Page 98 of When We Were More
I pause for a few seconds to make sure she’s okay and to place a kiss on one of her temples.
“Is that it?” She whispers the words.
“No, that’s not it. There’s a bit more… Joe. He better pray he never crosses our paths because I won’t hold back until I’ve destroyed every little thing he cares about for how he hurt you. I need you to know that. I have the resources, and I’ll spare nothing to make it happen if he ever dares to even breathe the same air as you.”
I stare at her face, looking for any sign of discomfort with what I said, but I see none. Instead, a beautiful, shy smile forms.
“I’m a strong woman, and I should probably be appalled with you going all alpha male here, but I’m not. It’s kind of hot. Icanhandle those two at the place I’m at in my life now, but it’s nice to know I don’t have to.”
I skim over her forearm in slow, teasing circles and tilt my head to kiss her cheek. Then I whisper in her ear, “I’d love to take my fiancée to bed and spend the next few hours showing her how much I love her. What do you say?”
She turns her head until our lips meet and plants a light kiss on my mouth. “I say yes. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 37
Tillie
Layla’s party starts in a little under an hour, and she holds my hand as we trek back from the enclosure where the dwarf goats and miniature pony are currently playing. We’ve already visited the hutch with the bunnies, and Layla has shown Henry exactly where she wants him to build us a chicken coop. She’s practically vibrating with excitement. She wanted a party with some farm animals, and she got one. They’re rentals, for now. While Layla chatters on about the animals, Lena wipes at her eyes, a clear signal that it’s time for her nap.
“I’ll take Lena in to lay her down,” Henry says. “Say, bye-bye, Lena.”
Lena rests her head on Henry’s shoulder as he turns her so she can see us.
“Bye, Lala.” I love her attempt to say Layla’s name. It always comes out ‘Lala.’ “Bye-bye, Mama.” It still makes my heart melt every time she calls me that.
“Sweet dreams, baby girl.” I kiss her cheek as she closes her eyes. “I’ll see you soon.”
Once Henry and Lena are gone, I lead Layla to the swing, acutely aware of how quiet she’s become. It’s like all her excited energy melted off her almost instantly. Once we’re seated, I lift my arm, and she scoots into my side.
“Everything okay, birthday girl?” Layla shrugs. “Maybe if you tell me about it, then you’ll feel better. When I feel sad, talking to someone who loves me usually helps a lot. I love you a bunch, so it might help.”
She hesitates, but only for a few seconds.
“You’re Lena’s mommy, but not…”
Ah. Okay.
“How about you sit on my lap here so I can see your face?” I help her scoot onto my legs. Her frown and glossy eyes break my heart.
“Lena does call me ‘mama.’ Does that bother you, sweetie?”
She stares down at her hands. “It makes me sad. Lena gets to have you as a mommy, but I don’t have one. She went away, and I heared her tell Daddy she didn’t want to ever come back. She didn’t want to be our mom.”
I gently lift her chin until she’s looking at me.
“I’m sorry that happened to you, sweetie. I know none of that was your fault since you and Lena are the best little girls I’ve ever met.” A tear slides down her face, and I wipe it away with my thumb.
“Sometimes I’m not good,” she whispers. “Because I don’t want her to come back. I want her to stay gone. She wasn’t a good mommy, but she leaved us anyway.” Her tears flow fast now, and I pull her to me, holding her tight. I rock her until her breathing calms. When it does, I move her back so she can see my face.
“Layla, you arealwaysgood in here.” I point to her heart. “It’s okay not to want her to come back. That doesn’t make you bad. It’s how you feel, and that’s okay. There’s also somethingelse really important I need to tell you, so listen very closely, okay?”
She nods and sniffles.
“I love you so much. I love Lena, too. Lena didn’t come out of my belly, but she still thinks I’m her mama. Remember how you told me when we met on my porch that your daddy wasn’t your first dad, but he’s your forever one, and that he picked you?” She nods again. “Mommies and daddies can sometimes be there from the time a child is a baby, or they can come later, like your daddy did for you. Do you understand me so far?”
“Yes,” she says softly.
“Even though I didn’t meet you and Lena until this year. Here—” I pat over my heart “—I love you both as much as any mommy couldeverlove her little girls. So, no matter what you or Lena call me—Tillie or whatever else you choose—that’s how I feel about you. And I’m not going anywhere, Layla. I’m staying with you, your daddy, and Lena.”
