"That's a really long time," I say carefully. "But yeah. I like the sound of that. Being part of this family is what I want."
Isaac launches himself at me with the full force of his four-year-old body, nearly knocking the air out of my lungs. I catchhim, wrapping my arms around his small frame as he burrows into my chest. His curly hair tickles my chin, and I press a kiss to the top of his head.
Riley moves slower as she climbs onto the couch beside me, tucking herself between me and Wyatt. For a moment we sit there, me surrounded between two kids who've wormed their way into my heart as deeply as their fathers have.
"Mom would have really liked you," Riley says quietly, her voice muffled against my shoulder. "You would have been the best of friends."
The words make tears spring to my eyes immediately. I have to blink them back, not wanting to cry in front of the kids even though these are good tears, the kind that come from being accepted by people who matter.
This is the moment I've been afraid of, the conversation about their mother, about the woman whose space I'm somehow filling. I need to get this right.
"I wish I could have met her," I say softly, one arm around each child. "I really do. And I want you both to know that I'm not trying to replace her. I could never replace your mom. She was special, and she loved you so much, and that doesn't change just because I'm here now."
Riley nods against my shoulder, her small body trembling slightly.
"But," I continue, choosing my words carefully, "I do care about you. Both of you. So much. And if you'll let me, I'd like to be someone you can count on. Someone who's here for you, who takes care of you, who cares about you deeply. Not instead of your mom, but alongside the memory of her. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah," Riley whispers. "Yeah, it does."
"Your mom brought Amelia to us," Silas says softly, coming to sit on the floor in front of us. "I believe that. She knew we neededsomeone, that you two needed someone, and she made sure we found exactly the right person at exactly the right time."
I'm not sure I believe in that kind of thing, divine intervention or fate or whatever, but the sentiment is beautiful. The idea that Evie, somewhere, is okay with this. That she wanted this for her family.
"I just want to make her proud," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "I want to be worthy of this family she created, this love she left behind."
Wyatt leans over and kisses the side of my head, his hand squeezing my ankle gently. "You're already part of this family. And that's enough."
Hunter's arm comes around all of us, me and both kids, pulling us closer. "We're a pack now. All of us together. And that's not something we take lightly."
Riley pulls back enough to look at me, her eyes still serious but softer now. "So you're staying? Really staying?"
"Really staying," I confirm. "I promise."
"Okay," she says, and for the first time since I've known her, she looks like she might actually believe it. "Okay, good."
Isaac is already half-asleep against my chest, his breathing evening out. I adjust my hold on him, making sure he's comfortable. "We should get them to bed," I murmur, not wanting to move but knowing I should.
"I'll take Isaac," Hunter says, carefully extracting the sleeping four-year-old from my arms. "Riley, bedtime, kiddo."
Riley slides off the couch reluctantly but pauses before following her dad. "Miss Amelia?"
"Yeah, sweetie?"
"I'm glad you're staying."
My throat goes tight again. "Me too, Riley. Me too."
She gives me a small smile, then follows Hunter up the stairs. I can hear him talking to them softly as he gets Isaac into bed, the gentle rumble of his voice through the walls.
Wyatt shifts closer, pulling me against his side. "That went well."
"Did it?" I ask, still feeling shaky from the emotional intensity of the conversation. "I feel like I just made a huge commitment without really thinking it through."
"Do you regret it?" Silas asks, settling onto the couch on my other side.
"No," I say immediately. "No, I don't. I'm just nervous. Everything is moving so fast."
"We can slow down if you need to," Wyatt offers. "Take things at whatever pace feels right."
