“Exhausted but happy,” I said with a satisfied smile at Henry, who Joy still held.
Clint followed my gaze to Henry. “How’s the baby?”
“He’s perfect,” Joy said. “Do you want to hold him?”
Clint grinned. “I’d love to.”
Joy switched places with him, letting Clint sit in the chair, cradling his grandchild. I was aware that Cooper snapped pictures of us, then eventually slipped away to give us privacy.
Clint gazed at Henry’s face, his expression a mix of awe and a little regret. “I missed these moments with you.”
“We can’t get that time back,” I agreed.
Clint lifted his gaze to mine. “I can make up for time lost. I want to be a part of your life going forward.”
I smiled. “I’m more than okay with that.”
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know you the last few weeks.”
“Me too.” We’d exchanged phone numbers, and I’d texted him updates about the pregnancy and our plans for the future.
Clint looked down at Henry, who sighed in his sleep. “Will you bring Henry over to visit with his uncles soon?”
Love surged through me. “I’d love that.”
“They’re excited about being uncles.”
I’d met them once, along with his wife, Sherri. I was surprised that they accepted me so easily into their lives.
There wouldn’t be any pictures of me as a baby with my father. But there would be of me, Henry, and Clint. It filled my heart with contentment. I’d dreamed I’d have my father in my life, and I was finally getting my wish.
Everything was coming true for me at once. I had a beautiful baby, a relationship with Cooper, my father, and my beach house. Life was perfect.
I was worried about how I’d manage work and motherhood, but I’d hired Blakely and talked to another realtor about working together. Everything was working out.
The slider to the patio opened, and a man stepped outside. He looked a lot like the Kingstons' older brother, Marshall.
“What’s Marshall doing here?” Cooper asked his mom. “Did you know he was coming home?”
Joy’s eyes lit up with excitement. “I didn’t.”
Marshall stepped outside, a sullen teen girl behind him.
“He has Hayden with him.” Joy crossed the patio, taking his cheeks in her hands and saying something to him. She moved onto Hayden who reluctantly accepted her hug.
Joy said something to Marshall, and he looked over at us. He crossed the patio and stopped in front of Cooper.
They hugged, and Cooper said, “It’s good to see you. I didn’t realize you would be home.”
“I was at Walter Reed in Maryland to recuperate.”
“You were hurt? Why didn’t you say anything to anyone?” Cooper asked him incredulously.
“I didn’t want Mom to worry.”
“I’m glad you’re home now,” Cooper said, his gaze resting on his niece.
“Tiff wants me to take Hayden for a while. It seemed like a good time to be discharged.”