Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
“OK, OK, we can do that,” Corey agrees and ducks into his car. He reverses so fast that he nearly spins out on the wet, icy patch.
When I can no longer see his car, I go back into the main house. I’m not sure what I expected to find when I came back in, but it definitely wasn’t Callie drying her tears. Her nose is red, and her eyes are still filled with tears.
I grab a paper towel and run it under warm water. Then I drop to my knees on the kitchen floor next to her chair. I use the paper towel to gently clean her face. “What’s wrong?”
She sniffs. “I worry about him and his future. I worry so much. What if he never learns to speak?”
I set the paper towel down on the table and give her hand a gentle squeeze. “Then I will be his voice.”
“What if he never learns to walk?”
“Then I will be his legs and feet.”
Her lower lip trembles. “What if he develops heart problems?”
“Then they can take the beating heart from my chest and give it to him. I don’t know what his future will hold. I don’t know what battles he might face, but I know this—he’ll never fight them alone. He has me in his corner.”
“What are we going to tell him?” She glances toward the highchair where Danny still is.
He’s taken to knocking things onto the floor and squealing in delight every time Rudy picks them up and puts them back on his tray. Rudy’s tail wags with every dropped item, like they’re both having the time of their lives, playing with these plastic utensils. They’re both completely oblivious to the morning’s conflict and turmoil, something I’m grateful for.
“What are we going to tell him?” I echo the question, not sure I understand this one.
“When he asks about his father,” her voice breaks on the last word.
“We tell him the truth. The only truth that matters. I am his father, and I love him.”
She gasps at my confession.
“Corey agreed to terminate his parental rights. I did some research last night. It will take time to go through the court system, but once it does, I can legally adopt Danny as my own.”
“You would do that for my boy?”
I nod and reach into my pocket, pulling out the ring. “I know I’m doing this backwards. I love Danny and want to be his father. I love you and want to be your husband. I want the three—”
Rudy barks.
I smile at his gentle correction. “Four of us to be a family forever. Would you marry me, Callie? Say you’ll be mine. Say you’ll keep me forever, just like I want to keep you forever.”
She gasps and stares at the ring like she can’t believe this moment is real. “You want us?”
“So much. I’ve waited so long for a family. I thought—” I pause before I finally admit the fears I never voiced out loud. “I thought maybe I didn’t deserve one, and that’s why I never found you. But now, I see it. I was getting sent the best family because you and Danny are perfect. You’re more than I ever dared hope for.”
She throws her arms around my neck and peppers my face with kisses as she whispers the word “yes” again and again.
Chapter 13
Callie
Snowflakes swirl in the air around me as I walk with Nate toward the Christmas Eve bon fire. The temperature has dropped, and the snowstorm that the region has been anticipating for a few days is nearly here. But I’m not worried because I’ll wake up on Christmas morning with my three best boys—Nate, Danny, and Rudy.
As if sensing my thoughts, he reaches for my hand. My mittens press against his thick gloves. Danny is snuggling against his chest and gurgling happily. Rudy is keeping pace next to me, pausing every so often to offer me a stick. I always throw it and laugh as he races for it.
“He’s quite the fan of you,” Nate says.
“Maybe he can just sense my natural affection for him.”
“Or maybe you’ve been sneaking him extra treats.”
I chuckle, realizing he figured me out. “It’s not my fault. He’s such a handsome boy.”
He laughs too, the sound rich and warm. All around us there are happy couples. Nate wasn’t the only guy from the Naughty List Ranch to find love this year. Plenty of his friends did too.
Mary waves us over. She presses a mug of hot chocolate into my hands as we take our seats near the crackling fire. There’s so much heat, but it’s the company and the love that truly warms me.
“How much longer do I have you for?” Mary asks as she takes a seat next to me. Christopher leans over and adjusts her scarf, tucking it tighter around her as if he can’t stand the idea that she might catch a chill.