Cal appeared in the doorway.
“Kids okay?” I asked quietly as he sat carefully by my side, propping my legs on his lap.
He nodded. “You’re not resting enough,” he chastised me, his big strong hands gripping my feet and rubbing gently.
“I know,” I murmured. “I’ll try to stay off my feet more tomorrow.”
“You will. I’ll make sure of it,” he grumbled. “You feelin’ all right?”
“Yeah.” I sighed blissfully as he continued to rub my feet. “I’m really upset about missing Pipe and Ry’s wedding,” I admitted. “But also so glad to be home and to have us all under the same roof. The girls have been sending me pictures all night, so at least I sort of feel a part of things.”
Cal nodded. “I think the kids need you close right now. I know I do.”
As if on cue, out of the corner of my eye I could see Max inching down the hallway. I turned my head in that direction, calling to him softly, “Max? What is it, buddy? Come here.”
I sat up more fully against the headboard as he walked hesitantly in the room, looking so sweet in his Star Wars PJs. When his face crumpled unexpectedly, I opened my arms for him, relieved when he stepped right into them. I pulled him into my lap, his long legs spilling over as I shot a worried look to Cal.
“I thought you weren’t going to come back!” he wailed as I held him close.
“Oh, baby. I’ll always come back,” I murmured into his hair.
“Mommy didn’t.” He sniffed.
I struggled with the lump in my throat, looking at Cal for rescue, knowing I couldn’t speak. He placed a reassuring hand on Max’s back. “Bud, your mom loves you and your sister,” he explained. “But she needs help with some things. She’s going to get that help and your aunt and I are going to take care of you.”
“We love you and Emmie so much,” I put in as I kissed his head.
He pulled away to look at me with teary eyes. “Are we going to stay with you forever?”
I shot a quick look at Cal, who offered an infinitesimal nod. “We hope so,” I murmured, stroking his hair back from his face. He looked at me with huge, teary eyes. I could see guilt and confusion on his face that no boy his age should face. “It’s okay to miss her, bud,” I assured him, guessing at the source of his expression. “No matter what, she’ll always be your mom.”
“I do miss her sometimes, but I don’t think she loved us like you do.” He sniffled, sounding confused.
“Why would you think that?” I pressed gently.
“B-because you always feed us. You read us stories. You pick us up from school. You don’t forget us.” He rattled off the list. “You don’t sleep all the time.”
I blinked hard against the tears in my eyes.
“Your aunt does love you a lot, Max. So do I,” Cal murmured as he rubbed a hand over Max’s head. “It’s okay to miss your mom and be happy here at the same time. Does that make sense?”
Cal had zeroed in on the guilt I’d picked up in Max as well.
After a moment, Max nodded. “Are you going to be my new mom and dad?”
I hugged him close. “I can never replace your mom, honey,” I murmured. “But Cal and I want to be a family. And families come in all kinds of different ways,” I explained, hoping like hell that made sense.
“Okay,” he replied as he yawned huge. I knew that wouldn’t be the last of his questions, but there was only so much I wanted to lay on him at once.
“What do you say we get you to bed so you have lots of energy for tomorrow?” I suggested with a smile.
He nodded sleepily as Cal stood up. “Come on, bud. I’ll take you.” He hoisted Max up into his arms. Max was nearly too big to carry, but at times like this he seemed to want the comfort.
I watched as the two of them disappeared down the hall, Cal murmuring assurances to Max as they went.
Every time I thought it impossible to fall more in love with him, the man proved me wrong.
Chapter 30
