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“I wasn’t a hundred percent sure he liked me for me, or if it was because I was in charge of his investigation.” Her words came out in a hushed whisper.
“What?” He took a step back from her. How could she have not known what he was feeling for her was genuine?
“What Investigation? Are you a killer or something? I knew there was something off about him.” Emma said sarcastically from behind her mother.
“Stop, Emmaline,” Sera whispered, ignoring most of what her daughter said. “Sorry, Harrison.” Her eyes locked with his in a silent plea for forgiveness.
“How could you believe that?” He was trying to control his anger but knew he was failing.
She finally turned to him. “How? Because until the investigation started, you had no interest in me at all. We had known each other for ten years and suddenly, you didn’t hate me? Hard not to separate the two.”
“Then why did you …” He stopped and looked at his mom and then his daughters, who were watching him in interest. Too much interest.
“Because I have loved you for most of my life and for a moment, I wanted you to love me too. I was selfish. Which is why I never told you about the girls. I was selfish and wanted to have a part of you in my life … even when you hated me,” Sera said as tear ran down her cheek. Then she turned, and Emma stepped away so Sera could flee.
“Sera,” he called and was surprised when she actually stopped. “From now on, I will be selfish. I want to spend as much time with the girls as I can. I want them to know I’m their dad and that I love them.”
“I understand.” Her head fell at her words.
“And I want you there for the same reason. I love you and want to spend as much time with you as I can.” He rushed toward her, past Emma, and took her in his arms, Violet and all.
“I won’t leave my children,” she muttered into his shirt.
“Yes, you will. The older girls are adults and want you to be happy more than anything. I’m not stopping you from being their mom and loving them, just living with them. We need a place of our own. Just remember, you would want them to move out one day, too, right? When they find the right one?” Her head nodded into his shirt. “You need to go first. Show them how it is done. That’s what moms do.”
“Your condo is too small,” Sera whispered.
“Then we’ll find something bigger. Someplace we both love. That we all love.” He included his daughters, because all his decisions would be about them from now on.
“Why do we have to move?” Emma whined from behind them, making Sera laugh.
“Because you have to live with mom and dad, Emma. Everybody knows that!” Violet yelled at her sister.
“No way. I already have a room and a home. I will visit when I want to,” Emma argued, her arms folded in anger.
“Not a chance. I have missed fifteen years of your life, and now I get to live with you for fifteen years. It’s only fair.” He pulled away from Sera and looked at their daughter, who was still standing slightly behind her mom.
“I’ll be thirty then! I’m moving out when I am eighteen like normal people. No way can I put up with Sera until I’m thirty!” Emma protested.
Without even planning it, he let go of Sera and pulled Emma into a hug, his first with his oldest daughter. She was going to be tall and was thin and perfect. Except for the curse she emitted, and that her entire body was trying to get away from him instantly.
“Normal? Isn’t your sister thirty and lives at home? And the rest seem like they are staying. From what I’ve seen, Lovelys live at home forever.” He held fast to her because he knew the instant he let go, she would retreat back behind her mom.
“Not this one.” She actually kicked him in the shin, and he let her go. Nonchalantly, she straightened her clothes and glared at him.
“Good thing you’re a Dean. Then you can forge your own path,” Sera said, grabbing the teen into a hug herself. This time Emma went willingly.
“Am I a Dean?” Violet asked with excitement.
“Yes, you are, sweetie,” Sera said.
“I am not. Not ever. You can ruin our family, but there is no way I’m changing my name,” Emma hissed and pushed out of her mom’s arms.
Despite knowing Sera would be mad, he tried another tactic. “Emma, if you change your name, I’ll buy you a car for your sixteenth birthday.”
Sera glared at him.
“Deal, Dad!” Emma’s face broke into a smile as she took the bait instantly, but her words still warmed his heart. “You know it’s next spring, right? And I already have my permit.”
