Page 41 of Nolan

"Daddy. Anna. Want tea?" She holds up an empty plastic cup.

"Thank you, Princess," Nolan says, sitting cross-legged on the floor beside her. I join them, accepting my own imaginary cup.

"Ashlynn, honey," I begin, looking to Nolan for encouragement. "Your daddy and I want to talk to you about something."

Her wide blue eyes, so like her father's, blink up at me curiously.

Nolan clears his throat. "You know how Daddy loves you very much?"

She nods solemnly.

"Well, I also care about Belle very much. In a special way." He reaches for my hand, and I squeeze his fingers. "Belle and I are... dating now."

Ashlynn's forehead wrinkles in concentration. "Like Peppa Pig's mommy and daddy?"

I suppress a smile. "Sort of, sweetie. It means we like spending time together, and we care about each other very much."

Her eyes widen suddenly, and she gasps with the dramatic flair only a three-year-old can muster. "Belle, you be my mommy now?"

The question hits me like a physical blow. I look at Nolan, whose expression mirrors my panic.

"Well, not exactly," he starts.

"We're just dating right now," I add quickly. "That means we're spending time together to see if we want to be together forever."

But Ashlynn's face is already alight with joy. She scrambles into my lap, throwing her arms around my neck. "I always wanted a mommy. The other kids at dance have mommies."

Over her head, Nolan and I exchange helpless glances.

"Ash," Nolan says gently, stroking her hair. "Belle has always been special to us, hasn't she? She takes care of you, plays with you,"

"And she lives with us and makes pancakes and reads stories." Ashlynn finishes triumphantly. "That's what mommies do."

My eyes fill with tears. I've been careful over the years, maintaining professional boundaries despite growing to love this little girl fiercely. But the truth is, in my heart, I've mothered her in all the ways that matter.

"How about this," I say softly. "I'm still Belle, the same as always. Your daddy and I are going to spend special time together, and we all three will do fun things as a family. And we'll figure out the rest as we go, okay?"

She considers this, her little brow furrowed in thought. "But I can tell Madison at dance that I have a mommy now?"

Nolan looks at me, his expression unreadable. Then he says, "Let's just say Belle is Daddy's special someone, and she loves you very much. Is that okay?"

Ashlynn sighs dramatically. "Okay. But you're still going to live with us forever, right Anna?"

"I'm not going anywhere," I promise, and the look Nolan gives me makes my heart skip a beat.

The doorbell rings, saving us from further explanation.

"That'll be Weston and Melanie," Nolan says, standing. "They're always early."

True to form, Weston strides in with a case of beer and a knowing grin as he looks down at our clasped hands. Melaniefollows with a salad bowl, but drops it on the counter to rush over and hug me.

"Finally." she whispers in my ear. "We've been dying for you two to figure it out."

I pull back, surprised. "You knew?"

"Honey," she snorts, "everyone knew. The way he looks at you when you're not paying attention? We've had a betting pool going for months."

My cheeks burn. "You did not."

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