Page 162 of The Manny

“I’ve decided to allow you and Mia to plant some flowers in my garden.”

He narrowed his eyes. “So, if we plant snow cap around the roses, you won’t be upset?”

“Plant whatever you want. I’ll even help.”

“You’ll help?”

I puffed out my chest. “It’s no big deal.”

He grinned. “You’re right. It really isn’t.”

“Huh?” I frowned, meeting his amused gaze.

“Oh, I knew you’d relenteventually.” He sighed. “You actually held out longer than I expected. We might need to wait until next spring to plant flowers now.”

“You… planned this?”

“Well, not exactly. I just knew if I dropped enough hints, you’d eventually come to your senses.” He shrugged. “I was thinking, along with the snow cap and petunias, how about we put a birdbath in the corner of the yard? I’ve had my eye on one at the Home Depot for a while now.”

“What?” I sputtered. “You… wait… you…”

“Shhhh. You’re doing the right thing. Just go with it.” He pushed up on his tip toes and he kissed me.

He knew just how to handle me. At the first touch of his lips against mine, I sighed, all my irritation floating away on a cloud of need. We kissed for a few moments, but then he pulled away to check on Mia. Once he saw she was fine, he turned back to me.

“You’ll let me get the birdbath, right?” he asked softly. “It’s really pretty, and I think once it’s in the yard, you won’t know how you ever lived without it.”

I couldn’t help but smile, and my heart squeezed as I stared into his pretty blue eyes. “The real mystery is how I ever lived withoutyouin my life.”

He sighed. “Well, yeah, but to be honest… were you really even living until you had me in your life?”

I shook my head. “Not really.” Thomas had taught me that love wasn’t something to hide from, it was something to hope for.

“Me neither.” He slipped his arms around me. “I was just better at faking it than you.”

I rested my chin on his head. His warm body against mine comforted me, and I watched Mia standing on the edge of the lake. Her blonde hair curled around her shoulders, and she was smiling across the water, her eyes pinned on a large white bird gliding through the water.

I frowned. “Is that a swan?”

Thomas straightened and glanced toward the water. “Yeah. This lake never had swans before.” He laughed. “That one appeared the same time Mia came to live with you.”

“Really?” I frowned, watching the beautiful bird move through the glistening water. “Jules always loved swans as a kid,” I murmured.

“Did she?”

“Yeah. She had pictures of them up in her room.” I studied Mia. “Is Mia talking to the swan?”

“Yep.” He smiled. “She always talks to it.”

“That’s kind of sweet.”

He sighed. “To be honest, she’s uh… convinced it’s her mom, reincarnated.”

“What?”I raised my brows.

He shrugged. “I see no harm in letting her believe that.”

I watched Mia, as she laughed and chatted happily in the direction of the swan. “No, I… I agree. If it makes her happy, where’s the harm?”

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