Chapter Thirty-Nine
Lucy
“So, what’d they say?” I asked.
“Well, it’ll be an easy process,” Jason said.
“Did she confess?”
“Yep. Confessed to the break-in and pleaded guilty to the attempted kidnapping charge in exchange for the chance for parole halfway into her five-year sentence,” he said.
“Holy crap,” I said. “I mean, Megan was a bit, I don’t know, weird around the single guys, but I just can’t believe it.”
“I’m just glad my girls are okay,” he said.
He wrapped his arm around me and kissed me on the top of my head before we picked up two more boxes. Jenna came running down my stairs, throw pillows in hand, and dashed out the door as we stepped out onto the porch.
“Miss Lucy’s moving in! Miss Lucy’s moving in! Miss Lucy’s moving in!”
“Are you excited?” I asked.
“Woohoo!” Jenna exclaimed.
I carried my plastic tub of clothes over to Jason’s house while he carried a suitcase full of shoes. I couldn’t believe I had finally gotten the family I’d always wanted. I watched Jason wheel my shoes into his room and set them down, and all I could do was smile. I was moving in with a phenomenal man who loved me with everything he had. His daughter adored me, he loved me for all my pieces that were still broken, and I could feel his love every time he looked at me.
My heart fluttered when he set my shoes down and caught my gaze.
“You ready for lunch?” he asked.
“Oh, I can always eat,” I said, grinning.
“Jenna,” he called out. “Want some lunch?”
“Can we have sandwiches?” Jenna asked.
“We can have whatever you want, sweet cheeks,” I said, smiling.
“It's mind-boggling, the stuff you have in that house,” Jason said.
“Well, maybe you should’ve moved into my house instead. It looks small, but it packs some serious space inside,” I said.
“No, no, no. You gotta live with us,” Jenna said.
“And why’s that? Huh?” I sat beside Jenna at the kitchen table.
“Because we’re already moving your stuff. It would take too long to put it all back,” she said.
“Preach,” Jason said.
“I don’t have that much stuff,” I said.
“Yes, you do,” Jenna and Jason said.
“So, what kinds of sandwiches do my girls want?” Jason asked.
“Peanut butter and apple jelly,” Jenna said.
“Oh, that sounds good. Make that two,” I said.
“Two peanut butter and apple jelly sandwiches, coming up. I’m gonna eat like a grown-up though,” he said.
“Men,” Jenna said, shaking her head.
We laughed at the bubbly little girl while Jason got to work on the sandwiches. Jenna pressed her body into mine, and I wrapped my arm around her back, kissing her on top of her head, happy to feel her warm, unscathed little body against mine. Images of Megan holding her at her neck flashed through my head, and I drew in a ragged breath, trying my best to keep my emotions at bay while I pulled her closer to me.
“Miss Lucy, can I ask you something?”
“Of course, you can, sweet cheeks. What’s up?” I asked.
“Are you my new mommy?”
I looked over at Jason, who had stopped his movements. His eyes slowly panned over to mine with a shadow of a grin playing upon his cheeks, and for the first time since Christmas, I was absolutely speechless.
“Is that what you want, princess?” he asked Jenna.
“Yeah. I really like Miss Lucy. I want her to be my new mommy,” she said.
I felt a tear cascade down my cheek before I pressed another kiss to the top of her head. My heart sang out with joy and elation at the beautiful words coming from the lips of this little girl. Jason brought over her sandwich and carrots, and then he caught my gaze again. He winked at me before he answered his beautiful little daughter.
“If you want her to be, then she is,” he said.
“Yep. If that’s what you want, then that’s what you’ll get,” I said.
Jenna jumped up into her chair and wrapped her arms around me before reaching out for her father. Jason came in as Jenna threw her little arm around his neck, and we both put our foreheads against his smiling little girl.
Our smiling little girl.
“I love you, Daddy and New Mommy,” she said.
“I love you, princess,” Jason said, kissing her cheek.
“And I love you, sweet cheeks.”