He gently takes her into his arms, and she wraps her legs around him, her head dropping onto his shoulder and her eyes closing. My heart expands at the sight. At my daughter trusting the man I love enough to let him carry her.
Miles sits up and stands.
“You good?” Hayden asks him.
“Yeah, I’m nine now. I’m practically a man. I can walk.”
Hayden stifles his laughter and nods, extending his arm to fist bump Miles, who reciprocates.
Gathering all the gifts they got, we head to Brody’s vehicle. The drive is quick, and he parks in the front so they can help me carry everything—as well as Evie—up.
Brody lays her in bed and then leaves the room so I can change her into her pajamas. After kissing her good night, I head over to Miles’s room to say good night. Only before I enter, I hear him talking to someone. I peer inside and find Hayden and Brody standing with Miles, who’s holding the picture frame in his hands that contains the photo of the four of us from their last birthday with him.
“That’s my dad,” he says. “He wrote me a letter that said to make sure he’s good to her, and Mom said that means she has to laugh and smile.”
Miles goes to his drawer and pulls out the letter. “It says I have to be supportive, but I don’t know what that means.” He shows the letter to the guys, who take it and read it.
“I think it means to be okay with it,” Brody says, his voice hoarse. “Like, if she’s happy, it’s okay to let her date him, but if she’s not happy, then you shouldn’t be okay with it.”
Miles nods in understanding. “She laughed and smiled a lot today.” I suck in a sharp breath, his words causing me to choke up.
“We like when she laughs and smiles,” Hayden says.
“Me too,” Miles agrees. “And I don’t want her to be alone.”
Oh, my heart. He’s referring to the part of the letter where Pete told him that eventually, the kids would leave and wanted me to find love so I wouldn’t be alone.
“She’ll never be alone, buddy,” Hayden says. “She’s got you and Evie.”
“Yeah, but it says right here we’re gonna leave.” He points at the letter.
My hand goes to my chest, clutching it over my heart.
“I don’t know when we’re leaving, but I don’t want her to be alone,” Miles says solemnly. “If you want to love her, I’m okay with it.”
As I watch my nine-year-old do what no kid should ever have to do at his age—be the man of the house—a piece of my broken heart that I never thought could be pieced back together after losing Peter slides into place.
“Thank you,” Brody chokes out. “We do love her very much. And I promise, no matter what, she’ll never be alone.”
Another jagged piece fits into place.