Coop’s words ring true. And I watch Sawyer’s body language for a reaction but can’t pick up on one. Then they break apart, and Chloe darts into the room, drawing their attention to the doorway — and my presence.
“Hi, guys,” I say, walking into the room as if I didn’t just eavesdrop on the sweetest moment. Sawyer grabs his crutches and stands up, and when he turns to me, I see his eyes glistening.
Ohhh. There’s the reaction.I give him a private, loving smile as I squeeze his bicep and switch places with him on Coop’s bed.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” I ask my son, whose eyelids are already drooping. He nods slowly.
“G’night, Mom. Love you. G’night, Sawyer. Love you, too.”
“Love you, buddy.” I lean down to kiss his forehead, straighten his blanket, and move to stand. Sawyer’s standing there, awe written all over his face. Balancing on his good leg, he bends over and pushes back the hair on my son’s forehead.
“I love you, too, Coop.” His whisper is filled with so much joy, and I realize this is the first time he and Cooper have said those words.
Dang it, now I’m tearing up.
Sawyer and I make our way out of Cooper’s room, Chloe ambling behind us. Without a word, we settle on the couch in what’s become our typical nightly routine, Sawyer with his leg stretched out and me nestled in against his chest.
“I don’t know what to say,” he starts, his voice wavering. “Other than to say that was, hands down, one of the best moments of my life.” He inhales a shaky breath, his arms tightening around me. “Thank you for sharing your son with me.”
I break out of his hold and turn to straddle his lap, taking his face in my hands. Raw, unbridled love is shining out of every part of him and I hope he can see it echoed back from me. “There’s no one in this life I would rather share him with. He loves you, and I love you. You’ve completed our family puzzle when I was ready to live with a missing piece.”
Sawyer lets out a laugh. “That’s exactly how it feels for me. Like I was building a puzzle without knowing what the final picture would be, until I realized it was you. You and Cooper, with me forever.”
My head dips down and our lips meet in a kiss. “It only took one night with you to know you’d be etched into my heart and soul,” I murmur against his lips. “One night for you to win me forever.”
Showing off the strength that makes me feel safe and cherished, Sawyer surges up. “I need you, angel. I need to show you just how that makes me feel.”
I scramble off his lap, put Chloe in her crate as he grabs his crutches, and we move quickly and quietly to my bedroom. We learned our lesson the other night not to get too lost in each other while in the living room after Cooper came out for a drink of water and almost caught me with my shirt off.
But behind the locked door of my bedroom, my shirt isn’t the only thing that comes off.
Dogwood Cove’s Summer Solstice Festival is hands down my favourite part of moving to this town — after Sawyer, of course. It’s the perfect sunny day, not too hot, but warm enough for shorts and a sweater. The other day, when Sawyer asked Cooper if he wanted to take his spot in the fire truck for the parade, I thought my kid was going to faint with excitement.
“Really? Like, seriously? They wantmeto ride in the truck?” His eyes are as wide as saucers as he stares at Sawyer, who gives him a solemn nod.
“It’s a lot of responsibility. You have to sit safely and listen to the driver. But if you do that, I’ve heard he might let you turn on the lights and siren.”
“Or you can stay on the side and watch the parade with us if you’d prefer,” I tease, knowing exactly what kind of a response I’ll get.
Sure enough, he scoffs. “Yeah right, Mom.” He turns back to Sawyer. “This is so freaking cool. Thank you!”
They go through their high-five routine, which I’ve now seen enough times, I’m pretty sure I could do it myself.
When we show up at the fire station, there’s more surprises. Sawyer’s coworkers are waiting for Cooper with a DCFD T-shirt in his size. I stand to the side, watching my son beam with joy and pride as he basks in the attention of everyone. It’s what every kid deserves. To feel important, supported, and loved. And the man responsible for all of it is the man finally making me realize I deserve the same things.
He crutches over to me, a silly grin on his face. “Angel, you look like you’ve just seen heaven, but I’m still fully clothed.”
I choke out a laugh as he bends down slightly to kiss me. “You’re ridiculous.”
“But you love me.”
I nod as he kisses me again. “I really do.”
We step back and watch as Cooper and the firefighters load up, my kid enthusiastically waving out the window at us. They drive off to the parade staging area, and we make our own way back to my car and drive to the reserved parking spot next to Cam’s art studio. Beckett, Cam, and the rest of Sawyer’s family are waiting for us with a chair for Sawyer to sit in to watch the parade.
“Is Cooper excited?” Kat asks me, rubbing her giant belly.
I nod as I eye her stomach. “Absolutely thrilled. How are you doing? Maybe you need the chair more than Sawyer.”
