For a few minutes, she just watched the leaves in the trees flutter in the slight wind. The moonlight as it cast a dim glow over the grass.
She placed the glass into the sink and walked down the hall to Avery’s doorway.
Warmth skittered through her chest at the sight of the girl asleep in her bed. She lay on her belly with the sheet and blanket kicked off, her little cheek pressed into the pillow. Some of the pain and tension eased from Sadie’s body. There was something about looking at a child you loved that almost felt healing.
Without making a sound, Sadie crept forward and pulled the blankets over Avery’s small body. But she didn’t straighten right away, instead lowering her head and pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek before whispering, “I love you, baby girl.”
Avery moaned, snuggling deeper into the bed before mumbling, “Love you too, Sadie.”
A small smile curved Sadie’s lips, the first one all night. How she’d heard and replied without waking, Sadie had no idea, but she wasn’t questioning it.
Sadie rose and moved to the door, but instead of going back to the bedroom, she just leaned her shoulder against the doorframe and watched the slow rise and fall of Avery’s back.
When gentle hands slipped around her waist, she gasped.
“Why are you up?” Eastern asked, mouth going to the side of her neck, where he kissed her.
She relaxed back into him. “I couldn’t sleep and just found myself here. She’s so beautiful.”
He set his chin on her head. “She is. Just like you.”
“I love her so much. Sometimes I just ache for her to be mine.”
“Sheisyours.” The answer from Eastern came so quickly and firmly, she turned to look at him.
“She feels like she’s mine.”
He slipped a lock of hair from her cheek behind her ear. “Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people who love us the hardest. And she loves you, Sadie. She loves you so much.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m so lucky to have you both.”
“No.We’rethe lucky ones.”
He lowered his head and kissed her, his lips caressing hers and making every tight muscle in her body loosen.
He lowered his head to her ear and whispered, “Come to bed with me.”
She nodded, and he lifted her into his arms so that her cheek was right over his heart, and she listened to that heart beat as he carried her back to bed.
CHAPTER 32
Sadie leaned back in her seat, a smile playing at her lips. It was Monday evening, and they were having a family barbeque at Eastern’s house with his brothers, their partners and Avery. Well, technically her house too, because a few days ago, they’d officially moved all her things from her apartment to here. Well, Eastern had. With her fractured ribs, she was pretty much useless.
She stroked Avery’s hair as the eight-year-old sat on her lap eating chips. A week had passed since everything had happened with Mr. Anderson, Jarrad and Jamie. Jamie was still in the hospital, and from what Sadie had heard, it would be a long road to recovery. Mr. Anderson was also still hospitalized, but he’d get out sooner and be taken straight to a cell.
Sadie was recovering from fractured ribs, but she felt grateful that wasallshe was recovering from. Things could have been so much worse.
Her gaze lifted to the four men standing around the barbecue. She hadn’t seen much of Jace in the last week, but she would forever be in debt to him for what he’d done for her that night. If he hadn’t been in those mountains and called Easternwhen he’d seen her… God, she didn’t even want to think about that.
Her hand tightened on Avery’s hip, and she shifted her attention back to Harper and Tilly, who were talking about the visitors center.
One thing Sadie was absolutely certain of was how grateful she was to be back in Misty Peak and part of this family. It was crazy that just a few months ago, she’d been living a completely different life.
“Sadie, we’ve been doing all the talking,” Harper said, cutting into her thoughts. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good, actually. I’ve taken some time off work and so has Eastern, and we’ve just been spending time as a family.” She pressed a kiss to Avery’s head.
“Your ribs healing okay?” Tilly asked.
