“Perfect name for a perfect girl,” Quinn agreed.
You could not have wiped the smile off my face if you tried. These two almost made me forget the threat at the front door. Almost.
Something occurred to me. “Wait—is Lucia your mom’s middle name?”
“No,” he replied, the flash of pain passing through his eyes a reminder of a past he’d yet to reconcile with. “Lucia is Grace’s middle name.”
His little sister. I didn’t realize she meant that much to him.
“Noah,” Quinn said, changing the subject. “I think we have something else to show your mom, don’t we?”
“Oh yeah,” he said, waiting for Quinn to take his guitar before leaping to his feet and grabbing a gift off the table.
Jumping in place, Noah handed over a shoebox-sized present all wrapped in gold and silver. I wasn’t accustomed to getting gifts from my child, at least not ones that didn’t involve construction paper, popsicle sticks, and glue.
“You didn’t have to get me something, silly,” I said. “It’s your birthday, not mine.”
“I know, but Quinn and me wanted to get you something special.” More jumping. “Open it.”
Quinn placed his hand on Noah’s shoulder, the act of which calmed him right down. The gesture wasn’t lost on me—the steady hand of a positive influence. What would that influence have looked like if Nick had been the one with his hand on Noah’s shoulder all these years? If today was any indication, I’d dodged a bullet. I should thank Grandma Ledger for running interference. She’d saved me a lot of heartache.
Quinn settled his eyes on me, instantly understanding something was wrong and mouthing, ‘You okay?’
I nodded, faking a smile as I removed the beautiful wrapping paper. Because of the size of the box, I had a strong suspicion that whatever was in there would wrap my feet in swagger. I glanced up at Quinn, my worried eyes instantly transforming when they settled on his proud face. He didn’t have to buy me gifts to earn my favor. He’d won that on the first day.
There were no shoes in the box. In fact, the only thing inside was an even fancier wrapped smaller box.
“What’s this?” I asked.
Noah, no longer able to jump with Quinn’s hand on his shoulder, began to squirm instead. He couldn’t be more excited for me. “Open it!”
My heart beat faster. It was jewelry, that much I knew for sure, but it couldn’t be a ring, could it?
It wasn’t.
Inside the box was the most beautiful diamond pendant necklace I’d ever laid eyes on.
“You guys,” I said, my mouth agape.
“It’s got a carrot in it,” Noah said.
“Very nutritious,” Quinn nodded before adding, “I’m not sure he fully understands it’s not that kind of carrot.”
“And there’s a fiery heart inside too,” Noah continued.
“It’s a Hearts on Fire diamond,” Quinn corrected.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I have no idea. The jeweler said it was the world’s most perfectly cut diamond, but they all looked the same to us. Right, Noah?”
He nodded, aggressive in his agreement. “They were all so sparkly, Mom.”
Never had I received a gift like this, and I wasn’t sure even how to accept it. Or if I should. “Quinn, I can’t…”
“It’s not from me.” He stopped me in my tracks.
“It’s fromme,” Noah said, resuming his jumping.
