Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Weston knew we were a package deal, and he was the bow to make us complete.
“I know it’s fast, and I know you’re scared—”
“It’s not that, Weston. I worry about the impact something like this would have on the kids. What if this doesn’t work out?”
“What if it does and we live happily ever after, raising these two amazing kids?”
I looked at Nova and Scout, best friends already, and then I glanced around the yard and house Miri loved so much . . . love. My eyes shot to Weston’s.
“Did you say that you loved me?”
He nodded emphatically. “I believe my words were, ‘I love you.’”
I smiled, having heard him the first time, but wanting him to say it again so I could absorb the words in this moment. I shook my head, pretending to be confused. “What?”
“Oh, was I not clear?” He paused. “I. Love. You.” He enunciated each word.
“That’s perfect because I love you too,” I said, repeating his words back to him. “Let me talk to them, but I’m definitely a yes on the whole cohabiting thing.”
Weston stood and pulled me into his arms. He pressed his lips to mine, and before the kiss could go any deeper, we heard, “Ooh, someone is kissing!”
Thanks, Nova.
Chapter 35
Cutter
Not a day went by when I didn’t think about my mom. I missed everything about her, but mostly her presence. Knowing she would always be where she said she would, and now wasn’t, was a hard notion to swallow. The ache in my chest was uncomfortable most days, and I’d found that when I didn’t think about her, the pain grew.
But thinking about her hurt as well. I was grateful for the text messages and voicemails I’d saved, and for the years of photos and videos Toni had of my mom. She never hesitated to hand her phone to Nova whenever she asked. As much as it broke my heart each time I pressed play—hearing my mom’s voice, seeing her happy and healthy instead of sick—knowing that I could hear her tell me she loved me or simply say my name . . . was everything.
My mom was missing milestones in my life, or, as Toni called them, “rites of passage.” There was the state championship and now prom. There would be more, like my upcoming college visit. A coach had invited us to campus for a tour and lunch and to see their baseball facility.
Same for Nova. Mom missed Nova earning a badge for selling a lot of Girl Scout cookies, and Nova was going to a horse camp this summer to learn how to ride. Toni was worried, but Weston assured her the camp was safe and highly recommended.
Weston was the other part of our lives my mom was missing. He’d always been my coach, at least since high school, and now he was really part of our lives because he and Toni were dating. I thought I’d miss Brendan, but I didn’t. It took me seeing Toni smile at Coach that I knew they were meant for each other. I knew my aunt missed my mom—we all did—but Coach made her days easy. Weston was by far the better choice for Toni and for us. He never acted like he was better than us, and I saw the way he looked at Toni. Sort of like the way I looked at Eleni. Toni said I had stars in my eyes.
Plus, I liked having him around. Ever since my mom got sick, Coach had been someone I could count on, and now he was always there. I’d never had a father figure live with me before, and while it was an adjustment, Coach fit in our family.
One thing my mom wasn’t missing were her parents. I decided, for myself and Nova, that we wouldn’t pursue a relationship with them, unless ordered by the courts. Even then, Toni said she’d fight a court order with everything she had.
Toni was also going to be our mom—well, officially, on paper. I didn’t really care for the “guardian” title because she was so much more than a guardian. She was our mom, aunt, and friend rolled into a fiery, loving, supportive person.
She was our person.
The court-appointed guardian told me and Nova we’d lose the social security benefits if Toni adopted us. We didn’t care about money. If we couldn’t have our mom, we wanted Toni.
Tonight, Eleni and I were going to prom. Toni and Samira had helped me with my promposal. Samira made me chocolate-covered strawberries and wrote “PROM” on them. Toni and I made a sign that said I Would Be Berry Lucky if You Went to Prom with Me. She said it was important to add “Yes” and “No” checkboxes, which I did in strawberry stickers, since they were Eleni’s favorite fruit.