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Trey shrugs. “They must have forgotten to stop on their way home.”
“Did you say pie?” Kyle chimes in. “Weird, I haveplentyof them in my house.” He snags my hand in his and leads me toward his porch while calling out for Trey to come on.
“Did your mom make the pies?” I ask when we make it inside.
Kyle grins. “Would you think any different? I told you, I want to always impress you, not give you food poisoning.”
* * *
“I got you something,”Kyle says.
After we devoured the sweets Kyle had brought home from his family Christmas dinner, we went to the living room to watch Christmas movies.
He hops off the couch and walks barefoot to his bedroom while Trey snores in the background.
“You … you didn’t have to do that,” I say when he hands me a small box.
“I know I didn’t. Iwantedto.”
I stare at it, moving the box around and inspecting it, before undoing the bow. I gulp, unsure of why I’m so nervous about opening a present. It’s a jewelry box. My heart races when I pop it open.
Nestled inside is a necklace.
I pull it out, playing with the thin string, and inspect it. I cover my mouth to conceal my whimper, and tears flood my cheeks. On the necklace hangs a heart pendent that saysMotherand inscribed are Trey’s and Gloria’s names.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you,” I whisper.
Kyle’s face is filled with pride, and he nods toward Trey. “He helped me pick it out. He said he’s always seen you as his mother, not anyone else, and we knew nothing better would suit you.”
I frown, and he uses his thumb to gently rid me of my tears. “I didn’t buy you a gift.”
He tips his head down to kiss my lips. “Don’t worry,” he says against them in a low tone. “You can give me mine later.”
The thought of him touching me, of being in his bed, of us together again, sparks happiness inside me. If Trey wasn’t sleeping on the other side of the sectional, I’d be straddling Kyle right now.
I blush. “You can’t joke around about that even if he is asleep.”
He draws back with a grin. “Huh? I want a night full of you repeating you love meover and overagain. That’s what I want as my gift.”
I chuckle. “This conversation is mirroring one of those Hallmark movies we just watched.”
“I’ll take it because Hallmark movies always end up with a happily ever after.”
33
Chloe
Two Months Later
Even though today is Trey’s birthday, you’d think, with the excitement beaming from me, it was mine.
“It’s official,” Trey says. “You’re my mother.”
Tears fall from my eyes.
When we finally opened gifts on Christmas, Trey slipped me a letter, asking me to adopt him. Kyle talked to his parents, and Michael agreed to sign over custody to me. Trey still wants to get to know his family, but he wanted to make sure he was alwaysmy son. I’d been reluctant on adopting him for years in hopes that Claudia would change, but Trey deserves a good mother who loves and appreciates him.
I shut my eyes as a tear slips down my face. I wish I could’ve done the same for Gloria, wish I’d done it years ago. It’s bittersweet, celebrating being Trey’s parent while also wishing you could’ve done the same with his sister.
