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I thought about what my friends had said earlier in the shop, that I’d been in a funk since getting back from Hobie. It was true. I felt like I was missing something. Somethings.
Of course, I missed West terribly. His calm demeanor, his tender touch, his take-charge attitude. I missed Pippa with her chubby cheeks and chirpy waking-up sounds. I missed the crazy cowlick in the back of her hair that was going to drive her to drink when she grew up and tried to get it to stand down. I missed middle-of-the-night feedings when it was just us in the quiet house, rocking in her nursery and singing to her under my breath as she stared up at me dreamily.
I even missed the bakery. Painting cakes and brainstorming new ideas for designs the local customers and summer lake tourists would like. I’d gotten an email the day before from Rox with an update that things were running smoother now that we had a better bookkeeping system in place. She was happy managing it but said everyone had been asking about me since I’d left. It had taken all my self-control not to ask if she’d seen Pippa with the Warners.
As I fell asleep that night, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if I had everything I wanted. What would that look like? West would be there for sure. And Pippa. But picturing them here in the city with me didn’t feel right. They belonged in Hobie. And I knew deep down there was a part of me that belonged in Hobie too. After those weeks I’d spent back in my hometown, the only person who still gave me hell by the end of it was Curt, and he was never going to change. Most everyone else had been friendly and welcoming after the initial shock of my reappearance had worn off.
I finally fell asleep in the wee hours of the morning only to have to get up for a client appointment a few hours later. I mainlined caffeine and grabbed a quick protein bar breakfast before making my way downstairs to open the shop.
The first client was a repeat visit to add to a sleeve I’d been working on for him for a while. He was happy with the addition and walked up front to pay Coco on his way out. I took a chance to refill my coffee in the back room before coming up to the reception counter to see who I had next on the schedule.
Mike, Jax, and Coco were all standing by the front counter peering out through the glass door of the shop.
“What is it?” I asked, stretching my neck to see what they were looking at.
“Cute guy with a stroller,” Coco said. “Check it out.”
Just then, the bell dinged over the door and the cute guy walked into the shop.
Dr. Weston Wilde. With Pippa.
My heart leaped in my chest. He looked so handsome and strong. The beautiful man I’d resisted opening up to for so long. Just seeing him there took my breath away and did stupid things to my stomach. But he looked tired too. Most likely from trying to juggle his jobs along with a newborn. I’d been so selfish leaving her with him like I had.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, hurrying over to where he stood by the door and peeking down at her in the stroller. She looked happy as a clam, and I reached out to cup my hand over her little fuzzy head. “Is she okay? Why isn’t she with the Warners? What happened? It’s been three weeks, West. Did something happen? Did the adoption fall through?”
I couldn’t stop babbling out of fear something had gone wrong after I left. I’d been so selfish, leaving without saying a proper goodbye to him. But I’d thought he’d only have to have her a few days until the adoption went through. Maybe it was a sign. Maybe if the Warners hadn’t adopted her, it was a sign she was meant to be mine.
West opened his mouth, but before he had a chance to speak, I blurted, “I’ll take her. I’ll adopt her, West. Please tell me it’s not too late.”
“It’s not too late.” His face split into a grin as he stepped closer, arms reaching out to pull me in for a hug. How could that be? How could he possibly want to hug me after I’d been so awful to him?
Rather than looking a gift horse in the mouth, I stepped into his embrace and wrapped my arms around him to hold on tight. His arms came around me and pulled me in close. Good god, how I’d missed the two of them.
I inhaled his familiar smell and wanted to cry from the comfort of it. My face found his neck, and I reached out my lips to taste the skin there.
