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“You got rid of her stuff?” I ask Dallas, guilt seeping through me. Forcing his hand to do this wasn’t what I wanted. “I swear, my intentions weren’t for you to eraseher.”
“I didn’t eraseher.”
He holds his hand to his heart while mine pounds. He’s no longer wearing his wedding ring. Hasn’t been for a few weeks, but I haven’t questioned him about it. I wasn’t sure if he did it to make me happy, or because he wanted to forhimself.
Now I know it’s because he wantedto.
“No matter what, Lucy will always have a spot in my heart,” he goeson.
I nod. I don’t want him to lose thateither.
“It was time I did it. I can’t keep living in the past, especially when it was destroying my happy future. It was hell, don’t get me wrong, pushing myself to do something I should’ve done months ago. I waited until I was ready, so thank you for giving me time to do that. I went through everything with Maven. She chose the stuff she wanted to keep, and then Lucy’s family came over for their ownkeepsakes.”
I sit down on the bed and trace my fingers over the new white bedspread. “Just don’t kick me out of this bed,okay?”
He smirks. “Sweetheart, the only reason I’d kick you out of this bed is to fuck you on thefloor.”
I stand up to wrap my arms around his neck. He did all of this for me. Opened his heart back up for me. He wants to make a home with me and have a family together because he lovesme.
I lovehim.
I’m tired of running from it. Tired of fighting. I have to be strong and honest for our baby, for ourselves, for the six-year-old girl who made me aWelcome Homesign, which is displayed on the frontdoor.
“I love you,” I whisper into hismouth.
“There it is.” He grins. “And I loveyou.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Dallas
Four MonthsLATER
The ear-blasting cryis music to myears.
A sound I was afraid I wouldn’t hear. I put the sadness that there should be two in the back of my mind. I won’t let that loss interfere with the bliss of thismoment.
No surprise to me, Willow was a fucking trooper. She spent ten hours in labor and didn’t complain once. All that was on her mind was the excitement of meeting our baby mixed with worry that it might not happen. I stayed by her side the entire time, not moving once, because I didn’t want to miss a thing. She needed to know I was with her on this all theway.
Our life has turned into a whirlwind of changes. Willow has moved in, but nothing has changed in the Barnes’ household. It feels like she’s been there forever. I was anxious at the beginning, given our history there, but losing our baby has taught us to cherish everymoment.
Fuck the pettyshit.
Fuckrunning.
Fuck beingafraid.
His wails calm when Aidan hands him, wrapped in his blanket, to Willow. My breathing halts when she situates him in her arms, already comfortable with how he likes to be cradled, and she plays with his tiny hand while whispering tohim.
I stare at them with compassion. With happiness. Withlove.
As much as I want to have my turn, I wait until she’s ready. She deservesthis.
My heart thrashes against my chest when she stares up at me with wet eyes. She moves her arm, shifting toward me, and I waste no time in scooping him up. He’s perfect—from his full head of dark hair to his button nose—and he’s squirming like a fish out ofwater.
I’m ready to take him home. To show him the nursery we’ve been working on for months. To give him love everyday.
Aidan heard a heartbeat during every ultrasound, but the thought of losing our baby still hung over our headsdaily.
