Page 101 of Falling Into Forever
The corner of my mouth twitches. “Only the things that matter.”
“Fine,” she says under her breath, then gawks at Poppy with what I can only describe as a half smile, half grimace. With a resigned shrug of her shoulders, she says, “I love you too, squirt.”
Poppy’s gasp makes me laugh.
“I is not a squirt,” Poppy says indignantly, planting her hands on her hips in a way that reminds me of Saylor. “I is a big girl. I pee on the toy-yet and every-ting.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Saylor says, standing with Poppy in her arms. She’s slightly more comfortable holding her now, but it’s still awkward as hell with her back arched away from the little girl and Poppy trying to claw her way closer.
Relief rolls through me when she puts her down.
“Hey,” Lena says when she’s halfway up the stairs. “Sorry about barging in. I think Poppy can pick locks now.”
Saylor’s burst of laughter has me smiling. “I knew I liked that kid.”
“Well, thanks for watching her. I guess I’ll need to figure out our plans sooner or later, but it’s nice of Grady to introduce me to Mrs. Winters. I wish I had my cosmetology license here, but working the front desk is better than nothing.”
Grady has been exceedingly—surprisingly—helpful. When I asked Lena why she’d never mentioned another brother, I wasn’t impressed with her answer that he’d passed away before I landed in California so she never brought him up. But no matter how much I press them, neither will speak about it. For someone who thrives on information, it’s brutal.
“Can you believe Mrs. Winters asked if I wanted to buy the salon?”
That snaps me out of my wayward thoughts so fast I have whiplash.
“She did?” Saylor and I ask at the same time.
Lena stares at the floor, so I can’t read her expression.
“Is that something you want?” I ask cautiously.
When she lifts her head, it’s written all over her face. She wants this.
“Are you—are you considering moving here permanently?” Nothing would make me happier, but her entire life is in California.
“Would that be weird? Following your pseudo-brother-in-law across the country?”
“No,” I say, as Saylor asks, “Do you like it here?”
“I do,” she says as her eyes fill with tears. “In California, I’m terrified every time Poppy goes outside to play.” We all turn to the little girl dancing circles to whatever song she hears in her head. “People actually talk to each other and help each other here. I’ll never get that in LA.”
“I’m not a pseudo-anything, Lena. We’re family. And if this is something you want, I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
Her smile brightens, so I turn to Saylor, trying to gauge her reaction, and I’m relieved to find her expression unguarded. She’s happy and letting the world see it—she’s letting us in.
Lena turns to Saylor. “Do you think it’s weird?”
Saylor shakes her head. “No,” she says quietly. “I think sometimes you find where you belong by accident. And if this feels like where you belong, you should be here.”
“It’s a big move,” Lena says, glancing at her watch. “I don’t have any idea how to begin the process, but right now, I have to get to the salon.”
I hug her. “Go. Talk to Mrs. Winters. Ask what she has in mind, and we’ll figure out the rest.” My gaze falls on Saylor. “As a family.” Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t disagree.
Lena watches the interaction, then kisses Poppy. “Okay,” she says. And there’s an instant change in her demeanor. I’m an asshole. How have I completely missed how stressed out and anxious she’s been? “It’s settled then,” she says with her arms spread wide. “We’re moving to Connecticut.”
We say our goodbyes, and Saylor settles on the sofa with Poppy. The two of them sit with their heads angled toward each other but not touching, a compromise I guess, while they watch a cartoon about singing ponies.
Finally, the pieces of our story are falling into place.
CHAPTER28
