“Please give me another chance.”
“I returned your Christmas gift,” I say.“So there’s nothing in there for you, if that’s what this is about.”But I can’t quite help my smile.
“So that’s a yes?”He’s beaming now.
And then I hear cheering from inside the house.When I turn sideways, literallyeveryoneis crammed into the two kitchen windows.So much for privacy.
“Are you sure you’re okay with everything that comes along with being with me?”
He chuckles, and it’s super hot.
“I am.”
Sam trips and drops the mushrooms.
Vanessa isn’t paying attention and burns the third pan of rolls.
Paul waits too long and doesn’t make it to the bathroom in time.
A half-dozen other things go wrong as we prepare for Christmas dinner, but I don’t even care.Because everything that really matters to me is right here.So when, after the kids leave to ogle the pile of presents, searching for their names, and the adults stay in the kitchen to clean up from the meal, I’m happy.
Really, really happy.
Cillian walks up behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist.He presses a kiss to my cheek.“Thanks for forgiving me.”He raises his voice.“And thanks for supporting my efforts at regaining her forgiveness.”
Samantha laughs.“I had no choice.”
“Why?”I ask.“You can buy yourself a bridle.Let’s be honest.”
“Oh, I have.But you can never have too many sparkly bridles.”
I can’t argue with that.
“Seriously though, I also need you guys to support me.”Samantha grimaces.“I, um, did something crazy today.”
Shoot.Did she take Richard back, after all my big talk?“What?”
“Yeah.”Vanessa sets down the baking sheet she was rinsing.“What?”
“I applied online with an agency...to adopt a baby.”
“You—what?”Vanessa looksstunned.
I think about it for a moment.Probably too long.I should be supportive, but I have to try on the idea.She broke up with her boyfriend, a boyfriend she really liked.Shejustgot divorced, over the summer.And she’s moved to Ireland.
It’s all happening really fast.
But she’s wanted this for two decades, so in that regard, this is really slow.I think about it for a moment, really think about it.“You’re adopting yourself, just you?”
She nods.
And she looks happy about it.
Delighted, really.Her eyes are bright, and her whole face is hopeful.
“I think that’s brilliant,” I say.“Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”
“I think whatever Natalie things,” Cillian says.
