Page 65 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

She laughed at his full-body giggle. “Are you having fun with Boo and Oliver?”

He nodded, but a hint of sadness crept into his blue eyes and tore at her heart.

Her parents had taken Jimmy to visit Mila at the hospital so he could see with his own eyes his mom was all right. But Mila had been heavily sedated. Jimmy’s worry remained, no matter how many reassurances she and Dean gave him. He wanted his mom home and his world back to exactly the way it had always been.

Well, maybe not exactly. He begged daily for Boo to be his dog instead of Dean’s.

A car door shutting on the other side of the white picket fence turned Elsie’s head to the street. She spotted the top of herparents’ silver SUV seconds before her parents hopped out of the vehicle.

“What do you want to do tonight, buddy?” she asked, turning Jimmy to face her and not the gate.

Quietly, her dad pushed Mila’s wheelchair into the backyard. Her mom stood beside him with a wide smile and watery eyes.

He shrugged. “See Mama? I know you said we should let her rest, but I really miss her. I won’t be loud or hug or kiss or anything. I promise.”

“What if I want that hug and kiss?” Mila asked, her voice still a little weak.

Jimmy gasped and spun around as fast as cartoon character. “Mama!” He sprinted to the front of her chair with outstretched arms but stopped abruptly. His arms fell to his sides. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Mila reached out her hand. The bruising on her face had grown faint, and her cheeks weren’t as hollow. Her healthy glow replaced the ashy pallor of her skin. “You could never hurt me, baby. All I want in this entire world is a giant hug from my favorite little man.”

“Are you sure?”

Elsie ruffled the hair on the top of Jimmy’s head. “Would your mom lie to you? Get your little butt up there.”

With more care than Elsie had ever seen, Jimmy crawled into Mila’s lap and looped his arms around her neck. He nuzzled his head against her shoulder.

Mila closed her eyes and snuggled him close. Tears flowed down her face. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Mama.”

Her own tears dotted the corners of Elsie’s eyes. This was why she’d fought so hard, why she’d risked everything. To reunite Jimmy and Mila. To bring her little makeshift familyback together. To give a mother and son a way back to each other.

Dean wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close to his side. “Not much sweeter to see than that.”

She smiled up at him. “Seeing you wake up next to me in the morning comes pretty damn close.”

He hiked up his brows. “Oh really? You like that do ya?”

“I like it a lot. And I love you. Thank you for helping me make this happen. Thank you for helping me bring Mila home.”

“I love you, too.” He leaned down and gently placed his lips on hers. “Thank you for showing me what my life could be. I only hope things are a little less… exciting from here on out.”

“You don’t want excitement?”

“I just want you, babe. A life with you. A home with you. A future with you.”

Her heart threatened to burst. “Do you really mean that?”

“Absolutely. You, Elsie Sweet, are everything I’ll ever need. Well, you and Jimmy and plenty of ice cream of course.”

“Of course, what’s life without ice cream?” Dropping her crutches, she threw her arms around his neck and he lifted her off her feet. She had her family back safe and sound and the man she loved by her side. Nothing could ever be sweeter than that.

EPILOGUE

Elsie rolled over and snuggled closer to Dean. His body radiated heat. Something she craved to warm her from a cold front the crisp December weather had brought to town. Even the cream-colored duvet couldn’t chase away the morning chill.

Dean wrapped her up tight. “Good morning.”

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