Page 140 of I Loved You First

“What do the words say?”

“Maybe we can sit on the couch so I can read them to you.”

“Okay.” He scrambled out of his seat, walking to sit next to her on two of the center cushions.

Clearing her throat, she pressed her hand to her stomach, suddenly feeling nervous. “Coming to Vermont this summer was my very favorite thing. I saw your dad for the first time in a long, long time, and I had the chance to meet you.”

Brady nodded. “At Ms. Stella’s house when I rolled down the window on Grammy’s work truck.”

She smiled. “That’s right.”

“You shook my hand.”

She chuckled, remembering the moment as he did. “I did.”

“That’s when I knew you were beautiful. And you smell beautiful, too.”

“Aw,” she said as her heart melted. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I love that I got to spend so much time with you and your dad,” Fiona continued. “When you hurt your wrist and I took care of you while your dad went to work, I had a lot of fun having adventures with you.”

He smiled. “We went to the party store a lot. And we made a party for me and Owen and Davis. We made a rainbow arch with the balloons.”

She nodded. “You were a great helper.”

“You were a great helper, too. With my Legos and teaching me to be a chef.”

She grinned, certain Brady couldn’t be any cuter. “You’re an excellent chef.”

He nodded. “When we make Leo’s cookies, I am.”

“Absolutely.” She cleared her throat again as she glanced at the picture. “When I had to go away to Seattle, I missed you a lot.”

Brady’s brow furrowed. “You felt sad?”

She nodded. “I was very sad. I didn’t like that I didn’t get to see you and your dad anymore.”

“I didn’t like that either. But now you live with us in Vermont.”

“And I feel so happy that I do.”

“Me too.”

“I made this picture because I like to think about our special family.”

He nodded. “You and me and Dad.”

“That’s right,” she said as she nodded again. “I wrote some words that say, ‘Can I be your mom?’”

His gaze whipped up to meet hers. “You want to be my mom?”

She nodded. “I would like that very much.”

He gained his feet, standing in front of her. “That way I would have a dad and a mom?”

She nodded again.