Page 104 of Hawk
“Was what I said okay?” she asked softly, sounding unsure.
“What you said was perfect.” I paused and added, “unless you didn’t mean it.”
She turned fully to face me before glancing over her shoulder at the open bedroom door. “I meant every word of it, but I want you to know I’m not trying to replace their mother or anything like that.”
I stroked her cheek and explained, “I know that, and no one would accuse you of doing anything out of the ordinary. I know it’s been a short period of time, but . . .”
“I know,” she returned when I couldn’t articulate my feelings completely,
I’d wanted her for a decade, and to have her here, being a mother figure to my kids, and loving them more than anyone beside me ever had meant more than the world to me. It may have seemed too soon for some people, but with our history, it was perfect timing.
Matthew returned and Stella stood from the couch and offered him her hand. He immediately linked his hand with hers and she looked down at him. “Tell Zeus it’s time to go potty and he’ll follow us outside.”
“Zeus, it’s time to go potty,” Matthew repeated, and the dog fell in line behind them as they walked to the front door.
Stella started explaining how to control the dog as she closed the door behind her, and I stood from the couch to make coffee. Breakfast on the weekends was always at the clubhouse, so all we had to do was get dressed and walk up there. Anna, my sound sleeper, was sprawled out on the bed when I walked in to get a change of clothes while the coffee was perking.
After taking a fast shower, I got dressed and walked into the kitchen to pour myself and Stella cups of coffee. I walked outside and found her sitting on the top step, watching Matthew lead Zeus around the yard. He was glancing back at Stella, who was smiling and nodding at him as he gave the dog instructions.
Sitting next to her, I handed her a cup and took a needed swallow of mine before I asked, “What all can Zeus do besides calm anxiety?”
I needed to know what he was trained for just in case the need ever arose. I’d seen what Jasmine could do, so I assumed Zeus had the same training.
“He knows all the basic commands like sit, stay, and fetch. But he’s also trained to protect and put himself between an attacker and the person he’s protecting. He’ll bite if necessary, and if the situation is bad enough, he’s able to pull someone to safety. Probably not me or you, but definitely the kids.”
“Who trained them?” I asked, meaning Zeus and Jasmine.
“Rhys found a breeder and trainer in Atlanta, and I worked with them to make sure both dogs could keep us safe,” she explained.
“It must have been hard to give up Jasmine,” I remarked, and she nodded.
“I always knew she would be for Hailey, but turning her over to the shelter, even for the two days she was there, was the hardest thing I’d ever done. I knew she and Hailey would bond immediately, and the shelter was paid to keep her exclusively for Hailey, but I still worried.”
I kissed Stella on the cheek, and she turned to look at me as I told her, “You’re such an amazing mom.”
Her eyes cast down as she replied, “But I’m not. I let—”
“No more guilt over that. You had nothing to do with what your father did, and you saved Hailey as soon as you were able to find her. You’ve already been more of a mom to Anna and Matthew than my ex ever was. So, give yourself grace and look on the bright side. You get a second chance.”
“I’m not overstepping my bounds, am I?”
“Not one bit. I want you to feel comfortable and know that I have faith in you.”
“Thank you, Colton,” she said as the door behind us opened.
We both glanced and saw Anna walk outside with her stuffed teddy bear tucked under her arms. I opened my arms to her, and she came and sat on my lap as we watched Matthew instruct Zeus.
Stella kissed Anna on top of her head and asked, “Would you like me to braid your hair before breakfast?”
“Yes, please,” Anna responded, and Stella smiled at her.
“Let me show your brother something and we’ll go get ready.”
She stood from the steps and walked out to Matthew. Anna looked up at me and asked, “Is Ms. Stella our momma now?”
“Would you like her to be?” I asked, and she nodded enthusiastically.
“Can I call her momma . . . or would that make her mad?” Anna asked in her small voice.
