Page 60 of Rival Hearts

She and Romeo would recover together, and maybe in the future, they would be able to take on some more animals in need of a home together.

“Oh, I love cats,” Leah said, smiling. I would love to come and visit Romeo once he gets settled in.

“You would be super welcome,” Jett said, smiling.

* * *

Suddenly, Jett felt a small body collide with her leg and small, six-year-old arms wrap around her.

Jett looked down and saw Natalie sitting on her foot. Her arms were wrapped around Jett’s leg and she looked up at Jett with the biggest puppy-dog-eyed expression that she could manage. Of course, since Natalie was six and already adorable, Jett was inclined to do whatever the little girl wanted.

Jett smiled down at her and she heard Riley laugh as she saw what had just happened. “Hey kiddo,” Jett said. “How’s the weather down there?”

“Snowing,” Natalie said with complete seriousness and Jett had to laugh.

“Really?” Jett asked. “Cause it’s sunny up here?”

Natalie nodded her head and gave Jett the puppy dog eyes again.

Jett sighed and looked at her cousin’s daughter. “What do you want?”

Natalie pointed to the distance, where Jett could see Josephine and Ember talking with another guest that Jett didn’t fully recognize.

“Can you carry me to my moms?” Natalie asked and Jett sighed dramatically.

“Can I carry you to your moms?” she asked and then smiled. “Depends. Do you wanna stay attached to my leg or have me give you a piggyback ride?”

Natalie put on her thinking face and pondered the question very seriously. It was a big question for a six-year-old. “Piggyback ride,” Natalie finally answered, unraveling herself from Jett’s leg and jumping up with raised arms.

“You got it, kiddo,” Jett said and lowered herself to the ground so that Natalie could get onto her back and wrap her arms around Jett’s neck.

Jett positioned Natalie’s legs around her waist and grabbed on before she stood up and then they were off.

“I better get going,” Jett heard Riley say to Leah as Jett journeyed toward Natalie’s moms. When Jett got to Ember and Josephine, after taking a few wrong turns and going in circles a couple of times in order to hear Natalie’s laughter, Riley was there waiting for her with a smile.

Once Jett put Natalie down in front of Ember, Natalie ran up to Ember and wrapped herself around her mom’s leg that time, causing Jett to laugh. She looked at Riley who was smiling at Natalie before she turned to Jett.

“I wish I was as good with kids as you are,” Riley said, and there was a little bit of hope, but also sadness to her expression as she said it.

“You will be,” Jett said. “You just don’t have any experience yet.”

“I think you’re great with me,” Natalie said from atop Ember’s foot, clearly having overheard Riley, “I mean you have my picture on your fridge so that means something.”

Riley smiled at Natalie and for a moment she looked like she might cry, but then that moment was gone. “Thank you,” she told Natalie, “but we absolutely do have to color again, because I think it’s unfair that I only have one picture on my fridge.”

Natalie’s expression brightened and she smiled wide. “Yes!” she said and looked at Jett. “Maybe I could stay over at your house and Riley could do coloring with me?”

“If it’s okay with your moms,” Jett said and Ember looked shocked and put on the spot.

“Oh, of course,” Ember said and Josephine nodded in agreement.

“Yeah,” Josephine said, “and honestly, the more medical professionals the better when it comes to watching our daughter. You know how clumsy she can be.”

“Hey!” Natalie exclaimed and everyone laughed as she stuck her tongue out at Josephine and Josephine reached forward like she was going to grab it. Natalie pulled back and started to run away.

Josephine ran forward after Natalie while Natalie was laughing. “Hey!” she said. “You come back here, you little rascal.” This caused a lot of the people onlooking to laugh as they let Natalie weave through the crowd while her mom chased her.

Nobody ever minded Natalie, and of course, Jett would have a word if there was anyone who did. That little girl was her family. Jett saw Aunt Becky and Lucinda coming over to join their little group at the same time as Josephine caught Natalie and started carrying her, giggling, back to the group.

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