“Mom!” His indignation didn’t prevent the laugh bursting from his gut.
His mother grinned back at him. “It’s nice seeing you happy again, son. I’ve missed your levity.”
The lightness brewing in his chest dwindled. “Sometimes it feels like I’m not worthy to be happy after what happened with Sabrina.”
“Oh, Christian.” Mom pulled him into a motherly embrace. “You’re the only one punishing yourself for that. You did nothing wrong. It may not have turned out the way you hoped, but you’ve done the best you possibly could in a difficult situation. I’m so proud of the way you’ve handled yourself through all this.”
He clung to her, and for a moment, it was as though he were a young boy again, grasping for the safety that only she could provide.
She stepped back enough to look up at him. “There’s a pretty fantastic woman outside who seems to think very highly of you regardless of your past. Maybe you should start seeing yourself as she does.”
Right on cue, the sliding door opened, and that same fantastic woman burst into the kitchen, bringing all the sunshine with her. She stopped short when she spotted them.
“Sorry.” She backed up toward the yard. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Mom shook her head. “You didn’t. I was just heading back outside. I want to snag another of your delicious cream puffs before they’re gone.”
Hallie laughed. “You better hurry, I think I saw a couple left.”
“My name is written all over them.” She winked as she left the kitchen.
“What’s up?” he asked as soon as they were alone.
Hallie could have lit up a dark runway with the brightness of her countenance. “I got a gig. A big one.”
“What? How?”
She bit her bottom lip, resembling an excited Penelope by the way she bounced a little on the balls of her feet. “I’ve been talking to Jenna about her dad—he’s really fascinating. Did you know he owns his own business?”
“No.” There was still so much he didn’t know about the man. He intended to change that.
She continued talking animatedly. “He built it from nothing. He’s actually quite wealthy. Anyway, Jenna asked me to cater their foundation Christmas party next month. Can you believe that?”
“Hal, that’s incredible!” Christian tugged on her hand, drawing her closer.
She stepped into his embrace but didn’t stay there long, beaming as she continued talking. “That’s not all. Apparently, Paul’s late wife was the one who encouraged him to branch out on his own. When she died, he set up a foundation in her honor that offers grants to small businesses looking to scale up. Jenna wants me to apply for it. I’m not sure I’m going to, though.”
He gaped at her. “What’re you talking about? This is the break you’ve been wanting. Why wouldn’t you take it?”
Her shoulders lifted as she began pacing around the kitchen. “I was really excited at first. But then I realized something. If my bakery gets off the ground, I won’t be able to keep watching the girls. I’d let them down. And I’d put you in a difficult situation with the whole nanny thing.”
Christian’s heart dropped. She didn’t want to disappoint him?
No.Herefused to keep her from fulfilling her dreams. “We always knew our arrangement would be temporary.”
“I don’t want my relationship with the girls to change.” She rubbed the back of her hand against her nose as if holding in her emotion. “What if they forget about me?”
Approaching her, Christian stopped her pacing by cupping hishands around her cheeks. “You have no idea how grateful I am to have you in my life. Besides my mom and Dani, no one has ever loved my girls as purely as you have. You might think you’re not ready to step in as their mom, but being willing to sacrifice your business for them? Honey, you’re already acting like one.”
Tears pooled in her eyes. “I don’t want to abandon them. But I don’t know how to do both.”
“You won’t be doing either one alone.” He brushed his thumb along her cheekbone. “When’s the event?”
“Six weeks from now.”
His brain began forming a plan. “I have some vacation time I can use that week to stay with the girls while you bake for the party. And I’ll help you put together your proposal for the grant. Whatever comes after that, we’ll figure it out together.”
Her mouth lifted a little. “I like the sound of that.”
