Page 138 of Falling Into Forever
“We missed you. Obviously,” Lena says from the front seat. Her smile is shy, but the dark circles under her eyes are missing.
Grady has been helping her deal with the legal side of Trent’s rights as Poppy’s father. He’s put her in touch with friends who specialize in family law anyway, and I’m grateful. It’s been extremely stressful for her, and she needed someone on her side.
It shifts something inside me to see her like this. And I probably have Grady to thank for that too.
“You look good, Lena. Happy, too.”
She turns her head with shining eyes. “I am, Dante. I’m—good.”
Grady opens the driver’s side door and climbs in. His large frame eats up any extra air, and I lean back in my seat. Poppy reaches for me and holds one hand, and I reach over to grab Saylor’s with my other one.
When I’m settled, I’m shocked to find Grady has also reached across the console and holds Lena’s delicate hand in his large one.
My mouth hangs open, and I find Grady glaring at me in the rearview mirror, daring me to say something.
“So,” I say, dragging out the word, and he frowns with a warning. “It’s been a wild couple of months. For everyone, it seems.”
Lena’s shoulders stiffen, and I almost laugh when she tries to pull her hand from Grady’s and he tightens his hold. Her face turns a shade of crimson that makes me chuckle, but she doesn’t turn to me, so I lean forward between them like an annoying little brother.
“So, guys. Seems like there’s a story here. Care to share it with the class?” It sounds like I’m laughing at them, but I’m not. I’m happy for them, and especially for Poppy.
There’s no doubt in my mind Grady would be a better father figure than my brother has ever been.
“No,” Grady growls, and I laugh when Poppy growls back at him.
“I calls him Papa Bear ’cause he’s so gwowly,” Poppy says with a sunshiny smile.
I laugh out loud when the tips of Grady’s ears turn red.
“So…” I prod, but Saylor pulls me back.
“Someday,” Grady says with a little less gravel in his tone. “Right now, it’s a story just for us.”
Lena’s shoulders shrink like she wants to melt right into her seat, but she doesn’t refute what he said.
When I place a hand on her shoulder, she jumps, Grady growls, and so does Poppy. Love consumes me. “You’re happy, Lena?”
This time, she turns to me, but Papa Bear still doesn’t let go of her hand. Her eyes are swimming, but there’s an ease about her that’s never been there in all the time I’ve known her.
“I am, Dante.” She swallows hard and a tear slips down her cheek when she drops her gaze to Poppy.
“Damn it, Dante,” Grady mutters. He releases Lena’s hand, then swipes the tear away. “Don’t make her cry. I— Just don’t do it.”
My heart pretty much explodes right then.
I squeeze Lena’s shoulder, then lean back in my seat. “I’m happy if you’re happy, Lena. But it is a story I’ll want to hear someday soon.”
“Stinking nosy ass… You wanted a family, Dante. Well, now you’ve got one. A big, annoying, nosy one. Be happy and leave it at that.” Grady’s tirade fades away as Poppy regales us with everything she’s done while we were away.
My gaze occasionally drifts to the front seat, but Grady’s right. This is my family—the one I’ve always wanted. And I’ve never felt more at peace.
* * *
We pullup to the old craftsman-style home, and a sense of déjà vu washes over me. I rolled into this town a few months ago, full of anxiety and fear. This time, when I step out of the car and see the sign for Pleasure Bound Bookshop swinging in the breeze, I feel nothing but pure joy.
I stand, rooted in nearly the same spot as that first day, and allow all the changes to wash over me. There’s been pain, and tears, and laughter, and so much love I could never explain it in a million years.
Poppy darts past me with a squeal of delight, while Saylor and Lena laugh and walk up the path to the house. But my gaze keeps snagging on the boarded-up building to the left of Saylor’s.
