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“Yeah, that. What did you see on Mitch’s face when he told you how he feels?”
“I… I don’t know…” she began crossly before Annie’s words sank in.
Mitch’s face… It wasn’t difficult to conjure up his features, to see his even, smooth brows, slanting eyes, slim nose, strong chin—all indicative of someone who was confident, had self-control, had a strong character—things she’d noticed before, but what she hadn’t seen, hadn’t wanted to see, to be exact, was the expression in his eyes last night.
She’d seen that look on every picture she’d taken of him, and she’d seen it when they’d made love. Mitch really loved her, and he wanted to be with her. That was what he’d said. That was what his face, his eyes had told her. What was more, he got her, he really understood her, and he loved her anyway, oddities and all. He knew the kinds of clothes she loved to wear, he knew how much her family meant to her, he’d figured out she was an introvert, and he knew exactly how to make love to her.
“He… loves me as I am,” she whispered.
“Of course, he does. And could I just add—we’ve all fallen in love with you and Dylan. We’re a family and families should be together.”
Before Riley could answer, her bedroom door opened and Dylan stormed in. “Where is Mitch? He’s not in his room? Mommy?” Dylan’s lip quivered. “I want Mitch; where is Mitch?”
“Mitch has left, sweetie…”
To her utter dismay, Dylan burst into tears. “But he… he was supposed to be my Christmas m’racle. Aunt Janice said…” More tears rolled down his cheeks.
Christmas miracle? What was her little boy talking about?
“I’m here to help. Let me know if I can help with the Christmas miracle, okay?” Annie said before she ended the call.
Putting her phone down, Riley reached out to Dylan. “Come here, sweetie. What Christmas miracle are you talking about?”
“I wanted Uncle Mitch to be your husband, so that he can be my daddy. I even asked Santa! But now he’s gone, and I won’t get my Christmas m’racle.” And sobbing, he leaned against Riley.
Her own eyes wet with tears, Riley hugged her little boy close. She remembered Dylan whispering to Aunt Janice his secret. So, getting Mitch for his dad was what he’d wanted.
“You know what?” she sniffled. “It’s not Christmas yet.”
Dylan sat up, tears forgotten. “You mean Mitch could still be your husband and my dad?”
Shaking her head, she laughed through her tears. “I don’t think that will happen, sweetie, but maybe we could all live together in one house. I’ll have to ask him.”
Dylan’s eyes widened. “In Marietta? So I can go to school with Aunt Janice? And we can go and skate? And… and…”
Swallowing back her tears, Riley hugged her son. “Not so fast. I’ll have to talk to Uncle Mitch first. You see, I think I’ve hurt him…”
Inhaling sharply, Dylan stared at her. “Did you hit him? You said we’re not s’posed to hurt other people!”
“I know, sweetie, I know. I’ll have to apologize to him, I just don’t know whether he’ll accept my apology, but I’ll try, I promise.”
“He will,” Dylan said. “I’ll also tell him you’re sorry.”
Laughing through her tears, she gave him another hug before she jumped out of bed. “We have a lot of things to do. But first, there is a story I have to read, and then I have to call a few people. I’ll make breakfast, and then you can tell me what you want to watch on television.”
Dylan’s eyes widened. “On a school day?”
“Sometimes it’s okay.”
Nodding, Dylan slid off the bed. “That’s what Mitch said.”
“Really?”
By the time Dylan had finished telling her about everything Mitch had done, Riley was ready to get on the first plane to Marietta. But there were things to be done, people to phone.
Chapter Eighteen
Mitch got homelate from school on Wednesday. He’d only arrived back late the day before as he couldn’t get an earlier flight.
