“Are you sure, honey?” I whisper. “You don’t have to call me Mommy if you don’t want to.”
Her face scrunches like I’ve asked something obvious. “You already love me like a mommy does.”
And, God, this kid is killing me.
She shrugs one shoulder. “Plus, Dad said I can have two moms if I want. My mommy in heaven and my mommy on earth.”
That does it.
Tears spill free before I can stop them.
I set the bracelet down long enough to take her face in my hands.
“Then I’d love to be your mommy,” I whisper. “As long as you’ll be my daughter too.”
She nods hard once.
Then throws herself at me.
I catch her and hold on with everything I have.
Because I didn’t know my heart could exist outside my body—not until this child handed mine back to me with a beaded bracelet and a name I willnevertake lightly.
She pulls back first, sniffling but grinning.
Then she turns toward the family room like she’s waiting for something.
Suspicion flares through me.
“Chloe—”
And then I see him.
Rhodes steps close, holding my gaze so steadily my pulse kicks up, fluttering through my veins like a butterfly.
Because there’s something in his expression.
Something warm and terrified andbrave.
He comes even nearer…then slowly lowers himself onto one knee.
My breathing hitches. “Rhodes,” I whisper.
“Finn.” He takes my hand, strokes his thumb over my knuckles once.Twice. And his voice, when it comes, is rougher than usual. “You walked into our house and somehow made it a home again.”
My fingers convulse.
He strokes my knuckles again, soothing, gentle,mine. “You love Chloe with so much joy, Stitch, and you love me in a way I can never dream of deserving?—”
“You deserve it.”
His smile is gentle. “Maybe. But, baby, I need you to know that you stitched yourself into the shape of our lives so quietly, so beautifully, I don’t think Chloe and I ever stood a chance of being whole without you.”
A tear slips down my cheek.
He notices.
Of coursehe notices, reaching up to wipe it away.
