Page 83 of Nesting With My Three Alphas
"I'm not trying to replace her," Kit said quickly, her scent spiking with anxiety. "I could never replace Charlie's mother. I just want to help carry on what she started, honor the foundation she built."
Reed moved to Kit's side, his hand settling on her lower back in the protective gesture that had become second nature. "Sweetheart, you're not replacing anyone. You're completing something Sarah started but fate never let her finish."
"Charlie needs you both," Micah added softly. "She needs her mother's memory honored and protected, and she needs a mom who's here to guide her through everything that's coming. You're giving her both."
Kit's relief was visible, her shoulders dropping as she absorbed our support. "Then you think Charlie would like it? The memory garden?"
"Charlie's going to love it," I said with absolute certainty. "And more than that, she's going to love that you thought of it. That you care enough about her connection to Sarah to create something special."
We spent the next few hours working together to create Charlie's surprise. Reed helped move furniture in Charlie's room to make space for a small gallery wall of Sarah's watercolors. Gentle landscapes and whimsical flowers that perfectly captured her artistic spirit. Micah contributed his knowledge of plants tohelp plan the memorial garden, suggesting flowers that would bloom in succession throughout the growing season.
And Kit coordinated it all with the focused attention of someone who understood that details mattered when it came to a child's heart.
"She's going to be home soon," I said, checking my phone as we put the finishing touches on Charlie's room. "Emma just texted that they're an hour out."
"Perfect timing," Kit said, stepping back to admire the gallery wall we'd created. "Do you think she'll understand what we're trying to say?"
"She'll understand that her new mom loves her enough to honor her first mom," I said simply. "That's all any child could ask for."
The sound of a car in the driveway sent excitement rippling through the house. Charlie was home, returning to a family that was fundamentally different from the one she'd left just a few days ago.
"Places, everyone," Reed said with a grin. "Our daughter's about to discover her new reality."
The front door burst open, and Charlie's voice filled the house with the kind of bright energy that made everything feel more alive.
"I'm home! Aunt Emma says hello but she said it wasn’t right for her to come in now. She’s going to come back to visit soon though, because she wants to meet Kit. And she said to give you this.” Charlie threw herself at Kit wrapping her arms around her with a happy smile. “Did everyone miss me? Did anything exciting happen while I was gone?"
I hadn’t thought about Emma dropping Charlie off and I should have. Of course she wouldn’t come in when there was a newly bonded omega in the house. It was the sort of situation that could go horribly wrong. Kit was too busy hugging Charlieand didn’t seem to have processed what she’d yet. She wasn’t exactly the type of person who seemed like she’d be bothered about another woman coming into her territory at a time like this. Still, it was thoughtful of Emma to have realised that she might need space and proof that Sarah’s family were the good people I always knew they were.
Charlie's nose twitched as she pulled away from Sarah, her enhanced sensitivity immediately picking up on what had changed.
"Oh," she breathed, her eyes going wide with understanding. "Oh wow. You all smell like... like pack. Like real pack."
"We are a real pack now," Kit said softly, moving toward Charlie with the careful attention of someone who understood this moment was crucial. "If that's okay with you."
"Are you kidding?" Charlie dropped her backpack completely and launched herself at Kit, wrapping her arms around her waist with the uninhibited joy that only children could manage. "This is the best thing ever! I knew you were supposed to be my mom!"
"I have something to show you," Kit said when Charlie finally released her from the enthusiastic hug. "Something special I set up while you were gone."
Charlie's eyes lit up with curiosity as Kit led her upstairs to her bedroom. I followed, along with Reed and Micah, all of us wanting to witness this moment.
"I wanted to make sure you always have a special place to remember your first mom," Kit said as she opened Charlie's bedroom door. "Because she was amazing, and she loved you so much, and I never want you to forget that."
Charlie stepped into her room and stopped short, taking in the gallery wall of Sarah's artwork that we'd carefully arranged beside her bed. The paintings glowed in the afternoon light, Sarah's gentle style and favorite subjects creating a warm, loving presence in the space.
"Mom's paintings," Charlie whispered, reaching out to touch the frame of a particularly beautiful flower study. "You put up Mom's paintings."
"And we're going to plant a memory garden in the backyard," Kit continued, her voice gentle but certain. "With all her favorite flowers, and maybe a bench where you can sit and feel close to her when you need to."
Charlie turned to look at Kit with an expression far too mature for her seven years. "You want to help me remember her?"
"I want to help you honor her," Kit said, kneeling down to Charlie's level. "She made you who you are, sweetheart. She loved you and taught you and gave you the foundation that makes you so special. I'm not here to replace her. I'm here to help carry on what she started."
The silence that followed was loaded with emotion. Then Charlie threw her arms around Kit's neck again, this time with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered. "For caring about her too."
"Always," Kit promised, holding Charlie close. "Your mom will always be part of our family, even though she can't be here with us."
