"Don't worry." Dove squeezes my hand. "There will be plenty more birthdays, especially with four of us."
"And I already know what I want for my next one!" Willa says in a sing-song voice.
"You're so not getting a phone." Dove narrows her eyes at me.
"Mercy has one!"
"So?" Dove sticks her tongue out at her and then Willa flips her off.
Before I can react, Dove flips her off right back. I'm about to scold them both when I realize it's an inside joke for them, and they giggle along. I've walked in on something here, something special and magical. This is what a family is supposed to feel like. This easy, breezy confidence that makes me feel comfortable, like I can share anything in the world with the people in this house.
Kellan and Zane come through to the dining room, each of them wailing for Mommy. It's so strange seeing Dove in this new role, but I shouldn't be surprised by how at home she feels in it. She wipes Kellan's scrape and bandages it up while simultaneously grabbing an ice lolly for our younger son. Satisfied, the kids retreat to the living room to watch TV, and this time, Willa goes with them, offering us some privacy.
All I want is to get my hands on Dove, but there's a quiet patience about it. I'll have her later, when the kids are asleep. For now, I'm happy watching light and shadow bouncing through the windows and off her beautiful face.
"Did Hodge send you money?" I ask her.
"Every month," she nods. "But we saved most of it. I spent some on the kids, and I paid off the debt on this property, so it's ours now."
"This is our home?"
She grins. "Yes, as long as you're happy staying here. The house is big enough."
"We might have to move if the family keeps expanding."
"Oh?" She raises her brows at me. "Planning something there, are you?"
"Not at all," I smirk. "First, I want you to myself for a few years. I'm not letting you leave my side."
"You sound so..." Dove leans against the counter, avoiding my gaze.
"What?"
"I don't know." She shrugs. "Different. Yet the same."
"I am different," I mutter. "Because I paid my debt to you, Dove. Not in full, never in full. But I want you to know how deeply sorry I am for everything I've put you through with Robin. Neither of you deserved what I did to you and I will be sorry for the rest of my life."
"Nox..."
"Wait." I hold a hand up. "There's something else. I started another trust fund for the kids and you. I'm hoping we can run a foundation with it, one that will benefit homeless youths."
"That's wonderful, Nox." She reaches for my hand, intertwining my fingers. "Because of Sam?"
"Of course, but I want to remember him in different ways, too," I grin. "I heard his granddaughter goes to the school Willa used to go to."
"Really?" Dove's eyes widen. "Wow. It would be so strange meeting her."
"Or her mother," I nod. "But we should try and find her."
"Yes," Dove nods. "That's a good plan."
We sit in silence for a while, the sun setting outside and coloring the dining room in its warm, golden rays of light.
"Dove..."
"Yes?" She looks at me right away, eager for me to speak.
"Can I..." I swallow my pride and force myself to get the words out. "Can I stay here?"
She stares at me before bursting out in a laugh. She pulls me up and embraces me, her lips an inch away from mine as she whispers, "You're never leaving me again. And this time, you don't have to stay in the shadows..."
Epilogue
Dove
3 years later
It's the day of Willa's sixteenth birthday and her brothers are driving me crazy.
Kellan and Zane have been bouncing off the walls since early morning when Willa opened some of her gifts. We haven't given her the main one yet, though. That'll be a surprise for tonight.
"Kellan!" My son stops with a smile frozen on his face. He's such a mischievous little boy, but it makes my heart sing to see him so happy. He's truly come into his own since Nox came back to live with us. And he certainly takes after his daddy. "Can you ask your brother to stop stomping, you're going to break the ceiling! The buyers will kill us."
He nods and disappears back into the living room, making airplane noises.
Tonight is another special night, because it's the last one in our old house. We've finally outgrown the home I bought for myself such a long time ago, and we're moving into a gorgeous villa in a safer, more family-friendly neighborhood. Willa says it's ritzy, and I almost want to agree with her. God knows the prices were outrageous, but I'm glad we made the investment.
Nervously, I wrap my fingers around the aluminum foil wrapped around a front strand of my hair.