Page 149 of Head Over Heels

Even though it was perfect outside—sunny and warm with only the slightest of breeze—Tim was painfully thin and always cold.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Tim kept a tight grip on Cameron and Sheila’s hand while Ian parked the wheelchair behind where he stood. Once it was locked, Ian eased his dad back into the chair with his hands under his arms from behind.

Olive scooped up the biggest, fluffiest blanket from a pile tucked neatly in a basket next to the couch, and even though it was practically bigger than she was, she tried to hand it off to Poppy and almost tripped on the hem in the process.

Poppy leaned down with a smile. “Why don’t you go help him with it? I think he’d like it better from you anyway.”

Olive scooped up the long ends and walked carefully over to the wheelchair, stuffing the blanket in one giant wad onto Tim’s lap. Cameron smothered his smile, but the way he watched his sister’s stepdaughter was lethal.

It made me think about babies with dimples and his warm, dark eyes.

Good Lord, he was infecting my brain with thoughts of procreation.

How much worse could this possibly get?

With the blanket settled as well as could be expected, and the portable oxygen tank hooked up in place of his larger permanent one, Ian pushed Tim’s wheelchair out of the living room and onto the massive wraparound porch.

It seemed that there was a silent decision for everyone to shift locations while we waited for the Seattle group to arrive, and I eyed my security blanket/crossword puzzle book longingly before setting it down on the table closest to my seat.

Cameron came up behind me and anchored his big hand briefly on my hip while he leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Stop worrying.”

He brushed a quick kiss to my temple, and I gave him a dry look. “Sure thing, boss.”

Under his breath, he chuckled and the sound of it—deep and amused—warmed me down to my fucking toes.

Ugh. It was the best feeling ever.

I hated it.

He dropped his hand from my side to hold open the front door for me, and I walked out onto the front porch just as an expensive-looking black SUV with dark tinted windows pulled down the long drive.

“Is that Daddy?” Olive asked.

Greer scooped Olive up onto her lap. “Not yet, sweetpea. He’s coming with Uncle Parker in a different car. They’ll be here after lunch.”

I stepped back to observe, and for the first time in my life, I wished for a camera in my hand because I knew I was witnessing something poignant, beautiful, and heartbreaking this weekend. It was a family gathering one last time because they all knew what was around the corner.

I glanced up at Cameron, studying the stoic, tight-jawed expression on his face as the car pulled to a stop in front of the house. He kept telling me he was fine, but I didn’t feel fine, and this wasn’t even my family. His eyes were so conflicted, and unwilling to stop myself, I reached down and wove my fingers through his.

His chest expanded on an inhale, and even though he didn’t tear his eyes away from the car, he squeezed my hand.

The first person out of the car was Adaline Wilder—I knew it was her from the stunning similarity she held to Greer and Poppy.

She hopped up the front porch and flung herself in Ian’s waiting arms. When she leaned back, she cupped his face in her hands, studying him with her face split in a massive grin. “Holy shit, you need a haircut,” she said, then kissed his cheeks.

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” he grumbled as she moved to Tim and Sheila for hugs and kisses.

Next was a tall, muscular man with golden good looks and a jaw that almost rivaled Cameron’s. He greeted the family with easy smiles and hugs, and then held his hand out to me. “Emmett Ward,” he said, then tipped his head toward Adaline. “I tag along with this one.”

On her left hand, I noticed a gorgeous vintage set diamond.

“Ivy,” I told him. “Nice to meet you.”

A gorgeous blonde got out of the car—I was right, I’d met her years ago at an event—pausing to wait for her tall, dark-haired husband, who quickly unhooked an adorable little girl with a shock of dark hair, setting her on his hip as they walked toward the porch.

“For fuck’s sake,” I mumbled under my breath.

Cameron looked down. “What?”

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