“Hey,” I say, smiling at him. “How are you doing?”
He drops his knife on the counter and comes over to hug me.
“I missed you so much!”
“I missed you, too,” I admit, hugging him back.
When he lets go, I introduce him to my mom.
“This is Scarlett Yates, my mom.”
“It’s so good to meet you,” he says, grinning from ear to ear. “We all thought … Uh, I mean …”
“It’s okay,” my mom says. “I know I was assumed dead. Steve often taunted me with that fact.”
“That is so fucking awful,” Harper murmurs. “I’m so sorry.”
My mom shrugs. “The past is past. I’d rather concentrate on the future. Especially now.”
She rocks the carrier and Harper’s mouth drops open.
“You have a baby!” He drops to his knees beside the carrier and fusses over the baby, making her giggle. “Oh my God. You’re so cute!”
I can’t keep the smile from my face. “Let’s get you set up in your room, Mom. You probably want to get her settled.”
She nods. “I should. It’s a little bit past her bedtime, and it’s been a strange day.”
“Which room is …” I start, before Shayne points it out.
“We kept the same side for us and left the other room empty.”
I nod and show my mom over to her room, Falcon following us with her makeshift bag.
My mom puts the baby’s carrier by the side of the bed.
“My goodness,” she murmurs. “The bed is so big.”
Falcon walks over to the walk-in closet and sets her bag down inside.
“We can go get whatever else you need for the baby in the morning,” he says.
“Thank you.” My mother stands there, by the side of the bed, looking vaguely bewildered.
“Are you okay?” I ask, worried again, because of everything she’s been through.
“It’s like a dream,” she admits. “You’re with me, and I’m not stuck in that awful place anymore. I don’t know how many times I went to sleep wishing I had you next to me.”
“I can stay with you tonight if you want me to.”
She smiles. “You don’t have to do that. It’s enough to be here with you.”
I hug her, and she hugs me back tightly.
We have a lot of lost time to make up for, but it’s late and we’re all dead on our feet.
“Does the baby need to be fed again soon, or anything?” I ask as we break apart.
“In a little while. I have some formula and a bottle I can use. I’ll come out and use your kitchen to warm it once I’ve gotten us both ready for bedtime.”
