Page 238 of Beyond the Blue Horizon
“We know who’s knocking socks off.” She wagged her brows.
I rolled my eyes, deciding there was no use in reprimanding her. She was having far too much fun at my expense.
And I wasn’t mad.
I was…happy.
So happy I could hardly discern the emotion.
“Seriously, though, thank you,” Theo added.
“It’s been my pleasure,” Nelly said with emotion creeping into her voice. “Having a place to stay and helping to give it a semblance of home is exactly what I needed. I missed it. Shuffling around the kitchen cooking. And in my humble opinion, there aren’t a lot of things better than seeing our little Finn here bouncing around like it’s his favorite place in the world while our Piper gets to explore some of those dreams that have remained out of reach for far too long.”
Gratitude swelled.
For Nelly.
For this place.
For Theo.
“Think it’s time for everyone to nab a few dreams.” Sincerity wound into Theo’s voice.
“I not go night-night,” Finn peeped.
Theo chuckled. So low and warm and rumbly.
“What should we do then?”
Finn pointed his index finger at me. “Get Mommy!”
“You think we should get Mommy?”
Finn nodded emphatically.
Theo climbed to his feet with Finn in his arms, the man zooming him around, flying him through the living area before diving in my direction. He dipped him down and Finn grabbed my face in his precious hands. “We get you, Mommy!”
Theo’s gorgeous face beamed from behind him.
Love poured out.
So intense and real.
A wholeness that throbbed in the vacancy.
Theo stretched out his free hand and pulled me to my feet. He looped that arm around my waist and tugged me against him.
Eyes intense as he murmured, “Yeah, we got you.”
“He’s out,” Theo whispered where he leaned over Finn’s crib.
I paused in the doorway of the bathroom where I’d been getting ready for bed, pierced by the sight of Theo hovering over my son.
“He was pooped after all the wrestling you two did.” The quiet words skimmed through the dense air.
“And that sugar crash.” Theo quirked a soft brow as he straightened and took a step toward me. “I think Nelly is really taking the nesting thing to the extreme. The amount of Christmas goodies she baked today is wild.”
Affectionate, faint laughter rippled out of me. A reverent softness curved into my words. “She’s excited for Christmas. We haven’t had a real one in years.”
