Isabelle

With my heart hammering inside my chest, I headed toward Andrew’s front door, incredibly grateful that I had Slater by my side. My hand shook as I knocked on the front door, my gut in knots as my pulse raced like crazy. But the moment the door opened and Andrew pulled me into a huge hug without a moment’s hesitation, my tears slipped down my cheeks as I held onto my brother—my brother—hugging him back and never wanting to let him go.

“Isabelle…” Andrew gave me one final squeeze before letting me go and taking a step back, swiping at his own tears, a smile on his face. “I’m so sorry…come in. It’s freezing out there.” He then reached over and shook Slater’s hand. “You must be Slater.”

“It’s a pleasure. Izzy’s really been looking forward to finally meeting you.” Slater shot me a smile that had my heart racing yet again, but for a completely different reason.

I couldn’t believe how much I loved Slater, nor could I imagine my life without him. And I knew he’d been worried about me rejecting him because of his past, but the truth was, I knew his heart, and he was a good man.

Andrew led the way to the living room, where I sat down with Slater at my side and my brother in the chair right next to me, so we could easily talk. I had so many questions, but I tried my best not to bombard him.

I reached over and held his hand, taking him in, looking for any features that we might share. He was tall and strongly built, even though I was relatively short, and though his hair was dark, it was still red, even though mine was brighter—the same color that could be found in his stubbly beard. But our eyes were the same shape and the same shade of green, and his smile was the same as mine. “Tell me everything, Andrew. I want to know everything about your life.”

“Honestly, it was a good life. My parents loved me and did all they could to give me an amazing childhood. They’re still amazingly supportive—and when I told them about you, they were so happy that I’d finally have a sibling, and that I would get to meet you.” He gave my hand a squeeze, his green eyes meeting mine. “As an only child, things could get a little lonely.”

“I know exactly how you feel.” If only we could have grown up together. Yet there was no point in dwelling on what could have been when we could finally make up for lost time. “Did you know all along that you were adopted?”

“No…I didn’t find out until I was about fifteen. It was a bit of a shock, honestly. I had so many questions…and no answers.” He let out a sigh. “Our mother…does she know you’re here?”

I swallowed down the lump in my throat, hating that I had to be the one to tell him about our mother’s murder. “I’m sorry, Andrew. She passed away just a few months ago. But if you have any questions about her, I’ll do my best to answer them.”

“Did she tell you about me? Did she say what happened?” He looked both heartbroken and hopeful.

“I’m afraid she didn’t tell me about you, and it was only after she’d passed that I found out I even had a brother. I can only guess at how it all played out based on the information I have, but…it would only be speculation.” I wasn’t sure how to tell him the truth when I knew it would likely make things worse for him. Yet he deserved to know the truth, and at the very least, I could tell him all I knew. “From what I know, I believe she was having an affair and got pregnant with you. My father…I swear he’d have welcomed you into the family if he’d known about you, but Mother…she never told anyone.”

I wouldn’t add that it was because she didn’t want to risk losing access to my father’s fortune, since it wouldn’t do anything but hurt him.

“I suppose she did what she thought was best. And I had a wonderful childhood, so I can’t complain.” He let out a sigh and managed a smile. “I’m just glad you found me, Isabelle.”

“I am too.”

* * *

My evening with Andrew and Slater couldn’t have been any more perfect. He’d cooked us dinner, and over food and wine we managed to ask each other about a million questions as we quickly got to know each other.

“That went well, don’t you think?” Still smiling, I shrugged out of my winter coat, grateful that the cabin we’d rented for the week was toasty warm, though it’d be even cozier once we got a fire going in the fireplace.

“I don’t think it could have possibly gone any better, love.” Slater grabbed my hand and slowly pulled me into his arms, stealing a sweet, lingering kiss. “It was as if the two of you were long-lost friends and had known each other your whole lives. And fucking hell…the guy can cook. It’s no surprise his restaurant is doing so well.”

“I know we still have a week here in Vermont, and I’ll get to see Andrew again, but I’m already dreading having to leave him. I know it’s easy enough for me to hop on a plane but…” I shrugged, feeling silly, yet at the same time, I had no doubt Slater would understand where I was coming from and wouldn’t think it silly at all. Years of my mother’s constant criticism had left me always second-guessing myself, but with Slater around, I was finally starting to feel more confident about myself. “I can always come and visit. And he can come out to Seattle, right?”

“He can—and I’m sure he will.” Slater quickly got a fire going before sitting us down on the sofa in front of the fire and pulling me into his arms. “Vermont is a quick enough flight. And we can stay here whenever you’d like.”

“I love this place, Slater.” It was a gorgeous stone-and-timber-frame cabin tucked into a wooded mountainside with massive windows so you could catch the amazing views. “But as gorgeous as it is here, I’m sure this home is booked solid during most of the year.”

“Not anymore, love. The home…it’s ours.” He shifted me out of his arms as I turned to face him, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that had my heart bursting with love for him. “I knew you’d want to see your brother fairly often, and if he owns a restaurant then chances are good he won’t be able to get away easily. But I want more than anything for you to be happy, so I figured having a place in Vermont would make sense.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him, still stunned by the gesture. It was the last thing I expected, and it was so incredibly thoughtful… I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have him in my life. “I don’t deserve you, Slater.”

“No—you deserve so much more. But I swear I’ll do all I can to make you happy, every day of our lives, if you’ll say you’ll marry me.” He slipped down off the sofa onto one knee, holding out a stunning diamond ring nestled in a box. “I love you, Isabelle—with every beat of my heart. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes. I’d like nothing more, Slater.” I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him, my heart bursting with the love I had for him. Yet there was something I had to tell him, and I just hoped he’d be as happy as I was. “I love you so much. But…there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it, love?” His brow furrowed with worry as he cupped my face in his hand, his touch gentle.

I took a deep breath, my heart skittering out of control as I held onto him, stealing a kiss before letting my words tumble out. “I’m pregnant, Slater. I’m going to have your baby.”

“Sweetness…” He kissed me, and then kissed me again, his tongue finding mine in a heated dance before he finally broke from our kiss, though he didn’t pull away, his head bent to mine. “I love you so much, Izzy. You make me so fucking happy. I can’t believe I’m going to be a father. I swear, I’ll do right by you and our baby.”

“I know you will. You’re everything I could want in a man…in a husband…in a father. And I know you’ll always do right by us. I love you, Slater—so much, it makes my heart feel like it might burst.”

“I know the feeling, love. And with a baby on the way, it just means there’ll be even more love for us to share.”

We were going to have a baby—and we were going to be a family.

A family filled with love, laughter and happiness.