Page 55 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
Rose’s laughter was cut short when she spotted Dr. Dex. “There he is! Dex!”
He came over, wrapping his arms around Rose as he kissed her cheek. “How are my two favorite girls?” He rubbed her belly like it was a magic lamp.
“Better now,” Rose murmured with a dreamy smile.
Lizzy raised an eyebrow at Dahlia. “They’re nauseating sometimes, amiright?”
Dahlia silently laughed as Rose turned on Lizzy with a fake scowl. “Like you and Kit are any better.”
Chloe and Corbin spotted them at that moment and came rushing over. “Come on, Daddy!” Chloe grabbed his hand.
With the twins leading the way, they fought through the crowd to get to Emma’s classroom, where their work was displayed.
Dahlia let the others go first, happy to fall behind and watch them interact. It was nice that Lizzy and Emma were making an effort. Last night and this morning, they’d both gone out of their way to make her feel included. And she appreciated that—she really did.
But she had a hunch it was more for Rose’s benefit, and she wasn’t about to mistake their kindness for some family bond.
But for Rose’s sake, she’d do her best to be nice in return. Rose deserved that much. Just like Rose deserved a husband like Dex.
She smiled as she watched them together now. He was so good with her. Gentle and understanding, but also encouraging. He didn’t fight her battles on her behalf but rather stood at her side and helped her to be a stronger version of herself.
It was something Dahlia had never been able to do. She was always so busy taking charge. She winced and rubbed her forehead.
Dex was the perfect man for Rose, and that was a relief.
If anyone in their family deserved a happy home life, it was her baby sister. Daisy would likely never settle down long enough to have a family, and Dahlia…
Well, she had no desire to.
She’d already raised Rose, in many ways. Daisy too, in some regards. The last thing she needed was to have that responsibility thrust on her again. And besides, she wasn’t cut out for love.
It hadn’t taken her failed relationship with Brady to prove as much. She’d always known she didn’t have what it took to give of herself like that.
Or…
No, that wasn’t it.
It was that she’d seen too clearly what happened when you gave of yourself and the other person didn’t appreciate it. Her mother hadn’t been stable at the best of times, but Dahlia couldn’t help thinking things might have been different if the man her mother had loved hadn’t walked away.
If he hadn’t left her with three kids and a broken heart.
Dahlia wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold as she took in the warm family scene before her. Nash was whispering something in Emma’s ear that made her smile. Kit and Lizzy were making a fuss over the twins’ artwork. Rose and Dex were laughing about something right behind them.
It was so very perfect… for Rose.
But for Dahlia?
For Dahlia, it was way past time she got back to reality. If she stuck around much longer, she might just forget that this wasn’t her future.
That this wasn’t her home.
18
Aspire’s school was bursting at the seams by the time JJ arrived.
The hallways were filled with children, the classrooms packed with families, and there was no tough brunette anywhere to be seen.
JJ leaned against one of the walls in the school’s main lobby as he eyed the crowd. It wasn’t like he’d come here to see Dahlia, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from seeking her out.
