Dalton pulled back slightly after a moment and cupped her cheek in his hand.
Ella leaned into the warmth, closing her eyes at how good it felt to love him fearlessly.
“I love you too, Ella,” Dalton told her, his voice husky with emotion. “So much.”
She opened her eyes just in time to see him lean down to her, his eyes on her mouth.
When he kissed her, she felt the strength of his love rush through her chest, and she almost laughed for joy.
This is what it is to be alive, not just to survive, but to love…
“Who’s awake at this—oh, my,” her mother’s voice came from the hallway.
Ella pulled back right away, and Dalton allowed it, but he kept a hand at her waist, as if to say he wasn’t going to let her go.
“I’m so sorry,” her mother said, clearly trying to hide her smile. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Relief filled Ella’s chest at her mother’s obvious happiness.
“What’s going on down there?” Dad’s voice came from the top of the stairs.
The sound of small, quick footsteps came next.
“Are you ready for all this?” Ella asked, looking up at Dalton.
But the big man was smiling.
“Very ready,” he told her. “Are you?”
“Very ready,” she agreed.
“Oh, kids,” Mom said, rushing over to wrap her arms around them both just as Dove flew in behind her.
“Everybody’s awake,” Dove sang out. “Everybody’s hugging.”
Dalton bent to lift Dove up in one arm and she laughed like a waterfall. His other arm stayed wrapped firmly around Ella’s waist.
“Well, it’s about time,” Ella’s father said, his eyes twinkling as he stepped into the room to join them.
“About time forwhat?” Dove asked. “What is happening?”
“I’m, uh, I’m in love with your mom,” Dalton said a little awkwardly.
“Of course you are,” Dove said, shrugging her shoulders, like it was old news. “She’s your girlfriend. You went on a date.”
“So, you approve?” Dalton asked her seriously.
Ella had to smile. The way he spoke to Dove never failed to make her feel happy.
“Yes,” Dove decided. “But sometimes,Ilike to go out to dinner too.”
“I see,” Dalton replied. “Well, maybe we can all go out for pizza to celebrate when the snow stops.”
“Yes,”Dove said, wiggling out of his arms so she could scamper over to her grandmother and hug her hard.
“Happy to babysit anytime, you know that,” Ella’s dad said, thrusting his hand out to Dalton. “After the pizza party, of course.”
“Thank you, sir,” Dalton said, his voice breaking slightly as he took her father’s hand.
