Page 97 of Going Home

"I talked to Lily to see what our options are, and she said that since we're already their guardians makes it easier. As long as Lucas's mom doesn't object, it shouldn't be difficult. But I made the decision to bring them into the house without talking to you first, so if this is too much, I understand."

"You want to adopt them?"

"I think they were brought to us to help with this whole shit show of a situation we ended up in. And it's up to us to show them what a loving household looks like. I haven't talked to either of them to know if this is even something they want or not, so I may be jumping the gun. Whether we adopt them or not, I think we're proving that a house filled with love is normal, not the house of horrors they ran away from."

"Yes."

Eyes wide, he gapes. "Yes?"

She shrugs. "As long as they want us to legally be their parents, I think adopting them just makes it official. Hailey's already eighteen and will be leaving for college soon, and she's jaded more than I ever was, so she may not want to. Lucas, though, I think will."

"Aunt Lex?"

Looking around Colt, she sees Margaret standing in the doorway. "Hey, sweetheart."

"I... I miss my mom."

Colt nods as she hurries to hug her niece. "I have something for you. How about we go and find somewhere comfortable to look at it?"

Wiping her eyes, she nods. "Okay."

A strong hand reaches out to squeeze her shoulder, and Lex is grateful for Colt. He knows she needs comfort, but he also knows she needs to be here for Margaret. He's helped pick up the slack when she's let things fall, and he's proven to be such a good partner. A few years ago, this may not have been how he handled the situation, and she still can't believe how far he's come. Yet another reason she knows he earned that President patch.

Margaret takes her hand, and Lex leads her into the corner of the clubhouse where Gavin and Hailey sit on the couch holding hands. "Hey, guys, can we steal the couch?"

"Of course," Gavin says and stands, pulling Hailey up with him. "Do you need anything? Either of you?"

"No, thank you," Margaret says and blushes as she adverts her eyes from Gavin.

Hailey and Lex share a look, and Lex tries her best not to laugh. Her niece has a crush on Gavin. Who would have expected that?

"I'm good, Gavin, thank you," Lex says. "Come on, sweetheart. Your mom wanted me to give you this today."

Pulling the letter from her purse, she hands it to Margaret. She stares at her mother’s handwriting for a few moments before looking up at Lex, her hands shaking. "What does it say?"

"I don't know, but I can tell you that I have two stacks of letters to give you at different times in your life. She's always with you, babe. In spirit and in your heart, but she wanted you to have something to physically touch for those times she can't be here with you."

She slowly opens the letter and reads it to herself. As much as Lex wants to know what's written down, she wants to respect Margaret's privacy. These are sacred words between mother and daughter, and she just holds Margaret in her arms as she silently cries reading it.

Turning around, Margaret wraps her arms around Lex's neck. "I miss her, Lex. I miss my mom so much."

"I know you do, baby," Lex says and wraps her up tightly. "I wish there was something I could say or do to take away your pain. I really do."

"Daddy's mad."

If only she knew the extent of her father's anger. It's one of the few consistencies in his life. "I want you to listen to me, okay?" She pulls back, and Lex wipes the tears that have fallen down the young girl's cheeks. "No matter how angry your dad is with me, I amalwayshere for you. I'll never abandon you, and you just need to call me."

"He told Grandpa he was dead to him."

Sounds like Zane."He's just really sad right now. And you'll learn as you get older that boys are stupid. They don't know how to express feelings, so it comes out all wrong. Or maybe that's just the boys around here."

"Is Uncle Colt like that?"

"Oh God, yes," Lex says and laughs. "He's gotten a lot better, though."

Sniffling, Margaret puts the letter back in the envelope and holds it to her chest. "I should go and find my dad."

Nodding, she winks at her niece as she hurries to find her father.Please don't be drunk and passed out somewhere. Or with a club bunny. That would be Lane's worst nightmare.

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