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Half a minute later, Asa was back in the living room, and his mom and Lyric were composing themselves. His mom piled photos into a box, while Lyric straightened photo albums into another.
Asa sat on the couch. “What’s all this?”
Lyric brushed her hair away from her face as she handed him a photo. “We found this one of Jacob.”
Asa chuckled as he looked at the memory. Jacob was probably two in the photo. Danielle had put him in the bath and walked back into the bedroom to get his pajamas. When she returned, she found Jacobstanding outside the tub with his arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face. “He hated bath time.”
“Then he found out that he hated being dirty more than he hated bath time,” Asa’s mom said.
Lyric looked at the albums on the floor beside her. “We’re organizing photos for Jacob. He told me he’s forgetting her.”
Asa’s chest tightened. Lyric didn’t have to say the name. They talked about Danielle from time to time, but Asa hadn’t thought about Jacob’s own memories of his mom.
“So, you’re doing this for him?” Asa asked.
His mother pushed to her feet with a groan. “We have to move this party to the kitchen table next time. My old body can’t sit on the floor.”
“Sorry. I should have thought of that before I started unpacking them in here,” Lyric said.
Lyric had initiated this project? Danielle was a part of Asa’s past just as much as Lyric’s mistakes were a part of hers, but she didn’t seem uncomfortable with either topic anymore.
“Lyric, you want some hot tea?” his mother asked as she waddled to the kitchen, rubbing her hips.
“Sure, thanks.”
Asa hummed. “Should I be offended that she didn’t offer me any?”
Lyric climbed onto the couch beside him andplayfully swatted his chest. “No. We all know you think her hot tea is gross. I happen to like it.”
Asa wrapped his arms around Lyric, and she nestled close to his chest. “Is it weird that you’re so much like my mom?”
“Not at all. I love her, and she’s mine. You can’t have her back.”
The L word caught him off guard, and he stopped rubbing her back.
Lyric tensed. “Sorry. I was just–”
“It’s fine. I love that you love my mom.” It made his heart pound like a jackhammer, but it was true. He was glad Lyric loved his family. They loved her too. He was sure of it. Himself included.
If someone had told him two months ago that he was going to meet a woman who would turn his life upside down the way Lyric had, he’d have laughed them out of Wyoming. But the joke was on him. He’d fallen hard, and there wasn’t anything he could do to stop it. He didn’t want to.
“I really do,” Lyric said softly. “I–”
“I love you.” Asa blurted the words–fast and bold.
Lyric pushed off his chest and straightened. The dumbfounded look on her face would have been funny if he wasn’t still waiting to see if she’d run.
“I love you too.” Her words were shaky but sure. “I love you. I love you and Jacob and Betty.” Tearspooled in her eyes, as she pressed a hand to her mouth.
Asa halted her quick words with a kiss. He hadn’t expected to love again, but Lyric made it easy. She was selfless and helpful. She was good to Jacob, and she didn’t take anything for granted.
When the kiss ended, Lyric swallowed hard. “I love you.”
Asa smiled as warmth filled his chest. “I love you too.”
Lyric smiled, but her chin trembled. “I never expected someone to say that to me.”
“What? I love you?”
