Page 16 of My Secret Valentine

As we come down from the high, our breaths slowing, our hearts returning to a steady beat, he brushes a kiss against my lips. He pulls me into his arms, my head resting on his chest. I can hear his heartbeat, strong and steady. It's a sound that soothes me, that lulls me into a sense of security, of peace.

The last thing I see before I drift off to sleep is the mountains in the distance, the stars twinkling above them. But they pale in comparison to the light in my heart, the love that fills me, the future that lies ahead. This is our beginning. And as I drift off to sleep in Steve's arms, I know that I'm home.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Steve

Morning light streams through the kitchen windows, transforming ordinary moments into something magical. Lainey stands at the counter in one of my old sweaters, her hair twisted into a messy bun, helping Maddie pack her lunch. They move around each other with practiced ease, a choreographed dance of sandwich-making and fruit-selecting that makes my chest tight with happiness.

“Don't forget it's show and tell today,” Lainey reminds Maddie, tucking a note into the lunch box. She's been writing them every day since she started – little messages that make Maddie smile at lunch time, a tradition that's become as much a part of our mornings as coffee and cereal.

“I know. I'm bringing the pictures from Sunday dinner.” Maddie zips her backpack with determination. “Jenny needs to see that Grandma likes Lainey too. And the one of us making snow angels yesterday.”

The memory of yesterday afternoon warms me despite the December chill seeping through the windows. After a morning of heavy snow, we'd all tumbled outside, making snow angels and having an impromptu snowball fight that ended with hot chocolate and popcorn by the fire. Margaret caught it all on camera, her talent for capturing candid moments finally being used for joy instead of judgment.

“Ready for school?” I ask, pulling my attention back to the present.

“Almost.” Maddie runs upstairs to grab something, her footsteps thundering overhead.

Lainey turns to the coffee maker, but I catch her hand, pulling her close. “Good morning,” I murmur against her hair, breathing in the vanilla scent of her shampoo.

“Good morning yourself.” She relaxes into me, fitting perfectly under my chin. “You seem happy.”

“Oh, I am definitely happy.” I tilt her face up to mine. “Everything's falling into place. The town's gossip has died down, Margaret's already planning a Valentine’s Day dinner, and most importantly...” I kiss her softly. “I love you. Last night was amazing.”

“Better than amazing. It was pretty magical.” She smiles against my lips.

“I didn’t think it was possible, but magical describes it well. And the good news is we can keep on doing it. Every night if you want.” I pull my head back and wink at her.

“Hold on cowboy. Let’s take it one night at a time. I don’t want you to get tired of me.” She giggles and I love the sound of her teasing happiness.

“Can’t happen. Not even possible.”

She shakes her head with another laugh. Then she scrunches up her nose and looks at me. “But is Valentine’s Day a thing or something over at the in-laws house?”

“Just a bit. She never makes it on the actual day, but she does love any reason to throw a party.” I smile with the reminder of where Claire got her love of special occasions. For a moment, I’m reminded of how lucky I was to get Claire. I miss her at times and I suppose I always will. But life is good. I’ve healed as much as I can and I’m happy with the turn our lives have taken.

“So even if Sarah's running a betting pool at Perfect Brews about when we'll make things official, you’re okay with it all.” She makes a statement rather than a question. That makes me happy that she’s confident in how I feel about her.

“Is she now?” I laugh. “What date did you pick?”

She smacks my chest playfully. “As if I'd tell you. That would be cheating.” Her expression softens. “Besides, we don't need to rush anything. This is perfect just as it is.”

“Perfect?” I raise an eyebrow. “Even with your stuff spread between two rooms because you're too polite to just move everything upstairs?”

A flush creeps up her neck. “I didn't want to presume...”

“Presume away.” I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I want you there. Here. Everywhere in this house that's become so much more of a home since you arrived.”

Maddie's footsteps thunder back down the stairs. “Found it!” She bursts into the kitchen waving the photo album Margaret gave us last night at dinner. She's been adding to it secretly for months, documenting our journey from awkward employer and employee to something much more precious.

“That's what you're taking for show and tell?” Lainey asks, turning in my arms to look.

“Yep. Jenny needs to see how a real family looks.” Maddie opens the album, pointing to different photos. “See? Here's when we made the blanket fort in the storm. And here's Thanksgiving when Lainey taught Grandma her secret pumpkin pie recipe. And this one's my favorite.”

The photo she indicates is from last week, taken through the living room window. Snow falls softly in the background while Lainey and I dance to no music, Maddie spinning around us in her pajamas. The joy on all our faces is unmistakable.

“Jenny's mom took pictures to be mean,” Maddie continues, wise beyond her years. “But Grandma takes them because she loves us. That's what she told me.”

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