Page 146 of Finders Keepers

“I know.” I trace random patterns on his chest, gathering my thoughts. “Sometimes I wonder if—.”

“Hey.” He tilts my chin up, making me meet his eyes. “You’re here now. Matt’s where he belongs, and that courthouse is going to make sure nothing like this ever happens to another family.”

The sound of little feet pattering down the hallway breaks through our conversation. I smile, knowing what’s coming and I slide off him and onto my side of the bed.

“Mommy! Gavin!” Sophie bursts through the door with Nugget on her heel, her blonde hair a mess of tangles, clutching none other than Mr. Hoppy.

“There’s my princess!” I open my arms. She launches herself onto the bed, giggling as I catch her followed by Nugget, who jumps up too, tail wagging a million miles a minute.

“Are we going to see the flowers today?” Her eyes grow wide with excitement.

“We sure are, Soph.” Gavin sits up, ruffling her hair. “But first, what do you say to some breakfast?”

“Pancakes?” She bounces on the bed. “With strawberries?”

“Hmm,” I pretend to think about it. “I suppose we could make pancakes. If someone helps me mix the batter.”

“I will! I will!” She scrambles off the bed, running toward the kitchen. Nugget looks between me and Gavin before darting off the bed and barking after Sophie.

“Sophie, wait for us!” I call after her, laughing.

“I better go make sure she doesn’t try to make them herself again.” I start to get up, but Gavin pulls me back for one more quick kiss.

I head to the kitchen, where Sophie’s already dragged her step stool to the island. The morning sun streams through the large back windows, warming the space and making everything glow. It’s moments like these that make my heart feel full to bursting.

“Okay, little chef, let’s get started.” I pull out the ingredients while she watches eagerly.

As we mix the batter, my mind wanders to the upcoming call with Angela. The lawsuit has been proceeding smoothly, but every interaction related to the case brings back memories I’d rather forget. The day we were told that my address at Ms. Lucy’s house wasn’t redacted from the divorce papers. The terror when Matt snuck onto the property and left me that eerie message on the window. His hands wrapped around my neck like a vice.

“Mommy, you’re spilling.” Sophie’s voice snaps me back to the present. Batter drips off the whisk onto the counter.

“Oops! Good catch, baby.” I wipe up the mess, forcing myself to stay present.

Gavin joins us as I’m flipping the first batch, freshly showered and dressed for the day. He lifts Sophie so she can “supervise” the pancake flipping, making her squeal with delight.

“Remember,” he says to her, “we have to make sure Mommy doesn’t burn them.”

“I heard that!” I point my spatula at him, trying to look stern but failing miserably.

Over breakfast, Sophie talks excitedly about everything we’re going to see today. “Can I bring my colors? I want to draw all the pretty flowers.”

“Of course you can, sweetie.” I share a knowing look with Gavin. She has no idea about tomorrow’s surprise trip to the aquarium. “Maybe you’ll see some flowers you want to plant in our garden.”

“Like the ones Mrs. Mary Beth has?” She asks around a mouthful of pancake.

“Smaller bites, please,” I remind her. “And yes, maybe we can ask her for some suggestions next time we see her.”

After breakfast, I help Sophie get ready in a lilac short sleeved dress and sparkly purple sneakers. After my shower I opt for a pink lace peplum tank top, some light wash skinny jeans and white espadrilles. Gavin sent me, Sophie and Ms. Lucy to the nail salon yesterday and I got French tip nails, wanting to keep them more on the simplistic side and not too long because snipping flower stems and long nails don’t quite mix

“Penny for your thoughts?” Gavin asks as I’m finishing up drying my hair.

“I’m thinking about how different everything is now,” I admit. “A year ago, I was so scared all the time, just trying to keep Sophie safe. Now we have this beautiful life, amazing friends, you…” I step into his open arms. “Sometimes it feels too good to be true.”

“But it is true,” he murmurs into my hair. “You deserve all of it, Bailey. Both you and Sophie deserve to be happy and safe and loved.”

“Mommy! Gavin! Nugget’s all done going potty!” Sophie calls from down the hall.

“We’re coming, Soph!” Gavin calls back. He gives me one more squeeze before releasing me. “Ready to go see what 75,000 pumpkins look like?”

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