Page 85 of Her Courage

"I—" Her voice broke. She looked around the table, taking in Ryan's supportive smile, Bryanna's hand on her rounded belly, Sierra and Monica's encouraging nods.

Even Keeley seemed to sense the importance of the moment, sitting quietly in Kaleb's lap.

"You want to have babies with me?" Lottie whispered.

"Many babies," I confirmed. "If you want them. No pressure, no timeline. But yes, little one. We want to build a life with you. A real, permanent, forever life."

"The land's already purchased," Kaleb said. "Twenty acres on the edge of Hillsboro. Private, secure, but close enough to the city for work. Construction can start as soon as you approve the plans."

Lottie stared at the drawings, fresh tears spilling over. "I don't know what to say."

"Say yes," Andrei urged, his hand cupping her cheek. "Say you want this too."

"Of course I want this!" She laughed through her tears, the sound watery but joyful. "I want everything with you. All of you. Always."

The table erupted in cheers. Sierra actually bounced in her seat, clapping. Keeley joined in, not understanding but excited by the energy.

Ryan stood, circling the table to pull his sister into a hug. "Congratulations, Lottie. You deserve every bit of happiness."

"Thank you," she whispered against his shoulder. "For accepting them. For accepting all of this."

"You love them," Ryan said simply. "They love you. They protect you. That's all that matters."

When he released her, Bryanna took his place, embracing Lottie warmly. "We're going to be raising our kids together," she said excitedly. "Cousins close in age!"

The image that conjured—Lottie round with our child, Bryanna's baby already born, the children growing up as family—made my chest tight with emotion.

This. This was everything I'd ever wanted and never thought I'd have.

"Can we see the land?" Lottie asked, turning back to us with shining eyes. "Right now?"

Kaleb laughed. "It's dark out, baby girl."

"I don't care! Please? I want to see where we're going to build our home."

How could any of us say no to that?

"Everyone's invited," Andrei announced, rising from the table. "Let's go see the future."

The caravan of vehicles—our Audi, Ryan's SUV, Sierra's minivan—wound through darkening streets toward the property in Hillsboro. Lottie sat in my lap in the backseat, her head on my shoulder as she studied the architectural plans.

"A secret passage between the playroom and the library," she murmured, tracing a finger over the drawing. "You put in a secret passage."

"Every Little needs secret passages," I said, pressing a kiss to her hair. "For adventures."

"And this—" She pointed to another feature. "Is this a reading nook?"

"Window seat, built-in bookshelves, perfect lighting," Kaleb confirmed from the front seat. "We figured you'd want a space that was just yours."

"I love it." Her voice was soft, reverent. "I love all of it. I love you."

"We love you too, little one," I whispered. "So much it terrifies me sometimes."

She tilted her head back to look at me. "Why does it terrify you?"

"Because I spent so many years alone," I admitted. "Convinced I'd never find this. Never have a family of my own. And now that I do, the thought of losing it—losing you⁠—"

"You won't," she interrupted fiercely. "We're forever, Colby. All four of us. Nothing's going to change that."