But this?
This was something else.
She'd given Harper the one gift that even Emmett hadn't been able to convince her could truly be hers.
Belonging.
Family.
A place at the heart of something she'd spent her whole life looking for.
Harper traced her finger lovingly over Emily's name.
Emily had been gone for years.And yet somehow she'd reached across all that time and told Harper exactly what she'd needed to hear.
"I promise you," she whispered to the letter.
She got to her feet when Emmett started making his way down the steps from the deck.
She didn't know if she could explain it, or how he'd feel, or...
When he reached her, she could see that his eyes were red too.He put his hands on her shoulders and rested his forehead against hers.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded."More than okay."He smiled through tears."There's nothing for you to..."
"I know."She swallowed."Isn't she wonderful?"
He gave her a sad smile."She was.But she's gone, and she just kicked my ass from beyond the grave that I have to remember that and love you."
Harper couldn't hold in the little sob that escaped her lips.
He raised his eyebrows but didn't ask the question.
She dabbed at her eyes."Sorry.It's just..."She looked down at the letter in her hands."She gave me the one thing no one else ever could."
His gaze softened."What?"
"Belonging."Her voice cracked."A family to love."
She looked toward the vegetable beds where Alana had joined Tanya, holding the tape measure while they marked out the spaces together.
"She gave me a reason to call you mine—all three of you."
He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again they shone with tears.
"We are yours, Harper.And you're ours."
She nodded."And now I know in my heart that it's true."She looked back toward the girls."You and the girls..."Her throat tightened."I love you, Emmett.I love them, and I love the life we're going to build together."
He brushed his lips over hers."I love you, Harper."
He looked over at the girls, smiling when they started hauling lumber out from under the deck, Alana calling out directions and Tanya completely ignoring them as she wondered how large the beds would need to be.
"I hope you're interested in the kind of building that involves lumber - and, knowing Tanya, chicken wire."
Harper laughed."Of course I am."
