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Completely.

Jude crouches just in time for her to throw herself at him, and his arms close around her as he lifts her off the ground. The quiet expression he wears most of the time disappears, replaced by a smile so open and full of love that for a second I just stare.

“Hey, princess.”

She wraps both arms around his neck. “You didn’t come see me yesterday.”

“Worked late.”

“That’s not an excuse.”

Jude looks over her shoulder at Ethan. “Wonder where she gets that from.”

Ethan grins. “Good parenting.”

“Mama says you’re stubborn,” the little girl informs Jude.

Everyone laughs.

“And that,” Summer says as she comes closer, “is my daughter, Mia.”

“I know.” I smile at her. “I’ve heard about you.”

Mia’s eyes widen. “From who?”

“Damiano.”

Her little eyebrows pull together.

“Who’s Damiano?”

My heart catches, but before I can answer, Jude shifts beside her.

“My best friend.”

Mia looks up at him. “The one who died?”

Jude nods. “Yeah, princess.”

Her eyes come back to me, and something clicks in her expression. “Oh. You’re his wife.”

“I am.”

Jude sets her down, and she studies me for a second before smiling. “How did he know about me if I didn’t know him?”

And somehow that question makes me smile too.

“Because your uncles talked about you. And he still talked to them.”

“What did he say?”

“That you were a princess.”

Mia’s entire face lights up. “I am.”

Ethan points at her from across the yard. “See? Smart man.”

Summer laughs. “You’re the reason she thinks she’s royalty.”