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Landon gives me one last peck on the mouth. He holds his thumb against my lips and answers for me. “Yes, Jacob. Your mom says it’s all right.”
“Thank you!” His little feet run off.
He brushes his thumb across my lips as the heat between us lingers. I want to open my mouth and taste his skin. I can tell I’m not the only one who feels this way. His eyes and his body against mine tell me so. “I should finish preparing dinner,” I say to get out of the room with the bed before my mother comes knocking next.
“You’re not cooking tonight. You and Jacob can be my audience. You need a break. Relax. I got this.”
He leads me out, sits me in the kitchen to watch, and even pulls a chair out for my mother while he makes Jacob his sous chef. And hilarity ensues. My mother can’t even keep a straight face with those two in the kitchen: Julia Child—high-pitched voice included— meets The Little Rascals.
Dinner ended up being pretty good. Landon even got Jacob to eat all his vegetables. He leaned over and whispered something in his ear, and that was it. I don’t know what he told him. They refused to tell me, but Jacob was happy. The only awkward part of the night was when Jacob asked, ‘if a woman sees a man in their underwear, does that mean they get married?’ That had all our eyes bugging out, my mother giving us pointed looks.
The end of the night was the best part for me. My mother left right after dinner. Landon insisted on doing the dishes while I helped Jacob take a bath and get into his Teen Titans jammies. The three of us snuggled up on the couch, Jacob between us, and my head resting on Landon’s broad strong shoulders. We end the night watching a movie, like a family. For tonight that’s what I want, and I have. It makes the whole world feel better, like a place where dreams do come true as long as you have them and you’re willing to make a wish.
While Lacey and Jacob aresleeping, I manage to slip outside without waking them to make a phone call. It’s been killing me to do this since she told me about what went on at the supermarket. I call Bree, and I let her have it.
“You didn’t tell them to say anything but you’re not doing anything to change what they’re thinking either.”
“Not my fault. People are going to think what they want to think, Landon, regardless of what I say. Your girlfriend will just have to deal with it.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Make me. I would like to understand why her over us. Your son. You’re not here to tuck him in tonight, not because you’re working, because you’re spending time with another woman, playing daddy to her child.”
“That’s the kind of talk Jackson doesn’t need to hear. He’s a smart kid. He picks up on things easily. Don’t poison his mind against her. You’ll not only hurt me, you’ll hurt him. Whether you like it or not, she’s going to be in his life.”
I cut the phone off, shoving it in my pocket, done with the conversation. Anything else she has to say is going to anger me more. I want to spend the rest of the night with the woman I love in my arms. I needed to put Bree on notice not to let this lie about Lacey spread further without being checked when it comes up.
Watching them sleep, snuggled close together, puts a smile on my face. Something I thought couldn’t or wouldn’t ever be possible six years ago. It feels like a lifetime ago.
Picking him up, head on my shoulder, I place him on his bed under the covers. He stirs and opens his eyes a crack. His raspy, sleep-filled voice makes me smile, but his words seal the deal. “I’m happy you’re here, Landon. I like it. You make Mommy happy.” His eyes close, and he rolls over back to sleep.
God. This kid can own my heart as much as Jackson. He really is a special kid. She did that—the beauty inside her.
Resuming my position on the couch, I put my arms around her. Half-sleeping, she rests her head on my chest. I relax in the simple pleasure of touching her, stroking her hair, sliding through my fingers, fine and soft, her mint julep shampoo filling my nostrils, almost completely content.
I kiss her forehead. The only thing missing is Jackson.
