Then she moved.
She didn’t say anything.
She walked around the desk, closing the distance between us without hesitation.
Her fingers slipped into my hair, grounding, steadying.
And then she kissed me.
Everything in me went still.
“I love you too,” she murmured against my mouth.
Relief crashed through me so completely that it almost felt like weakness. I pulled her into me, lifting her easily onto my lap, holding her like I needed to confirm she was real.
That she was staying.
“That settles it,” I said, voice quieter now but steadier. “You are staying.”
She nodded. And kissed me again. It was soft and certain. It was a choice.
“This is crazy,” she whispered.
A faint smile touched my mouth.
“No,” I replied. “This is the only thing that makes sense.”
She laughed softly, the sound easing something deep in my chest.
I brushed my thumb along her jaw, studying her for a moment before continuing.
“Speaking of things that should make sense,” I said carefully, “this is entirely your decision?—”
She tilted her head slightly.
“I was wondering if you might consider having your father stay here.”
She stilled.
“We can hire full-time care,” I continued. “A nurse. Support staff. Whatever is required. He would remain close to you. Safe.”
I held her gaze.
“But if you believe assisted living is the better environment, then we maintain that. This is not a directive.”
It wasn’t. Not this time. “This is your call.”
She didn’t respond with words.
Instead, she kissed me again.
That felt like an answer.
44
BELLE
It had been a week since the hill. Since the storm. Since everything almost fell apart, we put it back together.
