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“Absolutely not,” Quinn said.
I touched Noah on the hip. “Quinn’s a millionaire,” I deadpanned.
Noah tilted his chin—God, I loved stubborn-Noah. “It would be our gift to you.”
As Levi and Quinn prepared to leave, Connor drifted closer, though he still kept a respectful distance. “Everything good here?” he asked, his tone casual, but his eyes scanning the area.
“All good, Connor. Thanks,” I responded.
Levi clapped a hand on Connor’s shoulder. “Don’t work too hard, man.”
Connor grunted, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Someone’s got to keep an eye on things.”
With a last wave, Levi and Quinn wandered off, pastries in hand, blending into the crowd. Connor lingered for a moment longer, ensuring everything was indeed okay before he, too, melted away into the festival.
Watching them go, Noah turned to me. “A cake,” he said. “A wedding cake.”
“The best one ever,” I said.
Noah wrinkled his nose. “No pressure, then.”
As the day progressed, the festival continued in full swing. I spent time at the stall with Noah, helping where I could, and watching Fox and his friends enjoy the festival. There was a sense of community and togetherness that made Whisper Ridge feel like more than just a place to live. It was my home, and Noah fit into it so perfectly.
When the day wound down, and the crowds started to thin, I was aching and tired, but happy, and as we packed up the diner’s stall, I looked over at Noah and saw the fatigue mixed with satisfaction on his face. “Great job today,” I said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
He smiled, a little tired, but happy. “Thanks. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
When there was nothing else to do, we headed home in the rain, a welcome change from the ice and snow, although just as wet. Fox, Clarke, and now Ainsley, were in tow, as the boys were having their first sleepover with us.
As we walked in, the boys started making plans for the night, and they practically bounded up the stairs in a whirl of energy and chatter.
Noah and I exchanged amused glances, following them at a more leisurely pace—I know I was exhausted, and Noah hadn’t stopped since five this morning. “I’m glad Ainsley’s here,” I commented, as the boys’ laughter echoed down the stairs.
Noah chuckled. “Snacks for them, then I’m dying on the sofa.”
In the kitchen, Noah and I busied ourselves preparing snacks for the boys—a mix of healthy options and a few treats, knowing all too well the appetite of growing teenagers. We worked in comfortable silence, occasionally sharing a smile or a quick kiss, still riding the high from the successful day at the festival.
Once the snacks were ready, Noah called the boys down, and they retrieved them. “Don’t stay up too late,” Noah warned them with a mock-stern expression.
“We won’t, promise,” Fox replied, the very picture of innocence before he went back upstairs, and then, it was the two of us, and a sofa that called to us.
It felt good to have the house filled with such energy and laughter. We settled in the living room; he helped me take off my prosthetic, chattering about the wedding cake, and then, a comfortable silence enveloped us as we curled up on the sofa in each other’s arms listening to the rain.
It was moments like these, simple and unassuming, I cherished the most. The laughter from upstairs, the warmth of home, and Noah’s company were a reminder of the importance of family—whether born or found.
As the evening wore on, the sounds from upstairs grew quieter, signaling that the boys had succumbed to sleep or were playing games.
It was a perfect end to a wonderful day, and as I sat there with Noah, I felt like everything was complete.
“I’d like three flavors in our wedding cake,” I murmured, “Lemon for sure, chocolate with that chili, I think, and then one I don’t even know about that you surprise me with.”
Noah stiffened in my arms, then wriggled free and straddled my lap.
“‘Our wedding cake’?” he asked.
I realized what I’d said without even trying. “Yeah, ours. What flavor would the layers be?”
He blinked at me, but didn’t look shocked, instead he smiled. “The lemon sponge cake? I’d infuse it with freshly grated lemon zest and a hint of vanilla, and between the layers, a tangy lemon curd would add a burst of citrus.”
