Page 32 of Taking The Shot

Keith frowned, looked at Paige, and uttered, “Really?” – before pulling Kayla out of her arms to hold the worn-out toddler.

“Noooo I want Mama,” Kayla immediately squirmed. “Paigie, help meee…”

“Stop it,” Keith said firmly. “I want to help your mama and if you don’t want the tickle monster to hug you then…”

Kayla perked up. “Tickle monster?”

“Rawrrr,” Keith offered and blew raspberries on Kayla’s cheek, causing the little girl to laugh wildly as she struggled to get away. “I would get Paige, but I’m afraid she wouldglareme to death…”

“Ha ha, funny…Keith.”

“Paige…”

“What? His name is Keith,” Paige snapped, pointing at the man in question. “You call him Keith. Why can’t I?”

“Because if your mother called me ‘Daddy,’ it has a different connotation,” Keith began and then sounded like he was strangling as Constance turned to stare at him in disbelief – along with several other people in the baggage claim area. “You can call me Keith, Paige. Keith is just fine.”

“See, Mom?”

“That’s fine – just keep the tone out of it,” Constance said, picking up the stroller from the baggage claim belt and shaking it out, causing it to pop open easily… and paused. Kayla had her head down on Keith’s shoulder and was sound asleep.

“She’s fine,” he said softly, smiling at her. “This is kinda nice, you know? It really hits a person in the gut.”

“Is that a request?” Paige chimed in, grinning, and Keith laughed in disbelief before looking at her daughter.

“You know what, little tiger? We’ll take it on the ice, and you can take me if you think you can,” Keith smirked as Paige grinned, slapping her hand out to ‘shake’ on it like some bargain was being made. “I’m serious. On the ice, if you are mad at me for who-knows-what reason, and you think you can check me, do it. That’s your time to get it out of your system, but the rest of the time, you must behave for your pretty mama.”

“Deal – and you’re going down…Keith.”

“You can try…Paige,” he chuckled, grinning at Constance, who was watching the three of them in disbelief. It wasn’t exactlythe warm and fuzzy bonding that she hoped for, but it was something. “Let’s go home.”

And she nodded, at a complete loss for words.

Twenty minutes later, Kayla was breathing heavily in her booster seat, completely asleep, and even Paige’s eyelids were getting heavy with exhaustion as they pulled into the U-shaped driveway in front of the house. A new country. A new home. A new life. It was all so much to take in at once, and as much as Constance wanted to hold onto her reservations, she couldn’t deny the small flicker of hope that ignited in her chest when Keith turned to her with that gentle look.

“Welcome home,” Keith said softly, his voice carrying more meaning than just the words. There was warmth there. Reassurance. A silent promise that he would make this transition as easy as possible for her and the girls.

Her lips parted, but no words came. She simply nodded, swallowing back the sudden lump in her throat.

“Let’s get the kids inside, and we can talk,” he continued, already reaching for Kayla’s sleeping form in the booster. “Leave the bag and the stroller. I can come get it in a few minutes.”

Too exhausted to argue, she let him take charge, watching as he effortlessly cradled her daughter in his arms. She hadn’t expected it to feel so natural—to see him like this, carrying Kayla as if he’d done it a hundred times before. It struck her deep in her soul, a tenderness she hadn’t quite prepared for.

As they walked inside, the warmth of the house wrapped around her like a long-lost embrace, making her sigh in relief.The house smelled fresh, clean, yet distinctly unfamiliar. It wasn’t home yet, but it was a start.

Keith led the way to one of the bedrooms, his steps careful, mindful of the small bundle sleeping against his chest. Constance followed close behind, her gaze darting around as she took in the details of the house. She barely had time to process the layout before they reached Kayla’s room, and the moment she stepped inside, her breath hitched in disbelief.

Against the wall was a delicate little white four-poster twin bed, perfectly sized for her little girl. A net railing lined one side, ensuring she wouldn’t fall out, and the entire thing was draped in the softest white eyelet sheets and a matching topper. It looked like something out of a fairytale, a princess bed fit for a child who had endured far too much change in such a short amount of time. And in the corner, as if waiting for Kayla to wake up and discover it, was a Barbie castle, perfectly set up and ready to be played with.

“Oh, Keith…”

The words barely left her lips, choked with emotion as tears pricked her eyes. She hadn’t expected this. Hadn’t expected him to think of something so personal, so intimate. It was more than just a bed. It was a gesture—a statement—that Kayla belonged here.

Keith laid Kayla down carefully, his large hands surprisingly gentle as he pulled off her tiny shoes. He looked up at Constance then, helplessness written all over his face. “I don’t know what else to do,” he admitted with a sheepish shrug. “Do I take off her socks? That’s about all I’m comfortable with.”

A soft laugh bubbled up inside her as she shook her head, stepping forward to take over. “I’ve got it,” she murmured, easily slipping off Kayla’s leggings and tucking the comforter around her small body. She smoothed a hand over her daughter’s hair, brushing away a stray curl, and took a steadying breathbefore turning back around—only to find that Keith had already disappeared.

Frowning, she stepped out into the hallway, following the quiet murmur of voices down the hall. She stopped short just outside another bedroom, pressing a hand to the doorframe as she listened.

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