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I let out a sigh. I needed to focus on the good, which was the upcoming weekend with Lincoln and Piper. I was excited to get some quality time on our own without Tim and Emily even though I enjoyed their company. Nothing could compare to spending time alone with Lincoln and our daughter.
Once we finalized the plans for Piper to stay the weekend with us, Lincoln decided to get a rental home close to the farm. He’d been renting a place with Amber before they’d split, but she moved back to her parents, so they terminated their lease a few weeks after their breakup.
Even though we hadn’t talked about it, I could tell Lincoln wanted me to move in with him. He made sure I’d had input on the furniture, location, and every other decision he made regarding the house. He knew my work was coming to a close and that I’d be making my decision soon, so I figured he was trying to do everything he could to influence my choice.
But spending weekends together was one thing. Moving in was a completely different story, and I knew I wasn’t ready for that step yet. If I did decide to stay, I would get my own place.
Lincoln and I sat on the porch swing Friday evening as we waited for Tim and Emily to drop off Piper. He had his arm around me as we slowly swung, and his fingers danced over my skin. “Nervous?”
“More like anxious,” I replied. We’d spent the past couple of weeks getting the house ready for Piper’s visit, and I wanted everything to be perfect for our weekend together.
“When are you not anxious?” Lincoln teased.
I smacked him on the chest, and he chuckled. He was right, but I wouldn’t admit it to him.
Tim and Emily’s car turned down the gravel drive, and I hopped up, excited to get our weekend started. Lincoln followed me as I trotted down the porch steps to wait for them to pull up.
Piper bounded out the door as soon as the car stopped. She threw her arms around me in a hug, and my heart soared. I loved her displays of affection, which were becoming more frequent the more time we spent together. “Hi, sweetie.”
She hugged Lincoln next, and seeing them together was even more touching to me. He would’ve been a wonderful father, and I wished I would’ve listened to him back then and trusted in him, in us.
“Hey, sweet pea,” Lincoln greeted, hugging Piper tight.
Emily and Tim approached, and I hugged each of them. I could tell they were nervous by their tight smiles and stiff posture.
Lincoln came up and shook Tim’s hand. “Y’all excited for your weekend getaway?”
Emily had told me over the phone that they had booked a beach resort in the Florida Keys for the weekend. The excitement in her voice had been evident, even through the phone.
“Yes!” Emily answered. “We can’t wait.”
Tim’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure this is okay? We can reschedule if you’ve changed your mind.”
I chuckled. “Everything will be fine. You go and enjoy yourselves.”
Emily exhaled a breath, her eyes fluttering closed for a few seconds before darting back and forth between Lincoln and me. “Thank you so much for this. We really need a vacation.”
I put my arm around Piper and smiled at her adoptive parents. “We’re going to have a great time. You should, too.”
Lincoln playfully shooed them away. “Stop wasting time and get outta here! You’ll be back before you know it.”
Tim and Emily chuckled, then each gave Piper a hug. Tim handed Lincoln a purple backpack before saying their final goodbyes and returning to their car. We waved as they backed down the dirt drive until they reached the main road.
I looked at Piper, almost unable to contain my excitement. “Let’s get you settled. I can’t wait for you to see your room.”
Lincoln and I led her to the room we’d set up for her. He’d rented a cozy two bedroom a couple of miles from his parents that was exactly what we needed. I was sick of my hotel room and enjoyed the privacy that his parents’ house didn’t offer.
Piper’s room was a light shade of periwinkle, and we’d bought a daybed with a white wood frame with an antique look that fit the room perfectly. I’d picked out a sheet set with teal and purple polka dots that I thought was adorable but not too childish. We’d also set up a bookshelf and compiled all of our books and stuffed animals from our childhood in it for Piper.
Lincoln set her backpack on her bed. “This is your room. Hope you like it.”
Piper smiled, then made a beeline for the bookshelf. She grabbed my raggedy teddy bear and held it up. “This looks old.”
Lincoln chuckled, and I shot him a glare. I walked over to her and patted the teddy bear on the head. “This was my teddy bear when I was a little girl. All of these books and stuffed animals were your dad’s or mine.”
She glanced back at the bookshelf. “Really? These are all yours?”
Lincoln joined us and ruffled her hair. “Yep, and we wanted you to have them.”
