Page 88 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
‘He made you feel safe.’
She nodded through a haze of tears.
‘Tell him so later. He needs to know you love him.’ Tom nuzzled her cheek. ‘We all needto hear it, just like your mom said.’
Fee exhaled a deliberate, heavy sigh. ‘Fine. I love you. Alright?’
‘It’ll do for now,’ he teased. ‘Let’s go and see how your parents are doing.’
‘Gosh. That sounds peculiar.’ She startled at his choice of words. ‘I’ve never had “parents” before.’
‘You do now.’
Fee couldn’t help beaming. ‘Your family will be pleased.This should make me a touch more normal.’
Tom’s eyes darkened. ‘I’m not goin’ to say this again. I’ve never cared if you had a whole bunch of family or none. It makes no difference to me lovin’ you.’
His honesty struck her to the core. He meant every word he said and she must never take that for granted. ‘I know, sweetheart.’
‘You better had.’
Fee stifled a laughat Tom’s attempt to sound cross. ‘Yes, dear.’
She had lost one potential father but found the one she’d been too blind to see she had all along.
