He ignored his mother’s sob and waited for Chloe to answer him. “You know I will!”
They crushed the piece of paper between them when he kissed her.
“Can I have a moment alone with Hailey?” Chloe asked when she pulled away, wiping her face.
Though she knew she didn't need permission, she waited for Devon’s nod before taking Hailey up to her room. They sat on the end of the bed together, and Chloe held Hailey’s hand.
“I want you to know you don’t have to call me mommy or anything, sweetie.”
Hailey looked into Chloe’s eyes with a tiny frown. “But I want to. My first mommy told me it was okay with her.”
Chloe raised her eyebrows. “When was this?”
“I dream about her sometimes, and she talks to me at the cemetery, too.”
“Well, the next time you talk to her, tell her I said thank you.”
“But she already told me to tell you thank you.”
Tears pricked her eyes, and Chloe tried to hold them back. “She did? For what?”
“For taking such good care of me and Daddy, and for loving us.” She got up on her knees and put her arms around Chloe’s neck. “She told me to call you what I wanted, and I want you to be my mommy. I love you, and you love me, so that makes me your daughter.”
An odd shiver went down Chloe’s spine when the wind suddenly picked up outside the house, rattling the windowpane. “It sure does.”
“Why are you crying?”
Chloe laughed. “Because you make me so happy.”
Hailey patted Chloe’s cheeks. “And Daddy does, too?”
“And your daddy does, too.”
Hailey bounced. “Can we tell Grams and Grumps that we’re getting married?”
Chloe laughed again. “Sure thing. Do you want me to call them?”
“Uh-huh!”
Chloe and Hailey went back downstairs to get Chloe’s phone. She dialed her parents and handed over the phone.
“Hey,” Devon said, coming up to Chloe and kissing the top of her head. “What was that about?”
“I wanted to assure her she didn’t have to call me mommy, but she said she spoke to Kathy.” Chloe paused to suck in a breath. “Apparently, Kathy approves and thanks me for taking care of the two of you.”
“She said that?” At Chloe’s nod, he said, “Hailey and I talked about asking you to move in and marry me. As she understands it, we’re all getting married.”
“I’m okay with that.”
He brushed her hair away from her face. “Are you okay with moving in before the wedding?”
“Are you okay with getting married right away?”
He scrubbed his hand over the back of his head. “Yeah, I just thought you would want to plan something big.”
“Nope. I just want the two of you.” She took his hand and rested it on her abdomen. “And this little one.”
His eyes widened, and he crushed her to him. “You are amazing, Chloe. You’ve made me so happy.”
