Page 80 of Landry

“I already know all I need to know,” he said. “You’re passionate about your daughter, about the life you’ve built for you both, and you don’t need a man to mess it all up. After we get to know each other, you can determine if you want to take it to the next level. I can tell you now, I want more than a step. I want to go the whole nine yards and then some.”

Her eyes filled with tears, gutting Landry.

“Oh, sweetheart.” He pressed her palm to his face. “No pressure. I’ll give you all the time you need to learn to love me enough to eventually include me in your beautiful family. I’ll do my very best to prove I’m worthy of Ava’s and your love. I’ll figure it out with you as my role model. I’ll be a better man.”

She slipped her hand from his cheek to behind the back of his neck and pulled him closer. “You already are a good man. You risked your life for your country, and now, for me. In my heart, I know you would be the perfect addition to our family. The only person we have to convince is Ava. And she’s already halfway there.”

Landry leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Then I’ll show her how much I care for her. I’ll shower her with?—”

Camille touched a finger to his lips. “Please don’t say toys.”

Landry kissed her finger. “I was going to say experiences. My parents gave me things instead of their time and love. I would have traded all of those things for some of their time and any scrap of love.”

“I love you, Landry,” Camille said. “You’ll be a good father.”

“I hope so. I never thought I’d say it, but after avoiding commitment and even the thought of children, I find myself wanting it all...with you and Ava.”

Her brow scrunched. “I know we’re going to spend time getting to know each other, but is it too soon to ask if you want more children?”

Unexpected joy rushed up inside Landry. He laughed out loud and kissed Camille soundly before answering. “Yes!” He sobered, his brow dipping. “I’d love to make a baby with you. I’d love for Ava to have a sibling. I never had one.”

“Neither did I,” Camille said. “I always knew I wanted more than one. I didn’t want Ava to be an only child.”

“We can have as many as we want and still have time and energy to give them all the love and attention they deserve.”

Though her face was pale and she had dark circles beneath her incredibly blue eyes, Camille’s happiness shone in her smile. “I’m not talking just about babies. How do you feel about fostering a ten-year-old boy? Maybe even adopting?”

He grinned. “Hank and Swede are looking into what it would take for me to foster Billy Ray.”

“There might be a better chance if he went to a home with two parents.”

“Agreed,” Landry said. “But that might take longer. I don’t want to rush Ava or you. At the same time, I don’t want Billy Ray shipped back to people he doesn’t know or who really don’t care about him. My team is working on the legalities.”

“Chrissy and Alan Broussard could take on Billy Ray for the time being. In between having six children of their own, they’ve fostered children on a temporary basis and have jumped through all the legal hoops.”

Landry’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you’re not high on painkillers?”

Camille laughed. “Why?”

“You’re saying all the things I want to hear, and they’re big revelations for someone who has just had surgery and is hyped up on drugs. You want more children. You want to give Billy Ray a home...and you love me.” He shook his head. “Now, I know you’re going to forget all of this by the next time you wake up. Frankly, that scares me.”

She snorted softly. “You’re a Navy SEAL. Nothing scares you.”

His heart squeezed hard in his chest as an image of Camille lying unconscious beneath the burning shack flooded his memory. “Almost losing you scared me more than anything I’ve ever experienced. I don’t want to feel like that ever again.”

“You won’t,” she said. “It’s too hard to find a good one. When you do, you have to hold on tight.”

Landry nodded. “A wise old Marine gave me that same advice. I plan on holding on with both hands.”

Epilogue

Four months later...

* * *

Judge Frank Theriot banged his gavel. “Next.”

“Sir, the last item on the docket is the wedding of Laurent and Catoire and the adoption of Ms. Catoire’s daughter by Mr. Laurent.” The court reporter handed the man a binder and a sheet of paper.

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