“Hadley, your mother will always be a part of your life, right here.” I pointed to her heart. “And right here,” I added, as I motioned to my own chest. “Emma is also a part of our lives, andshe loves you like you’re her very own little girl. If you want to call her mommy, I know she’ll be so happy.”
“And your feelings won’t be hurt?”
“No, baby. I want you to do what your heart tells you to do.”
She nodded, and a single tear slipped free. “Mommy in Heaven won’t be mad, will she?”
I pulled Hadley into my arms and held her close. “I promise you; she won’t be mad. She’s looking down on you right now, and she issohappy that you have Emma in your life. And Emma will always make sure your mommy in Heaven is a part of things. Like on your birthday, when she taught you that special song to play in honor of your mommy?”
Hadley nodded. “It was a special song just for her. And Emma put a picture of Mommy on the piano so when I play, I can see her.”
“And does that make you happy?” She nodded. “I’m sure it makes your mommy in Heaven happy too.”
“So, I can start calling Emma mommy now, or when you get married tomorrow?”
I nodded. “I’ll leave that up to you. You call her mommy whenever your heart tells you to start calling her mommy.”
A wide smile broke free. “It’s telling me to call her mommy now!”
Laughing, I said, “Well, I think she’s upstairs.”
Without another word, Hadley climbed out of my lap and raced into the house. She ran past my mother and up the steps.
“What’s going on?” Mom asked in confusion as I rushed by her.
“Can’t stop and explain!” I called out as I followed Hadley up the steps. She was standing in the doorway of the large room where our reception would be held. We’d decided to have a small wedding, family and friends only.
The strains of a piano filled the air as I came to a stop behind Hadley. I knew the piece Emma was playing. It was one of Bach’s Cello Suites. I’d heard the cellist we’d hired, Louise, practicing it earlier as Emma and my mother listened. Louise was going to play it tomorrow when Emma and Hadley walked down the aisle.
“That’s so beautiful,” my mother whispered. “No wonder everyone in the orchestra loves her. She’s so talented.”
I nodded. “She is.”
Glancing down at Hadley, I felt my heart trip over itself. She was staring at Emma in awe. She’d told me so many times she wanted to be a piano player like Emma, and in the last few months, she’d excelled at her lessons. Of course, Emma was an amazing teacher.
Emma must have sensed us watching her because she looked up and stopped playing. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”
“It was beautiful,” I said as I followed Hadley into the room. Suddenly, she took off running toward Emma. She had just enough time to slip off the bench and catch Hadley.
“I want to be just like you when I grow up, Mommy.”
Emma’s eyes met mine in a moment of pure shock. I smiled and nodded.
Holding ontoourdaughter a little tighter, she replied, “I love you so much, Hadley.”
My mother placed her hand on my arm and gave it a light squeeze. “I’ll leave the three of you alone.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I softly said before I made my way into the room.
Emma set Hadley down and then kneeled on the floor when Hadley tugged on her hand. “I talked to Daddy about calling you Mommy, and he told me to do it when my heart told me. When I saw you playing, my heart, right here, felt all weird. Like I was on a fast ride. I think it was telling me to tell you.”
Wiping away her tears, Emma cupped Hadley’s face in her hands. “You have made me the happiest person in the entire world. I’m so honored to be your mommy, Hadley. More than you’ll ever know.”
Hadley hugged Emma again, and when she looked up at me, we exchanged smiles.
If anyone told me that I’d be getting married again, I would have laughed in their face and called them crazy. Then Emma dropped into our lives, and I knew immediately that nothing would ever be the same.
“The sun’s about to set. Should we watch it?” I asked.
