“Mine is more comfortable and larger. It’ll be better for you to rest on.” I lay her down, snatching her lips with mine for a quick kiss. She’s not ready for more, but we have the rest of our lives. I can bepatient, for now. “Rest, baby. I’ve got it all covered,” I promise, leaving her in our new bed to sleep.
After getting her settled, I head down to make some dinner for Noah. His school is finally on break, so we have some time to get settled before he has to go back. I’m thankful because he’s barely left her side since she woke up, but neither have I. The guys closed the shop until the holidays were over. I don’t think we’ve ever taken a vacation, but after Bri trashed Kash’s car, she moved onto the shop.
A few windows were broken, and she was found destroying his station when the cops got there. Bri was arrested, and the last I heard, they were hoping for some treatment facility or counseling.
Opening a cabinet to grab a mug for tea, I smile when I see my things next to hers. I don’t have much, but it looks right sitting next to Cora’s.
Choosing her favorite yellow mug, I fill the kettle and set it to boil before starting dinner for Noah. I know just how my girl takes her tea, and I learned my lesson the first time she caught me microwaving water. I smile when I think of the lecture I got that day, and the subsequent use of her mouth.Soon.
The days pass in a blur of visitors and doctors’ appointments. Cora has some headaches and sensitivity to light but seems to be okay for the most part.
She’s still having some trouble getting around because of the gunshot wound to her leg, which pisses me off to no end. I wish forthe thousandth time I could bring Bea back to life so I could kill her all over again. Cora sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night, reliving the whole thing.
I hold her through it and remind her she’s not there anymore. She’s alive, Noah is safe, and I’m never letting anything get them. She has no monsters to fear. Her monsters have me to fear.
A few nights after she got home, Cora confided about Bea admitting to killing the Snider family. I held her as she cried and vowed that I would always be by her side. I would be there for her and Noah no matter what our life looked like. I felt sick when Aidan told me what Bea had done, so I can only imagine what Cora felt having it shoved into her face.
I stroked her hair as she sobbed on my chest. The devastation that woman caused was massive and unnecessary. Cora already mourned the loss of the people who raised her—as shitty as they were, but she also has to mourn the loss of a family she never got the chance to know. The worst part is wondering if it was all true. Could there be a chance Noah and her don’t share the same parents after all?
She’s still deciding what she wants to do. Bea is dead, and so much time has passed; plus, their murder was ruled an accident. What good would it do to bring it up now? I promised I’d take her and Noah for the test myself if she ever decided she wanted to know for real. Bea was so evil and rotten, there’s no telling if it was even true, or just something she made up to hurt Cora.
Emma came over and helped me decorate the house for Christmas. We had a big family night that included my brothers. I’ve started thinking of them more that way. Seth may not have understood where I was at during Thanksgiving, but they all came together for us, and they have no idea how indebted I am to them.
We decorated cookies and watched bad holiday movies. I’ve never smiled so much and had to pinch myself that it was all real.
As I finish cleaning up in the kitchen, I see Cora sitting on the couch, Noah snuggled at her side. My heart clenches at the sight ofthem, and I can’t wait to add more little people to that couch with her. We’re going to need some bigger blankets.
Emma stands at my side and gestures for me to follow her out.
“I’m so proud of you, Atty boy.” She tugs me into her arms for a hug. “You have turned into such an amazing young man, and I’m so proud to call you my son. I have an early Christmas gift for you.” She draws back and pulls a small box from her coat pocket.
“Thank you for saving me, Emma,” I start. “I would be dead without you.”
“Hush you.” She swipes a tear away. Handing me the package, she smiles. “You’re going to be needing that. Open it.”
Opening the box, I laugh when I find a smaller box inside. I stop laughing when I open the box and see a solitaire diamond ring. My eyes fly to hers. “Emma, is this?—”
“It was mine, yes. I want you to have it. My marriage was wonderful, up until we discovered I couldn’t have children. I promised myself that even though my marriage failed, one day I would have kids, and I would give this to one of my sons.”
“But why me?” I question her. The ring has a single round stone in the middle of a white gold band. There are vines with diamonds nestled in them, stretching around the band. The rings I’ve been looking at were similar to this, but I hadn’t found anything I liked yet. The ring in my hand feels perfect.
“Because you were the last one to find us, and the first to find love, Atlas. This ring symbolizes the love and commitment you’re going to show Cora and the family you’re building. You’ve become an amazing man, and you’ll be an even more amazing husband.”
“Thank you, Emma, for everything. For taking me on as a shitty teen, for not leaving me to rot in jail, and for giving me a family.” I draw her into my arms and hug her tightly. “I love you, Mom,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head.
“Okay, that’s enough now.” She pulls back, giving me a watery smile. “Are you waiting for New Year, or will you do it on Christmas?”
Laughing, I smile down at her. “Who says I won’t do it tonight?”
“Don’t you dare, Atlas. Give that girl the proposal of her dreams.”
“I will. I promise.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Cora
It’s Christmas Eve, and I can finally get up and around a bit better on my own. Atlas tends to hover, but I’m not complaining. It was a bit of a shock to find out he had moved into the house while I was in the hospital.
