“La.”
Charlie held Ella’s hand for a high five and helped her finish the motion.“Good job, Ella.Are you hungry?Are you ready for breakfast?”
Nash exited his room with a smile.The man looked good in the morning.Well, he looked good all the time.
Her body shivered when he met her eyes with that warm smile.“Morning.Everyone hungry?”
“La.”
“Dad, Ella’s saying her name now.Did you hear that?Ella.Say, Ella.”
“La.Mama.”
Olivia leaned down to pick up her girl with a smile.“Good work, Ella.Are you ready for some food?”
Charlie tilted his head.“Can she climb stairs yet?”
Olivia shrugged.“Going up is easier.She’s slow and shaky going down.”
Charlie nodded.“Then we’ll practice it.You’ll be doing stairs like a pro in no time, Ella.”Then he pounded down the stairs and raced for the kitchen.
Nash chuckled.“Enjoy the slow pace while you can.Tornado speed comes soon enough.”
“I bet.He’s a great kid.”
“He is.I’m so lucky.”
She smiled as they turned toward the kitchen.“He didn’t get that way on his own.”
Nash didn’t respond as they walked into the kitchen to find the entire group in the room.Knox flipped a pancake and grinned.“Here they are.I know we said we’re normally on our own for anything other than dinner, but this is becoming our tradition when new people join us.”
Jolie patted her brother’s back.“Knox is the pancake master.Can Ella have pancakes or is oatmeal better?We’ve almost always got oatmeal in the fridge.”
Overwhelmed at the kindness, Olivia squeezed her girl.“Do you want to try some pancakes, Ella?”
“La.”
Ford rubbed the little girl’s hair.“Is that your name?Are you Ella?”
“La.”
He laughed.“Good job, cutie.We’ve got a booster seat for you over here.”
The booster seat was made from a block of wood, and the edges were soft and smooth, making it perfect for Ella.“That’s amazing.What a beautiful piece.”
Ford’s skin flushed, and Olivia gaped.“Did you make it?”
He nodded.“It was nothing.”
She blinked away tears.“It’s so much more than that.Thank you so much.This is amazing.”
And it was another sign she and Ella weren’t a burden.They were wanted.Accepted.
When she put Ella in the booster seat, Ella slapped her hands on the table with a grin.
Charlie laughed.“She likes it.”
Nash held Olivia’s seat out for her and lightly rubbed her shoulders.He’d tuned into her emotions.He knew more of her story than the others, and she had no regrets over sharing that with him.
