Page 115 of Alec’s Dream

My mother’s swift intake of oxygen made my gaze jerk to her. She stared at my dad with a look I’d seen many times over my life—unquestionable adoration. I’d seen my father return that look just as many times.

And every time I witnessed it, I’d coveted it, wished beyond wishing I’d find it. Then it dawned on me, I did have that, or a slightly different version of it.

“Alec?” Rory called, breaking the tension.

“Yeah, doll?”

“Can I come outside, too?”

I bit back my need to correct Rory and held my breath. I figured Alec wanted time with just Caleb and my dad, but I doubted he’d tell her no.

“If you want, too. But it’s cold outside, so you need to get your hat and gloves and bundle up.” Rory’s nose started to scrunch. Alec didn’t miss much, therefore he wouldn’t have missed my daughter’s serious aversion to the cold. “Or you can stay in the house where it’s nice and warm and visit with your grandma. I know you missed her.”

“Maybe I’ll stay inside. I can help with Jossy.”

“I’d appreciate that. You know how much Jocelyn loves playing with you.”

“Well played,” I whispered to Alec before I checked the time. “Actually, sweetheart, we should wake up Joss now.”

“Caleb, give me a minute with Joss, yeah?”

“Sure. Gramps and I will wait.”

Alec took off in the direction of the stairs and I was left not knowing what to say or if I should say anything at all.

“Um…” I started, then stopped because I was at a loss for words.

“I like him,” my mom announced.

“Hey, my sweet girl.” Alec’s voice cooed over the baby monitor.

I started to move to the kitchen table to turn it off when Alec continued.

“Did you have a good day, princess?”

“Dada!”

Jocelyn’s excited squeal made me smile. Boy, did that girl love her daddy.

“I missed you today.”

I picked up the monitor, heard Alec giving Joss kisses, making her giggle, and my heart soared.

“Mama!”

“She’s downstairs, baby. Let Daddy get you changed.”

“Yes!”

“Know how you feel, darlin’. I don’t like to be away from her either.”

I sucked in a breath and turned off the sound.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. Both of my parents had heard Jocelyn call me mama. I tried to explain it away, even though I didn’t try all that hard when I told them Jocelyn was trying to say Macy. That had been proven false, but my parents didn’t know that. And I didn’t want them to be upset. But the truth was, I loved that Joss called me mama. I loved that she and I had a bond that was ours.

And every day I spent with her, the more she felt like mine.

Ball tossing in the backyard had been a success. So had the meet the parents portion of the evening, which had quickly turned into family time complete with laughing and story time. Dinner had been eaten, dishes done, Jocelyn had been as cute as she could be, meaning both my parents were completely in love with her.