Page 118 of See You Next Month

Gus got up as well and started to his room. He turned around and looked at Kelsey. “Aren’t you coming?”

“Sure,” Kelsey said, jumping up. She couldn’t believe how quickly she’d grown to love Wyatt and Gus, but she shouldn’t be surprised. They were a part of Isabella and she didn’t know how it was possible, yet she loved her more every day.

She stood next to Isabella at the side of Gus’s bed. “Good night, Gus,” Kelsey said.

Isabella leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Sweet dreams, sweetie,” Isabella said.

“Night,” Gus said.

Next they walked to Wyatt’s room and Kelsey stood in the doorway. “I’m glad I got to see you play today,” Kelsey said.

“Me, too. I wish you didn’t have to go home tomorrow,” he said. “Mom’s really happy when you’re here.”

Isabella raised her eyebrows at him. “Is that right? I thought I was happy most of the time.”

He shrugged. “I guess so, but you’re happier now.”

“Good night, buddy,” Isabella said.

“Night.”

Isabella pulled his door almost closed. She put her arm around Kelsey as they walked down the hall. “Even they know how happy you make me.”

“Let’s go to bed and I’ll show you how happy you make me,” Kelsey said with one eyebrow raised.

“Oh, yeah?”

They walked into Isabella’s bedroom and closed the door.

“I know you wanted to check on a couple of your clients today. I’m sorry we never got to it,” Isabella said as she kicked her sandals off.

“I’m not,” Kelsey said, reaching for Isabella’s hand and spinning her around. “I had the best day.”

Isabella smiled and put her arms around Kelsey. “I did, too.”

Kelsey narrowed her gaze. “You have jumped right in,” she said. “I know you had doubts.”

Isabella led Kelsey over to the bed and they sat down. “There were several times when I wondered what I was doing,” she said, widening her eyes. “Am I gay? What would this do to my life and especially Wyatt and Gus’s?” She smiled and took a deep breath. “But every time I had those thoughts, something made me pause. In those spaces I noticed how wonderful my heart felt with you in it. My life was already different. With you everything felt right. It all made sense. This is how it’s supposed to be, Kels. When we walked into the house the other day and Gus hugged you and Wyatt came rushing in from his room, I thought my heart was going to explode with love. They have never taken to anyone the way they have you and your girls. I don’t know if I’m gay and it doesn’t matter. You are the person I’m supposed to live my life with. I truly believe our two families were meant to be one.”

“Oh, babe,” Kelsey said and squeezed her hands. She leaned in, but Isabella stopped her.

“Hold up. You had to have doubts too,” Isabella said, raising her brows. “Why in the world would you want to take on me and my two young sons when your girls are about to graduate?”

Kelsey chuckled. “Well, I realized,” she began, “Dana and Emma may be graduating and starting their lives on their own, but they’re never completely without me. The idea of getting to be part of Wyatt and Gus’s lives never gave me doubts.” She paused and took a breath. “I thought about the choices I made with the girls in mind. This choice would be for all of us, but especially for me, Bella. This is happily-ever-after stuff, forever stuff. How can I not choose us?”

Isabella cradled Kelsey’s cheeks between her hands. “Oh, Kels.”

“It’s not a choice. It’s our hearts demanding to be together,” Kelsey said with tears in her eyes.

“Kelsey Kenny, you have my heart,” Isabella said. “I promise to always take care of yours.”

“Isabella Burns, my heart is yours. I promise to cherish yours always.”

Isabella smiled. “Now that we have that settled, didn’t you mention something about showing me how much you love me?” she said seductively.

“Oh, honey,” Kelsey replied. She pressed her lips to Isabella’s and they fell on the bed in a tangle of arms, legs and love.

This feels a lot like home, Kelsey thought.

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