She turned the dinosaurs over in her hand. “I don’t know what to say.”
Lane glanced back at me. “Ask her, Dad.”
“Ask me what?” Her eyes were guarded. I deserved that look. Hell, I’d practically invented it. But it was time to let my walls down.
I gestured toward the box. “This is just the start. I want more.”
She stood slowly, her eyes never leaving mine. “What do you mean?”
“It means I don’t want to waste another minute pretending I don’t want a life with you in it. A life full of building things together. Like a family…” My voice almost cracked but I kept going. “Our family.”
“You and me and Dad,” Lane added.
“This isn’t just a stunt to keep me from leaving, is it?” She rested one hand on Lane’s shoulder while she held the box of dinos in the other.
“No. It’s real. Hell, Calla, I knew I was going to fall for you the second you walked into the damn cafe. It just took me a long time to be able to tell you.” Being vulnerable scared the shit out of me, but I pressed on. “I love you, baby girl. Stay with us, and we’ll build your dream together.”
Her breath hitched. “The camp?”
“Yeah. Lane’s decided he wants to call it Camp Braveheart, if that’s okay with you.” I didn’t deserve her, but I’d seen a glimpse of the life we could make together, and I wanted it more than anything. “Will you stay?”
She bent down and looked at Lane. “Are you sure this is okay with you?”
He nodded so hard I was afraid he was going to give himself a headache. “I need a mom, and I want you.”
I had to look away. If she said no, she’d be breaking both of our hearts.
“Okay.” Her voice was strong and determined. “But I’ve got some rules.”
“Like no running in the house?” Lane asked.
Calla laughed. “That one too, but the ones I’m thinking about are about being honest with each other and always telling the truth. And not trying to hide our feelings from each other, even when they’re hard. Think you can do that?”
“Yeah.” Lane smiled. “That’s easy, isn’t it, Dad?”
“It should be,” I said. “It might take some practice, but that’s what I want, too. No hiding. Not even when it’s hard.”
Calla tilted her head. “I love you, too, you stubborn man. Let’s go home, boys.”
Lane took her hand and tugged her toward the truck. “I told you she’d say yes.”
“Hold on, bud.” I put a hand out to stop him. “I think I can take it from here.”
He let go of Calla’s hand and I pulled her into my arms, right where she belonged. And in front of her grandma and my son, I kissed her like my life depended on it. Because it did.
“Is there gonna be a lot of kissing?” Lane groaned.
I rested my forehead against hers and held her gaze, not scared anymore. She’d seen the worst of me and still accepted me for who I was, with all of my faults and insecurities.
She smiled up at me, her eyes full of enough love to last a lifetime.
I smiled back. “Yeah, bud. There’s going to be a lot more kissing happening.”
EPILOGUE
CALLA
One Year Later
