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Hadley nodded and concentrated as she started slowly in an overly exaggerated way. I knew she wanted to surprise her father.
Hadley spoke the notes as she played them. “EEE. EEE. EGC, DE.”
I glanced at Aiden and winked. Then, with a small nudge from me, Hadley started playing the version I’d taught her, while I accompanied by adding a bit of boogie-woogie. Patty squealed in delight as Lance took her hand and they started to dance.
Hadley wore a wide grin on her face as she focused on playing. She’d been working hard on the song the last few weeks, and it hadn’t been easy for her to focus while I was playing a different complementary tune.
As the song came to an end, Hadley dropped her hands and I took over, playing “Silent Night” as Aiden picked up Hadley and they danced next to Patty and Lance. When that song was over, I stood, and Hadley ran over to me and hugged me around my legs.
“Thank you for making this the bestest Christmas ever, Emma! I love you!”
Sinking down to her level, I smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “Thank you for making it so special. I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life.”
“Neither will I.”
When she hugged me, I looked over to Aiden, who smiled and mouthedI love you.
It was in that moment that I knew without any doubt, my life would forever be filled with love and happiness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
AIDEN - THE NEXT CHAPTER
Hadleyand I sat on the large deck that overlooked the mountain range of the Rocky Mountain National Park. She’d been unusually quiet since we’d arrived yesterday, and at first, I thought it was just because she’d been busy with Emma, getting ready for the wedding.
“Did you want to talk about anything, Hadley?” I asked her, as I leaned forward and rested my arms on my legs.
She smiled, but her eyes looked serious. My little girl seemed so much older in that moment. “I don’t know how to ask you something.”
My goodness, how was it my six-year-old daughter sounded sixteen? “Hadley, you can always ask me anything. Always.” Taking her hand in mine, I turned her to face me.
“I want to call Emma ‘mommy’. But I don’t want to hurt your feelings or make Mommy up in Heaven angry.”
Smiling, I gave her hand a light squeeze. “When Emma first came into our lives, I was so worried you would forget your mother. Make you think I was trying to replace her with Emma.Then one day, Emma told me she had no intentions of trying to replace your mom, and she would do everything in her power—along with me, your grandparents, and our friends—to help keep your mother’s memory alive for you.
“Hadley, your mother will always be a part of your life, right here.” I pointed to her heart. “And right here,” I added, as I motioned to my own chest. “Emma is also a part of our lives, and she loves you like you’re her very own little girl. If you want to call her mommy, I know she’ll be so happy.”
“And your feelings won’t be hurt?”
“No, baby. I want you to do what your heart tells you to do.”
She nodded, and a single tear slipped free. “Mommy in Heaven won’t be mad, will she?”
I pulled Hadley into my arms and held her close. “I promise you; she won’t be mad. She’s looking down on you right now, and she issohappy that you have Emma in your life. And Emma will always make sure your mommy in Heaven is a part of things. Like on your birthday, when she taught you that special song to play in honor of your mommy?”
Hadley nodded. “It was a special song just for her. And Emma put a picture of Mommy on the piano so when I play, I can see her.”
“And does that make you happy?” She nodded. “I’m sure it makes your mommy in Heaven happy too.”
“So, I can start calling Emma mommy now, or when you get married tomorrow?”
I nodded. “I’ll leave that up to you. You call her mommy whenever your heart tells you to start calling her mommy.”
A wide smile broke free. “It’s telling me to call her mommy now!”
Laughing, I said, “Well, I think she’s upstairs.”
Without another word, Hadley climbed out of my lap and raced into the house. She ran past my mother and up the steps.
