“I don’t think that’s true.” Lena scowls at her mom before turning toward me. “Do you think there’s time for that? We have a tour at that prospective shelter location, and we have to visit your family. I don’t know if?—”
“We’ll make it work.” I smooth her hair.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to have to cut the tour short. You’ve been waiting for this for years.”
I cup her cheeks in my hands, grateful I can do it without her pulling away. Never in my lifetime did I ever think she’d let me, but now she’s mine. “I’m sure.”
She smiles up at me and gives Antonia the go-ahead to schedule it. Her mother lingers awkwardly when Antonia leaves. Lena’s hands slip up my arms until she’s pulling my fingersfrom her cheeks and lacing them into hers. “We’ll be ready soon, Mom.”
Blythe waffles in the doorway a minute longer before huffing out the door and closing it behind her. Lena lifts my knuckles to her lips, kissing each one with feather-soft pressure. I’ll never understand how something so delicate can send me over the edge.
I lean down and kiss her on the forehead before pulling her off the counter and into my arms. Lena kicks and squeals as I carry her to the door. “Come on, we have a flight to catch and a niece to meet.”
LENA
“Please don’t make her call me Aunt Lena.” I try to hide my smile as I sit back into the worn tweed couch.
“Why not?” Decker asks, gazing down at his baby niece’s sweet face.
“I’m not her aunt just because you’re her uncle.”
He lifts a brow, his eyes finding mine for a split second before falling back on baby Charlotte Darlene, named after his mother, naturally. “Not yet, at least.”
I nudge his shoulder like I always do when he makes a dumb joke, but by the way things have been going lately, I don’t think it is. I would be perfectly happy with Decker as my husband, and if he thinks he can put up with me until death do us part, I won’t turn him away.
“Let me see that baby!” Darlene’s face is beaming with that new-grandma glow.
Reluctantly, Decker hands her over. It’s cute how much I can tell he doesn’t want to. He’s been dying to finally meet her formonths but refused to leave my side on tour. This break lined up perfectly, though, because Ian is in the off season, and he and Nora were able to fly in to meet us before we jet off again. It’s been hard for Decker to be so far from his family, and maybe even more difficult for him to be away from Princess. The good thing is, my tour stretch overseas is short, and when we get back to the states, we’re ending it in Vista City. And then we intend to stay here—together—in my Vista residence with a yard for Princess while we get everything in line for his nonprofit.
I’ll actually be taking a break for the first time ever. Nowadays, I’m focusing on finding the balance I’ve been missing all these years, but that’s not even the best part. I get to watch Decker make his dream of the special needs shelter come true, and I’ll be by his side the entire way.
Decker throws an arm over my shoulder, and I lean into him, soaking in the warmth of his mom’s house. It’s cozy, like one big invitation asking you to nestle up and never leave. The smattering of mismatched frames all over the place, encapsulating my favorite little green-eyed guy, makes it even more homey. Above the mantle, beside a basket stuffed with spicy cinnamon potpourri, is a photo of his entire family, his father included.
I nod toward the frame. “You look like him, you know.”
He follows my sightline until it lands on the picture. “Everyone says I look like my mom.”
“You have her eyes, but you have his bone structure.” I lean back so I can get a better view of his face. There’s a sheen to his eyes, and I almost feel bad for bringing up his late father.
“He’d be so proud of Charlotte,” he finally says.
“And you.” I poke him in his massive bicep, and he turns to peer down at me. “He’d be honored you’re naming the shelter after him. The James Trace Silver Paws Sanctuary. It has a nice ring to it.”
“Are you sure the name isn't too long?”
She shakes her head. “I think he’d love it.”
“He’d loveyou.” A faint smile crosses his lips before he leans down and kisses the tip of my nose. “How could he not?”
I grin back at him, eating up every bit of the cheesiness he casts my way.
“Food’s here!” Ian announces as he erupts through the front door, hauling in an armful of brown paper bags.
Brown paper bags that have now been upgraded with a logo.
Nora helps him unload the freshly delivered food from Niko’s Deli, placing each paper-wrapped sandwich on a plate and sliding them down the laminate counter. The tang of vinegar and French fries makes my mouth water.
“Niko got new bags!” I squeal, turning to Decker.
