Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Forrest says he knows there are four hearts involved, and I’ll admit that was sweet. His words relaxed me and endeared me to him even more, but they’re words. I know words can be empty. It’s actions and time that speak volumes. Time to make sure it’s not an act. Time to get to know him and for him to know me. There is still so much he doesn’t know, and there is this huge fear that when he finds out, he’ll change his mind.
“Mommy!” the girls sing when I reach the living room. They’re sitting on the couch with their blankets and Rayne has the remote in her hand. At four, they are smarter than most adults. The TV is on and their favorite cartoon is playing.
“Good morning.” I smile as I take a seat next to them on the couch. “What do you want for breakfast?”
“Pancakes.” Their reply is instant.
“Pancakes it is.” I kiss their cheeks and then head toward the kitchen to make breakfast.
“Mommy, can we hold the baby?” Rayne asks.
My eyes find Emerson’s and she nods. “Sure, but you have to sit on the couch.” The girls scramble to the couch, sit side by side, and pat their laps.
“Who’s first?” Emerson asks.
“We can hold her together,” River tells her.
“Right. I should have thought of that.” Emerson smiles. She places Lilly in their laps and bends to make sure she doesn’t fall.
“Hi, Lilly,” River says.
“We’re your friends,” Rayne says.
“My heart,” Monroe says. “How in the he—heck do you stand the cuteness?” she asks me.
“We used to be the cuteness.” Brogan chuckles. “I guess we’re just used to it.”
“Mommy, we want a baby,” River tells me.
“Oh, you do, do you?” I ask, smiling at my daughters.
“Yep,” they answer proudly.
“Monroe is going to have a baby. Then you’ll have one for each of you,” I tell them. I’m not ashamed that I’m directing their interest from me to Monroe.
“Another baby?” Their eyes are wide.
“I’m going to need your help. You girls are so good with Lilly. I’ll need help with this baby too,” Monroe tells them.
“We’re good helpers,” Rayne tells her.
“Real good,” River adds.
We’re all laughing when the front door opens.
“Was there a party I wasn’t invited to?” a male voice asks. It’s a voice I recognize all too well, one that I hear in my sleep these days.
“Forty!” the girls cheer.
Forrest walks into the room, and his eyes immediately find mine. He doesn’t stop until he’s standing in front of the couch. He crouches down and smiles at my girls. “Razzle, Dazzle, I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
“We’re having girls' night,” River explains.
“And we’re helping with the baby,” Rayne adds.
“I can see that.” He smiles at them as he offers Lilly his finger, which she holds onto and turns his smile on me. “Hey, Momma.”
“Hi.”
Emerson lifts Lilly from the twins’ laps and stands. “I thought you were at the shop with Rome tonight?” Emerson asks.
“I was. I finished the piece I was working on. We just had some shading to wrap it up. Rome is almost finished, and he’ll be on his way home.”
“Well, y’all need to go to your place,” Emerson tells him.
“Or mine,” Monroe offers. “Legend is there.”
“I actually came to take Lilly to my place,” he tells his sister.
“Lills, you want to go hang out with Uncle Forrest?” she asks her daughter. Forrest stands and reaches for Lilly. She leans into him as he pulls her into his arms.
“Of course she does,” Forrest answers, placing a kiss to her cheek. Lilly rests her head on his shoulder, and he snuggles her close.
“Mommy, we want to go with Forty too,” Rayne says.
“Can we, Mommy? Please?” Rayne asks.
They’re bouncing on the balls of their feet, anxious for my answer. “Girls—” I start, but Forrest interrupts me.
“If your mommy says it’s okay, it’s fine with me,” Forrest tells them. All three turn to look at me.
“Three is a lot to handle,” I tell him.
“Pfft, we’ve got this. Razzle and Dazzle will be my big helpers with Lilly bug.”
“Yeah, we’re helpers,” the girls announce proudly.
“Girls, Forrest has worked all day. He needs to rest.”
“Mommy, he said we could. Right, Forrest?” River asks.
“You girls are always welcome, but we have to listen to your mom.”
“Please?” Their lips jut out and I know tears are about to flow.
“Girls, let’s go get a snack,” Brogan suggests.
“We don’t want a snack,” Rayne says.
Forrest nods for me to follow him into the hallway. I stand, aware that all eyes are on us. He hands Lilly off to Emerson, and with his hand on the small of my back, leads me away from all the eyes and ears.
In the hallway, he moves us so that I’m standing with my back against the wall, and steps in close. “Hi.” His voice is husky.
“Hi.”
He tucks my hair behind my ear. “Tell me what you’re thinking?”