Page 70 of Blissful Devotion

We nearly trip over ourselves as we go the ten feet to the doorway, only to stop on a dime when we see her.

She sits beside Father, a smile on her face that makes my heart beat faster, even if it’s not for me, yet. Father isn’t in his usual chair at the head of the table; instead, he sits beside her near the center. His own plate is empty, and he’s turned toward her, his back to us. I can’t see his face, but I can guess he’s more than happy right where he is.

I would be.

Kat’s eyes flick up from Father to us, no doubt having seen us come flying in here, and I’m about to apologize for interrupting when her smile nearly doubles in size, and I see the most beautiful thing shine in her eyes.

Recognition.

“You remember?” Oliver takes the words from my mouth, which is for the best because I’m not sure I could speak with the way she’s looking at me.

Her smile takes the air from my lungs and makes my heart beat triple the normal rate; my palms sweat, and my throat feels like it’s got something lodged in it as I wait for her answer, praying to a god I’ve never believed in that she does.

Her eyes well with tears, but she doesn’t look sad. She nods, just the slightest jerk of her head, and suddenly I understand the tears as my own eyes water.

But I don’t have time for tears; they can wait.

I’m across the room and at her feet so fast I’m not sure how I did it, but I also don’t care. What I do care about is worshiping the goddess before me the way she deserves.

Well, that and one other thing.

I wrap my arms around her and pull her close.

“Hey, baby. Daddy loves you so much! I can’t wait to meet you and teach you to play games and ride a motorcycle.”

“How to read,” Oliver adds as he moves in behind me.

I pull back, not far, but enough to glare up at him over my shoulder.

“Ew, no, that’s your job.”

“I meant me,” he says, rolling his eyes, and yeah, I guess that makes more sense.

I have a smart-ass response on the tip of my tongue, but before I can say it, the most beautiful sound fills the room.

Turning back to Kat, her smile is breathtaking as she looks between us.

“I missed you both so much.” Her last word catches, and a tear rolls down her face.

“We missed you too,” Oliver says as I gently brush her tear away with my thumb and get lost in those beautiful green eyes.

“Let her eat, boys,” Alex says as he comes into the room with a plate full of pancakes.

Are they pretty? No, but they look edible and smell like pancakes, so that’s something.

I wonder if that was what we smelled burning earlier. Honestly, I can’t say much; I’ve never made… anything on my own. Dale has worked here for at least the last twelve years, and before that we had a nanny who cooked for me and Oli while our fathers were at work.

Oliver moves to sit in the open chair to her left, and I press one last kiss to Kat’s stomach that earns me a tender smile. When I stand, I’m happy to find my father has moved from the chair he’d been in when we entered to sit down once more, leaving me free to sit to her left.

“How are you feeling? Any headaches? Did you sleep well?” Oliver asks her questions in near rapid-fire before I level him with a glare, and he snaps his mouth closed. “Sorry.”

I grab a few pancakes and drop them on her plate to butter and cut, then turn my attention to Oliver.

“I’m okay. My head is fine, but sleep was hard.” She rests her hand on his where it sits on the table, and I pause to watch his reaction.

Poor Oli freezes, his ears and cheeks blazing, his eyes wide in clear disbelief.

His eyes snap up to meet mine over her head, and I read his question loud and clear.