I looked over and saw they held the gifts from me. They’d seen them under the tree the evening before and knew who they were from. I just hoped they liked them. Looking over my shoulder at Bodie, I bit my lip nervously. He reached out and rubbed his thumb over where my teeth had dug in as the girls ripped open the package without waiting for an answer.
Turning back around, I watched as they opened their boxes at the same time. Their eyes lit up and they were so excited to get jewelry. Bodie called them over and each of us opened one of the silver heart-shaped lockets for the girls so they could see at the same time how they each had a picture of Isabelle inside.
“It’s Mommy,” Piper whispered. She looked at her father and her bottom lip trembled. “Is it okay with Mommy, that we want Gemma to be our Mommy too?”
My heart broke. I never wanted them to think I was replacing their mother. And I didn’t want the gifts to make them sad.
Bodie pulled Piper into his side and hugged her as I watched Peyton, wanting to make sure she was okay. Her eyes stayed on her father’s, waiting for her dad’s answer to her sister’s question.
“Come here, Peyton,” Bodie said. He reached out his arm on his other side and pulled her in for a hug too.
I felt a little like I was intruding and wasn’t sure what to do, but I felt silly with my back to everyone, so I twisted around and sat down on my knees facing them all.
“Your mother would be so happy that we found Gemma and she’d never be upset at you for wanting her in our lives. And Gemma never wants you to forget your mommy, Isabelle, that’s why she bought you these precious gifts.”
“I love it,” Peyton said. “Thank you.”
“Me too,” added Piper. “Can we get a picture of you and put it on the other side?”
At her request, tears poured down my cheeks instantly as I looked to Bodie to gauge his reaction to her request.
“Love, please don’t cry, it’s okay. Come here,” Bodie said, letting me know the request didn’t upset him.
Scooting in closer he closed his arms around the girls, bringing them in closer so he could grab me in the embrace too. My head rested on his chest and little arms wrapped around my back as we hugged each other.
“I’d love it if you wanted to put a picture of me in your lockets,” I mumbled through my tears.
Who would have thought five months ago, this would be my life?
ChapterTwenty-Four
BODIE
Call me crazy.
Or just call me what I am.
A man in love.
When the girls asked if I was going to marry Gemma and if she’d be their mommy, I knew it deep down in my soul to be exactly what I wanted.
And spending Christmas morning just the four of us solidified how I felt.
It wasn’t replacing Isabelle, it was a new chapter of our lives, and one I knew she would approve of.
Gemma looked shocked and that was understandable. But I also saw hope shining in her eyes.
I was going to hang onto that hope and her love for me, as well as mine for her, and pray when the day came that I popped the question, her answer would be,yes.
Because Gemma was mine and I couldn’t imagine life without her in it.
ChapterTwenty-Five
GEMMA
Braxton and Jurnee’shouse was in utter chaos.
That was the norm when we all got together and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
