Page 62 of Auctioned to the Lumberjacks (Auctioned)

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FINN

SWEET BABY BIRD

Laying eyes on Hallie for the first-time last night and witnessing Skye scooping up her tiny daughter is a moment that will be etched in my memory forever. Skye’s desperation and tension melted away in front of our eyes, and her tears were of love and joy rather than fear and anxiety.

Everything’s different.

Last night, she truly let go with us, and it was beautiful.

I guess the difference is trust, first and foremost.

And love.

When she came here, she had no one.

Now she has her baby back and the three of us to keep her safe.

We’re all connected.

It’s morning now, and we’re all watching Hallie sitting on her mom’s lap, tugging West’s beard with her chubby littlehands. It’s heartwarming to witness the change in Skye and hear the sweet laughter. Our cabin is alive because of it.

The release of stress and tension is like a balloon bursting.

“Time for breakfast,” Jack says. He approaches the table with a plate overflowing with bacon, eggs, sausage, and toast. A feast for hungry men. In his other hand is a small pink plastic bowl that contains what can only be described as glop.

Skye lifts Hallie, places her on her hip, and carries her over to the table. We don’t have a highchair for her yet—we need to travel out of town to purchase one—so Skye sits at the table with Hallie on her knee.

I heap food onto my plate, ravenous after last night’s activities, and so does West, but Jack is focused on something else. He sits next to Skye, gently tucking a cloth into the neck of Hallie’s romper and feeds her the glop. She’s such a pretty little thing as she opens her mouth like a little baby bird, smacking her lips together as she consumes every spoonful.

Jesus. In a million years, I couldn’t have predicted the strength of the man’s paternal streak. He feeds Hallie breakfast with such tenderness and attention that I think he shocks himself.

So far, Hallie’s not showing any signs of missing Carter. She’s just so happy to be with her momma.

She’s like a mini Skye, and they even have the same scent: something warm, sweet and addictive.

I plant a kiss on Hallie’s chubby hand, and this time, it’s my turn to have my beard tugged as she giggles and babbles away.

I want to keep this little girl safe, always, and forever.

As we finish eating, there is a knock at the door. West strides over to open it.

Shona enters more confidently than the first time she crossed the threshold and searches for Skye and Hallie. When she sees them, her face lights up, and she strides across the room to kneel next to Skye.

Hallie immediately recognizes Shona and reaches for her, babbling about something we can’t decipher.

Shona touches her hand gently. “There you are, baby girl. Back where you belong.”

Skye beams and Hallie tugs the messy cloth from her neck, finished with her breakfast.

“Are you hungry?” West asks. “Jack went overboard on the food today.”

“I’ll take some coffee, black,” she says.

As we sit around the table, talking and laughing at Hallie’s baby talk and her love of beards, no one mentions Carter or what happened at Reggie’s.

It’s like it never happened, but it did.

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