“Yes, of course. Happy Holidays!”
I waved to her and set off for the steps that led upstairs, where Ladd’s office was located. Right before I reached them, I heard him call my name.
The second I turned around and saw him, tears filled my eyes. I hadn’t realized how upset my mother’s visit actually made me until I saw my husband.
His smile dropped, and he nearly sprinted over to me.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, giving me a once-over.
“Not here. Can we go to your office?”
He took my elbow and started leading me up the steps. “Of course we can.”
Once we were in his office and he’d shut the door, I let out a long breath and sat down. I managed to keep my tears locked away, though. I was tired of crying over my parents.
Ladd knelt in front of me. “Are you okay? Is the baby okay?”
I nodded. “I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just, when I saw you, I got emotional.”
He took my hands in his and brought them to his mouth for a kiss. “What about?”
I closed my eyes and drew in a few breaths before focusing back on him. “My mother came to the school today.”
Ladd’s mouth fell open. “What? Why?”
I launched into the whole story…including how it ended, telling my mother that she would never be a part of my life, and that she seemed to regret her choices. I also told him that she had information about the couple who’d adopted my daughter.
Ladd had gotten up to sit as I told him the story, and now he stared at me as he slowly shook his head. “And you’re really okay?”
“I am. I mean, of course, it hurt knowing that she’d come because they need something from me, but when I said no, she didn’t argue. She accepted it and that was that.”
“Do you think she used that as an excuse to come see you?”
I shrugged. “It’s possible.”
“I’m so sorry, Viv.”
“Don’t be. I’m kind of glad she showed up. I was able to speak my truth and let her know exactly how I felt. It honestly feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I know the best thing I could have ever done was walk out of my parents’ house that day.”
“It led you to me.”
“It did,” I smiled. “Enough of that. Janet said that since the store opened, her shop has done double the business.”
A wide smile erupted on Ladd’s face. “I’ve heard that from a few people. Our numbers are already above what we projected. Mitch is happy. The town is happy. I sometimes have to pinch myself because I cannotbelievehow happyIam. You. The baby. The store. Life is good, Viv.”
I stood and made my way over to him. He was on the small sofa in his office. I took off my coat and tossed it onto the couch, and he was about to move it so I could sit next to him. I shook my head and crawled onto his lap.
“Did you notice I’m wearing a dress today?” I asked as I ran my fingers through his hair.
He dropped his head back and laughed. “Should welock the door?”
I bit down on my lower lip. “You feel like getting wild with me, cowboy?”
He slid his hand around my neck and drew me to his mouth and whispered, “Wilde is our last name.”
Vivianne
Christmas Eve, Seventeen Years Later
