“Missed you too, kid.” I pat her head gently, and she smiles. “You’re coming to field day with HH, right? Your mom said you were going to come after your spelling bee.”
Kori nods as she takes off after Lily, tossing back over her shoulder, “Yep. See you later, WyWy.”
Those girls.
If they’re any indication of what it’ll be like when we have our own, I’m going to have my hands full as fuck.
But I’ll be stupidly happy.
Even more than I am now.
It feels… full circle.
To have Kori be a part of my life still, to have her running around after my niece, and to have a relationship with Maisie as closely as she does.
When I first started Hawthorne Haven, Maisie reached out to a lot of the parents from the LLI program and gave them the information about our first open house.
And I personally reached out to Ren, Kori’s adoptive mom, and asked her to attend. I wanted to check on Kori, and they’ve both been an incredible addition to the foundation.
Ren adopted Kori,officially, about six months ago. She fostered her for a year and a half before she joined their family forever.
We threw a big party for them, and Maisie got Kori so many new books that it took me and Devereaux both to carry them in.
I almost fucking cried that day.
It’s true… falling in love changes you. Ruined my asshole reputation. Finally.
Doug, Legros, and Devereaux are talking about the latest Hellcats game, so I excuse myself and make my way over to Maisie, giving her a quick kiss before searching for Cam and Brennan.
I find them on the couch in the sunroom, watching Lily and Kori playing with colorful blocks.
“My man,” Brennan says with his signature laid-back grin, offering me his hand to shake. “Thanks for having us. Lily’s living her best life.”
“You three… well, almost four, are always welcome here. That is, as long as Cam can walk.” I shoot my best friend a look.
A deep groan bursts past her lips, and she wobbles forward, her belly nearly taking her to the floor. She’s due in just over a month, and despite the doctor telling her she should probably not travel when she’s about to pop, she said she wasn’t missing Maisie’s graduation for anything… even a baby.
Stubborn, as always.
Thank fuck for that though, or I may not be standing here today. If she hadn’t held on and refused to give up, even when I tried to push her away.
“I’m pretty sure this baby is trying to kill me,” Cam mutters as she rubs a hand over her swollen belly, “by rearranging my organs one at a time.”
Brennan reaches over and brushes her dark hair from her face. “Want some Sprite, love? Will that help? Maybe a little snack?”
Her lip juts out in a pout, but she nods.
“Be right back,” he says, giving me a wink as he walks away.
I sink down beside Cam once he’s gone, and for a second, we sit in silence, watching the girls play, soaking up the laughter and the quiet moment.
Something I try and do often, now that I understand how fleeting they are. How important.
“Bet you never would’ve thought this would be your life, did you?” Cam finally says, and I turn to look at her. She’s smiling, and her eyes, they’re shining with understanding.
We lived the same childhood together, bonding over things no one should ever have to, but in the end, we have each other. She’s the sister I never had and is now a best friend to the love of my life.
I shake my head. “Nah. I thought my life would be much different. Definitely less chaotic.”
