Page 6 of Stay With Me Forever

So, yeah, the combined forces of my former in-laws’ threats and lusting after a woman who hated me didn’t make for a good mood. I might have to actually apologize to Emilia later.

But as I caught up with my kids on the path leading home, I wedged myself between them and placed a hand around each of their shoulders. It was still hard to believe they were getting so tall, but the years had flown by before I’d known it.

I squeezed each of them gently against me before saying, “Summer is busy and crowded at the Wolfe Family Farm and Winery, and I don’t want you to be bored during summer vacation by staying inside all the time. So tell me—what do you want to do? Play on Emilia’s property, checking in with Aunt Abby and Emilia at regular intervals? Or should I find someone to watch you and maybe some other children during the day, when I have to work?”

Avery spoke first. “Did you already make the decision? Or do we really get to have a say?”

Her words only made me feel guiltier—I hadn’t given them a choice about moving here.

But then I remembered how I’d done what was best for us all. “I want to hear about what you want, Avery. I can’t always say yes to everything, but I’ll always listen. So, what do you want to do for the summer?”

Avery bounced a little before answering, “I like Millie’s place. It reminds me of Grandpa and Grandma’s ranch. Well, except she has tons of lavender and no animals. Maybe she needs to get some cows. Me and Wyatt can help take care of them.”

I nearly smiled. “They’re a lot of work, love. And Emilia’s busy with her wedding stuff and probably couldn’t handle running a ranch on top of everything else.”

“But you could help her run a ranch, Daddy. I know you miss working with the cows.”

I did, but I tried my best not to let my daughter see it. “I have to help Uncle Beck and Uncle Zach with the grapes, remember?”

“But your hands are too big, I think. You’ll squish all the grapes when you try to pick them.”

“I can be careful, just like how I was careful when you were a baby and really tiny.”

Avery paused to tap a few stakes at the edge of the grapevine rows before she asked, “Will I ever get a baby sister or brother? I’d be the best big sister ever.”

For a second, my brain scrambled on how to respond. Avery had never asked me this before, and I wasn’t about to scream, “No fucking way.”

Not because I didn’t like kids—I did. But there was no way I’d get involved with another woman long enough to make a baby. It’d been years since I’d even had sex, and I didn’t know if I’d risk having it again until my kids were grown. A one-night stand had changed my life sixteen years ago, and I’d learned that fucking lesson.

However, I quickly gathered my wits and replied, “I know you’d be the best big sister. But you and me and Wyatt are a family. We need to stick together.”

“Don’t forget about Anna and Elsa.”

Those were the names Avery and Wyatt had picked out for the two kittens we’d adopted from Emilia. “And of course them too. Plus, you have all your aunts and uncles who love you.”

“I guess I do have lots of family.” She paused to kick a small rock in front of her. “But maybe one day we can have a mom too.”

Shit.I’d known this would come up at some point but had hoped it wouldn’t be for a long time yet.

Before I could reply, my brother Zach’s voice boomed out, “Here comes the prince and princess of the manor!”

I spotted him on the outside veranda and rolled my eyes.

Avery giggled. “Uncle Zach said he’d get me a crown soon. Then I really can be the Wolfe family princess. Although I’m not sure about Wyatt being a prince. He’s not very prince-like.”

"I don’t want to be a prince. I want to race horses.”

“But princes can do whatever they want, even race horses.”

Wyatt wrinkled his nose. “But then I’d have to wear fancy clothes. No thanks.”

I smiled as the two continued to bicker about the merits of being royalty.

Since they’d slowed to a crawl, I pushed gently against their backs. “Come on, you two. It doesn’t matter if you’re royalty or not. If you’re late to dinner, Aunt Lori won’t be happy.”

Avery shrugged. “I can bake her some more cookies tomorrow. Then she’ll forgive me.”

My daughter had recently discovered that she loved to bake. At the rate she practiced, we’d all be rolling down the hallways soon from eating too many cookies.

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