Page 132 of Merging Wright

“And it will be difficult to be separated from you at times.”

Jane’s hand retracts, but I catch it and place it back on my chest, pressing my hand over hers.

“But I’ve seen how Tucker and Mae make things work. He’s never been happier, and neither have I.” I sweep her hair around her ear. “You want to be here. I want to be with you. Tucker and I can work it out.”

Jane scoots close to me, shifting the blanket around her as her legs hook over mine. With my hands around her lower back, I tug her even closer.

“I want this partnership more than anything.” Jane runs a hand down my cheek and cups my chin.

“So, a snowman family?” I arch one brow.

“I can’t believe we’re really doing this. That you’d do this for me.” Excitement fills her voice while her eyes search mine. “And you’re certain? About the occasional distance?”

“Not going to lie.” Mach scratches under his bristly chin. “I hate that we’ll spend nights apart. I’ll miss out on a few things down here once in a while. But I don’t want you to give up your dream. And I want to be part of that dream. Here or anywhere.”

Jane braces a palm on either side of my face and leans forward, but I have one more thing to say and press a finger to her lips before she kisses me. “I never would have compromised like this when I was younger, but I’m older and wiser, and committed to you, my acushla. I can’t live without you, so I’ll live however we can.”

“Thank you for making all this happen. For making my dreams come true,” she whisper-sobs. “If you hadn’t proposed that I pretend to be your wife, I wouldn’t have ever been in Wrightwood. Then we wouldn’t have fallen in love and ended up right here.”

“And where are we at, Mrs. Wright?” My arms tighten around her, and I look around the room lit by a Christmas tree and containing only a dollhouse.

“We’re home, Mr. Wright.” Jane closes the distance between us, kissing me soft and long. “Our home.”

“Home,” I mutter to her lips, wearing my kiss. “You are my home, Jane. Small town. Big city. You are it, baby.”

“I love you so much, Mach.”

“I love you, too.”

And then we christen our new living room as we’ve done everywhere else.

Epilogue

Two months later

Playlist: “Lover” – Taylor Swift

[Jane]

Willow and I have the music cranked up, and our dance moves down as we skid around the kitchen. She isn’t officially our child yet, but she’s living with us. Landon helped us follow the proper channels for legal guardianship, which Theo willingly signed over to Mach and me. With the pressure off, Theo has turned into an incredible pseudo-granddad, taking Willow on ice cream dates and skating trips. He even took her to get her ears pierced. Willow doesn’t spend the night at his place, but he spends time at ours, sharing dinner once a week with us.

Willow sings along with Taylor Swift and lifts her hands in the air as she wiggles her little hips. I join her, lifting my hands as well and sashay around the table. I spin in a circle and screech at the man leaning against the doorjamb.

“Jesus,” I hiss.

“I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Big Mac,” Willow shrieks and rushes to him.

He bends and lifts her into the air, rubbing his nose against hers. “Did you grow again? I swear you get bigger every single time I’m out of town.”

Mach was scheduled to be in Chicago for three days, and he wasn’t due home until tomorrow night.

With Willow appeased by his greeting, she wiggles in his arms, and he sets her down.

“Mr. Wright,” I say, stepping up to him.

He tugs me to his chest. “I swear every time I’m away from you, I miss you more.” He breathes into my neck as we hug.