Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
After breakfast, we head into the front yard and I sit down with my second cup of coffee as Graham pops the trunk of his car. Daniel is in fireman heaven as Graham pulls out his gear, showing him his helmet and coat. I snap a picture of the cute kid wearing it all and send it to Arabella.
The sight of the two boys together sends an ache through my chest—an ache I never expected to feel.
I’ve never wanted kids. Not really. The idea of family always felt so abstract, like something meant for other people. But watching Graham with Daniel, seeing how natural he is, how much they’re both enjoying each other—it’s like a switch flips inside me. Suddenly, I can picture it. A home filled with laughter, a yard with toys scattered everywhere, a life that’s messy and beautiful and full of love. And Graham is at the center of it all.
I’ve never wanted this with anyone else. But with him? I want it so badly it scares me.
“Cara?” Graham’s deep voice pulls me from my thoughts. He’s watching me with a small smile, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“Yeah?” I say, trying to act normal.
“You okay?”
I nod, smiling back at him. “Yeah. I’m perfect.”
“Good,” he says, waving me over. “Because we need a beautiful woman to save from our pretend fire.”
“Lucky me,” I say as Daniel starts to tell me the rules. I go over to my car and sit inside with the window open.
“Help!” I shout from inside. “Fire! Help!”
They rush over, Daniel tripping on the coat that’s way too big for him, and Graham ready to catch him.
“We’ll help you,” Daniel says, pretending the stick he’s holding is a hose.
“You get the fire,” Graham says, “I’ll get the girl.”
I blush as he opens the door, wraps his big comforting arms around me, and pulls me out.
While Daniel is busy putting out imaginary flames, Graham is holding me against his big chest and looking at me like everything in his life has just clicked into place.
I feel it too. The click. Because with him, everything feels possible. Everything is on the table.
And for the first time, everything feels just right.
EPILOGUE
Cara
Five Years Later
Iclose my eyes and smile in the gentle breeze as our canoe drifts lazily across the lake. It’s late in the beautiful summer day and with the sun glinting on the calm water, sparkling like diamonds, everything just feels so perfect. Graham is in the back of the canoe, steering us with ease, his broad shoulders looking as good as ever. He’s shirtless and tanned after a long summer of great weather. He’s pure mountain man perfection.
Our four-year-old son Ethan is sitting between us with his miniature fishing pole clutched tightly in his hands. His brown eyes—the same shade as his dad’s—are scanning the water, hoping for a bite.
His pole jerks and he sits up, suddenly alert. “Mommy, look! I caught a fish!” Ethan squeals, his voice ringing out across the lake as his pole jerks again.
Graham smiles warmly as he leans forward to help. “Reel it in nice and slow,” he says in an encouraging tone. “Just like I showed you.”
Ethan’s tongue is sticking out in concentration as he follows his dad’s instructions. I watch them both, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. Graham is so patient and gentle with Ethan, even as our son’s excited energy threatens to tip the canoe. Graham widens his strong muscular legs, keeping the canoe steady.
“I got it! I got it!” Ethan shouts triumphantly as a small, wiggling fish pops out of the water.
Graham grabs the line, unhooks the fish, and shows Ethan his prize in one smooth motion.
This mountain man is so good in the outdoors. It shocks me how proficient he is in nature. Meanwhile, I sprint back and forth from the garbage can at night because I’m terrified of raccoons.
“That’s a big one,” Graham says, rubbing Ethan’s back. “You did really good.”
Ethan beams as he stares at the wiggling fish with pride. “I’m gonna catch a bigger one next time!”
“Do you want to keep it for dinner?” Graham asks.
Ethan’s smile melts away as he stares at the fish in his tiny hands.
“I want him to stay alive,” he says sadly. He tosses him back into the lake and leans over the canoe to watch him swim away.
He’s so sweet. I know where he gets that big heart from. It has his dad written all over it.
By the time we paddle back to shore, Ethan is chattering non-stop about the fish he caught and all the ones he plans to catch next time. Graham pulls the canoe onto the bank like it weighs nothing, then grabs the fishing gear while I catch frogs with Ethan on the shoreline.
Graham didn’t throw back the large fish he caught and we’re going to grill it up for dinner.