Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“She won’t. You’ll make sure Evelyn and Denny are a part of her life, angel. She’ll grow up loving them because you and Gavin loved them.”
I blinked a few times. “That was beautiful, Daddy.”
He smiled. “You haven’t called me Daddy in a long time.”
Shrugging, I replied, “Sometimes a girl needs her daddy.”
“And I’ll always be here for you, Brystol. Always. And your mother and I, Rachel and Nick, will also be here for Lily Rae. We’ve got the three of you.”
I let out a soft laugh. “Thank you. Things are moving at warp speed, but I can’t complain.”
“He loves you very much, you know that, right?”
Nodding, I whispered, “I know.”
“I think that boy has been in love with you for some time now, and you with him.”
My cheeks warmed as I blushed.
My father stood, lightheartedly chuckling. “Come on, let’s rejoin everyone else before your mother comes and gets us.”
We joined everyone else in the living room, where I snuggled up on the sofa with Gavin as our parents shared stories of us when we were little. The love in the room felt like a warm blanket, and I knew in my heart of hearts that Evelyn and Denny were sitting right here with us.
“Okay, be careful. Don’t hit the edge of the doorjamb,” Aurora said as she guided me into Lily’s room.
“Stop trying to lead the way, Gavin!” James said. “God, I’d hate to be a woman dancing with you.”
I laughed as Aurora brought me to a stop.
“I’m not trying to lead,” Gavin argued.
James snorted, and I could feel Gavin come up next to me. “There. You’re next to Brystol now.”
“Can we look?” I asked.
“No!” James and Aurora said at the same time.
“Geesh. Are you sure the two of you aren’t dating?”
I could just imagine Aurora’s face. It would be crinkled up in disgust, while James was probably making some rude gesture to her.
“Stop doing that, James!” Aurora said.
Fumbling at my side, I found Gavin’s hand, and we laced our fingers together.
“Okay. On the count of three, you can take off the blindfolds.”
“Wait,” Gavin said. “Do we take them off on three or after three?”
“Did you seriously just ask that question?” James asked. “Like, seriously? How did you manage to make it through the police academy?”
Squeezing his hand, I said, “I thought it was a good question. That second could matter.”
I heard Aurora sigh. “When I say three, you can take them off.”
“For the love,” James whispered.
“Specifics, Bob!” Gavin cried out.
“Jesus, have you been watching Phenomenon again?” James groaned.
“We just watched that last night,” I said with a smile.
“He was obsessed with that movie.”
“Wait,” Aurora said. “Were you even born when that movie came out?”
“Came out the year I was born,” Gavin said. “I’ve watched every movie that came out the year I was born.”
Turning toward him, even though I couldn’t see him, I asked, “Are you serious? Why?”
“Because he’s a freak!” James said. “Can we get on with this?”
“Why are you so anxious for them to see it? I’m the one who painted it,” Aurora said.
“Excuse me,” James said. “I painted the rest of the room and put the furniture together.”
I heard a thud, and then James cried out, “You almost hit my junk!”
“I know! I was aiming for it, you idiot! That was a surprise.”
Gavin sighed. “Thank God! I wasn’t looking forward to putting all of it together.”
“Gavin,” I scolded.
“I wasn’t! Did you see all the pieces of that crib? What in the hell was Denny thinking when he ordered that thing?”
A loud whistle caused me and Gavin to jump.
“I really hate it when you do that, Aurora,” I whispered.
“It gets your attention. Now stop talking, will you?”
Gavin squeezed my hand as I bounced on my toes. “I’m ready!”
“Okay, here we go!”
The excitement in Aurora’s voice caused my heart to beat faster.
“One. Two. Three!”
I ripped my blindfold off—and gasped at the sight before me.
“Holy. Shit. I didn’t know you could paint like this, Aurora!” Gavin declared.
Smiling, I took in the mural in front of me. It was beautiful…and familiar.
“It’s the view from the nursery at Evelyn and Denny’s house,” I said softly.
“What?” Gavin asked, putting an arm around me.
The mountains were in the background, the tips covered in snow. The forest of trees gave a slight peek at Moose Lake in the distance. Deer, foxes, rabbits, birds, coyotes, bears, and, most importantly, moose were sprinkled throughout the forest. There was even a stream, where some of the animals were getting a drink. It was so precious and whimsical.
In the corner of the room was the crib, set up with a sage-green fabric dropped down from the ceiling to drape over it. The changing table was in the middle of one wall, and near the crib was a rocking chair. Next to it was a small bookshelf, ready for books. The other side of the room held a dresser painted the same sage-green as the draped fabric. By the mural wall was a pink teepee with stuffed animals and pillows inside.