Page 12 of Every Beat of My Heart

Izzy’s lips twitched. “Uncle Jamey.”

“You know you love me,” I said to her.

Izzy nodded seriously. “I do love you.”

“Am I your favorite?” It was a game we played often between me and my brothers. I almost always won because I was willing to play with dolls and wear hot pink boas at her tea parties.

Izzy chewed on her lip. “Cole is my favorite.”

“That doesn’t count. He’s basically your dad.” Her father wasn’t involved in her life, and Cole had recently gotten him to terminate his rights so he could adopt her.

“Speaking of... The adoption will be scheduled soon. The judge said they do a whole thing at the courthouse. A little party. We can even bring a cake and balloons. Will you be there?”

“Just let me know the date. I’ll get off work. I can’t wait until this little one becomes a— Wait a minute, you’re going to be a Monroe.” I loved that Cole was adopting her, but it was a little strange that she’d go from being a Calloway to a Monroe. Cole belonged to a family we’d held a bitter rivalry with for years because they owned a competing Christmas tree farm.

“Mommy’s a Monroe, and I want my name to match.”

I nodded. “Of course you do. You’re so blessed to have your mother and Cole.”

Izzy nodded solemnly. “They’re the best.”

“We’re happy to have Cole in our family,” Dad said, a little edge to his words.

Daphne had kept her relationship with Cole a secret for a while because of the rivalry between our families. Although we weren’t exactly keeping up with the Monroe farm anymore. Their business took off and ours was stagnant.

“We’re having a family meeting to discuss the state of the farm soon.”

“Do I need to be there?” I wasn’t a fan of family meetings. There was usually ribbing involved with my brothers, and I could do without it. It always centered around my job choice, my living situation, or my single status.

“It’s a family meeting. You’re a part of this family, aren’t you?”

I sobered. “I don’t know. Am I, Izzy?”

Izzy rolled her eyes. “You’re a Calloway.”

“That’s right,” Dad said.

Then she chewed her lip again. “If I change my name to Monroe, does that mean I’m not a Calloway anymore?”

“Of course not. You’ll always be a Calloway,” I said firmly. No one would let this little girl think less of herself.

“That’s right,” Dad agreed.

“Does it mean I own two Christmas tree farms?” Izzy asked seriously.

“Well, you don’t own them, but I bet you can enjoy both of them.” I didn’t like the idea that Izzy might grow closer to Cole’s cousins, but it was inevitable. I just hoped we’d always have a special relationship because I’d lived nearby when she was little. Daphne initially lived in the main house, then moved to the cottage.

Izzy’s eyes widened. “Can I have two Christmas trees?”

“You can have whatever you want.” I couldn’t say no to her, and I had a feeling Cole was the same way.

“Ryder’s going to be here this weekend,” Dad said.

I stopped shoveling potatoes into my mouth. “Are you serious?”

Dad nodded. “He asked if he could bring Faith and stay in the cottage for a few days.”

“Stacy isn’t coming?”

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