“Me?” I moved to lie next to her.
She turned on her side, her nose inches from mine, and her finger traced the shape of my jaw. “Because I want you to meet a princess and live in a castle.”
Surprised, I palmed her cheek with a soft smile. “You and Nicky are my happy ever after, baby. I have my castle right here with the two of you.”
“What about a mommy for all of us?”
My brow shot up. This was the first time she’d mentioned me bringing home someone as their mommy. I dated occasionally but nothing permanent. “Do you want a mommy?”
Slowly, she nodded. “Then I can do all the girly things my friends do with their mommies.”
“What about me?”
“You can’t do girly things, silly.” She shrugged.
“I don’t want a mommy.”
I pushed up onto my elbow. Nicky stood at the door, his lips curled in a fierce scowl. “Hey, champ.” Gesturing for him to come closer, I patted the bed. He did as I asked, crawled onto the mattress and knelt between me and Neha. “You don’t want a mom?” He shook his head. “Why not?” I glanced between my two children, wondering why I’d never thought to have this discussion before. Neha’s eyes immediately glazed with tears. She opened her mouth to say something, but I stopped her, “It’s okay, Pixie, let him speak. What’s up, champ?”
Surprise gave me pause when his eyes brightened with tears before he leaned closer, his words soft. “Mommy won’t visit my dreams anymore if you bring someone else home. You always told me she watches us from heaven. I don’t want to hurt her by loving someone else as a mommy.”
Shock sliced through me, stilling my heart at the same time the tiny hairs at the back of my nape stood. Almost like an invisible hand had caressed my neck. It took a few moments for me to regain the ability to react. I clenched my teeth to keep my tears at bay. Sitting up, I stared at him. He’d never displayed any kind of emotion toward his mother’s absence in his life before.
“N-Nicky,” the single word caught in my throat, struggling to breach the seam of my lips. I swallowed against the lump, reached out and pulled him to my chest, squeezing him tight. When I glanced behind him, tears were rolling down Neha’s cheeks. I held out a hand and she scooted into the circle my arms created. I embraced them for a long while until I could trust myself to speak without breaking down.
“Look at me, Nicky,” I said when he sat back and dropped his gaze to his fidgeting fingers. Slowly, he lifted his eyes to meet mine. “No one will replace your mom, champ. And no matter what, she will always live here.” I touched both their chests. “In your heart and here.” I touched their heads. “The memories I helped you create with everything I shared about her, is something no one can steal unless you let them or it’s by force. Will you remember that?”
They nodded then Nicky asked, “If you bring us a mommy, we will like her.”
Laughing, I pulled them both back into my embrace. “IfI do, champ,” I replied, hoping that just maybe I’d be able to give my children the perfect mother they needed. Their own.
Trent
ELEGANT HANDS PLACEDa steaming cup of coffee down in front of me. Coming face to face with her, I thought I would be prepared for this meeting, but one look at her heart-shaped face, Almond-curved gray eyes and dark curls that were pulled back in a tight ponytail, had me frozen. Trapped in a moment that was unreal at best, before I watched perfect plump lips move. “Here you go, hope you enjoy.”
“Thank you,” I finally managed. The slightest nod was the only response I got. I opened my mouth to ask her name, but she’d already turned away. “Krish,” I called out, hoping to get a reaction, praying she would turn, show me some recognition.Come on Krish, turn. Disappointed, I watched as she walked off, not giving me a second glance. Fate was intent on playing tricks. She stopped to speak to another waitress. Deep in conversation, she rolled her fingers over the pendant that hung from her neck, it was something she did when she spoke directly to people—something I’d noticed over the last few days. Maybe a nervous habit she’d picked up in the last seven years.
