Later, after I’d read Willow’s favorite book to her two and a half times (she drifted off during the third reading), I wandered into the living room to find Haydyn on the sofa.
“I made you a cup of tea.”
I thanked him, grabbing the mug before snuggling in beside him. He’d switched off the main lights and just left the Christmas tree and fairy lights on. It was cozy.
My engagement ring winked against my wedding band in the light as I lifted my mug to my mouth. “Did you talk to him?”
Haydyn nodded, a wry smile on his lips. “Lady problems.”
“Oh.” Of course. Michael had had “girlfriends” before, but he was fourteen now. Girlfriends were starting to mean something a wee bit more serious. “Did he go into detail?”
He nodded. “He met up with his friends today. Callie Ironside was there.”
I think I knew what was coming, and my heart broke a little for Michael. “Did he finally ask her out?”
“Aye. And she told him that she liked him but she was into someone else.”
“Let me guess: Lewis Adair.”
“She wouldn’t say, but that’s Michael’s guess too.”
“He really likes her, doesn’t he?” I sighed, wishing I could give the boy everything he wanted. After Deena walked out of his life again four Christmases ago, she phoned now and then, but Michael was still angry. Instead of persevering through his anger, showing him she cared enough to deal with it, Deena gave up. Michael hadn’t heard from her since.
But my son had a naturally open heart and he called meMumnow and I was honored.
Haydyn had involved Michael in his proposal six weeks after we started dating. It seemed fast to everyone else, but we knew we were meant to be a family. And I kind of loved the fact that Haydyn proposed before I could tell him I was pregnant with Willow. I’d barely begun living in my new bungalow when we decided I’d just rent it out and move in with them.
A lot of people probably assumed Haydyn married me because I was pregnant, and I decided not to give a shit what anyone else thought. We loved each other, and that was all that mattered. I was six months pregnant when we got married in a private ceremony with just Michael as our witness.
It was perfection.
“As much as a teenage boy can like a girl, I suppose,” Haydyn replied.
“You don’t think teenagers can fall in love?”
He grinned at me. “I think it’s a different kind of love. I think … the right girl will come along for Michael when it’s time. I had to wait thirty-seven years for mine, but I’d have waited thirty-seven more. And so will Michael. It’s just … everything feels bigger when you’re a teen. Everything’s so life or death. I wouldn’t go through all that again if you paid me.”
I was still glowing from his “I had to wait thirty-seven years for mine.” Snuggling deeper into his side, I shrugged. “As lovely as that is, I don’t want him to have to wait for anything. I want him to have what he wants. He’s had a crush on Callie forever.”
“Maybe she’ll come around.” Haydyn shrugged. “There’s a bit of a legend going around, though, about the Adair family.”
I’d heard of it. “That once you fall in love with an Adair, you’re a goner forever?”
“That’s the one.”
“Well, I don’t believe it. I think the Barr men can give the Adairs a run for their money.”
He grinned down at me. “I guess we’ll just need to wait and see.” Then he kissed me. It heated quickly and Haydyn reached for my mug, putting it on the side table so he could pull me more thoroughly into his arms.
We were so busy making out like teenagers that we didn’t hear Michael walk in.
“Oh, gross.” His voice cut across the room. “Aren’t you both too old to be doing that?”
Haydyn and I broke apart, and I shot our son an affronted look. “How dare you? What age do you think I am?”
He grinned, seeming much more like himself after his talk with his father. “Old.”
“Thirty-one is not old.”
