Page 90 of Everlasting Love

He relaxes as he chuckles, and his warm breath ghosts across my cheek. “I think he might be more than afriend.”

“Me too.” I wriggle my eyebrows up and down.

“Violet,” Mom says with her arm outstretched to hug me while still holding Jas in her other arm.

I wrap both arms around her and my daughter. “Mom. It’s great to have you home. We missed you.”

“I missed you, too.” We kiss each other on the cheek, then she pulls away and smiles up at Shane. “Hello, Shane. It’s wonderful to see you. Thank you for taking care of my girls.”

He looks down at me, sin filling his gaze. “It was my pleasure.”Wow! Is it hot in here?

“He’s my daddy now!” Jas almost shouts.

Mom’s eyes widen along with her grin. “Oh my, I see a lot’s happened while I’ve been away.”

I lift my chin and gesture over her shoulder. “It seems that way.”

Her cheeks flush and she turns, holding out her hand. Hermanfriend takes it with a smile and nods at me and Shane as he steps into our circle. “I’d like you to meet Lloyd. Lloyd, this is my eldest daughter, Violet and her little girl, Jasmine. And this is Shane.”

Lloyd holds his hand out with a warm smile but I push right past it and engulf him in a hug. “It’s great to meet you.”

He chuckles as his free arm wraps around me. “Nice to meet you, too. Your mom’s told me so much about all of you; I feel as though I already know you.”

Well, he’s one step ahead of us, but I don’t say that. I don’t want to make the man uncomfortable. “How long are you staying?”

He looks down at Mom with affection. “Indefinitely. I couldn’t bear to part from your mom, so I’m going to finish up my current projects from here and then start working with her.”

“Oh, wow! That’s a huge step.” My eyes must be as large as saucers.

“When you know, you know.” He winks at Mom. “No point wasting any more time.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Mom pipes in, taking his hand in hers. “Shall we collect our luggage and go home?”

“It should be at baggage claim three,” Shane points in the direction we need to head, then grabs Mom’s pull-along carry-on luggage.

Jas slides her hand into Mom’s free hand, Lloyd grabs his carry-on, and we make our way to the baggage claim area. Luggage is already making its way around the carousel, and he tells Mom to wait with us while he and Shane collect their bags.

I don’t waste a second. “Soooo. This is an interesting turn of events.”

She beams at me. Literally beams and I’m thrilled for her. “I know. I couldn’t believe it when he showed me his ticket this morning and told me he was coming with me. We had spoken about him moving here when he’s finished his current projects but he said he would miss me too much.” She’s almost giddy, and I adore seeing her happiness.

“I’m so freaking happy for you, Mom.” I lean in and embrace her. She’s sacrificed so much over the years, raising two daughters on her own and stepping in to help Cass and me raise our girls. “You deserve every bit of happiness.”

She squeezes me tight. “Thank you. I was worried you’d think it was too soon.”

“Are you crazy? You’ve waited almost thirty years, how is that too soon?”

“I mean that we’re moving in together so quickly after meeting.”

I wave off her concern. “Pfft.I’m pretty sure you’re old enough and wise enough to make decisions that are the best for you. If he makes you happy and he’s a good man, then we’re all gonna be happy for you both.”

Shane heads toward us through the thinning crowd with two large bags and a duffle bag slung over his shoulder while Lloyd pulls their carry-ons behind him, and we head to the parking lot. Luckily, we brought his SUV because we would never have fit everything in my car.

We pull into our driveway behind a brand-spanking new SUV and it takes me a moment to put two and two together. Toby said he was buying Cass afamilycar the last time we spoke, and I guess this is it.

The screen door flies open, and Poppy and Daisy burst out of the house, heading straight for Mom with Cassia and Toby pausing on the front porch to watch the girls fuss over her. I can tell the moment my sister realizes we have an additional passenger when her eyes go comically wide and she blinks several times, then looks up at Toby. He shrugs and pulls her down the front steps and across to Shane’s car, immediately going to the back to help him unload the luggage.

While Mom catches up with Cassia and her girls, Lloyd stands beside me. “Wow, there’s a lot of love here.”

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