Finally Found (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 10)

She bent down and gave her niece a hug. “Thank you, sweetheart. I love it.”

“And I love you,” Kimmie said before running back to the center of the lawn to play with her dog.

Carrie turned to Jena and Janet. “Did you all hear what Kimmie said to me?” She felt her eyes fill with happy tears. “She said she loved me. No one has ever said that to me before.”

Jena gave her a hug. “We all love you, Carrie. We love you very much.”

“Of course we love you,” Janet said. “We will never stop loving you. You’re our family. Forever.”

Josh put his arm around her. “Seems like you’ve found your home.”

Jacob squeezed her hand. “And you couldn’t have a better one, Carrie.”

“I believe you.” Needing to keep busy so as not to start sobbing, she said, “There’s more food inside, guys. Will you help me with it?”

“Absolutely.”

As Janet and Jena arranged the plates of food, Carrie walked back into the house with Josh and Jacob for the rest of the sides.

The doorbell rang.

“That’s got to be Gary, guys.” She walked into the entry and opened the door.

Gary stood there, carrying a dozen red roses.

“Oh Gary,” she said. “Janet is going to love them.”

“She’s definitely crazy about flowers. I make sure to bring her some at least once a week.”

“You better hurry up and give them to her,” Jacob said, moving next to Carrie. “Janet’s in a hurry to get the meal underway.”

When they went out the back door, Janet looked up. “Gary, you sentimental sweetheart.” She took the roses. “They are beautiful. Thank you, honey.”

When they kissed, Carrie knew these two were meant for one another. No doubt about it. She glanced over at Josh and Jacob, who had joined Matt and Sean at the grill.

“Everyone take a seat,” Janet said. “I’m going inside to get a vase and will be right back. These gorgeous roses that Gary brought me will be the centerpiece for our meal.”

As instructed, everyone moved to the table. Carrie sat down first. Josh and Jacob came next, sitting on either side of her. The rest settled down into their seats.

The laughter and joy around the table of delicious food was another first for her. It was almost surreal. She looked from face to face at her newfound family. Kimmie sat between Janet and Gary, who were looking at each other like two love-struck school kids. Jena sat between Matt and Sean, smiling broadly. She turned to Josh and then to Jacob. They put her at ease from the moment she’d met them, and now she was completely relaxed being with them.

This has been the most wonderful day of my life.

Janet stood. “Okay, who is ready for pie? We have apple and cherry.”

“And don’t forget that we made homemade ice cream to go with it, Mom,” Jena said.

She helped get the pie sliced and plated. Suddenly,

she thought about her red suitcase up in the closet. In her heart she knew they would all understand. Josh and Jacob had proven to Carrie that they already cared for her. Her brother Matt had the heart of a lion and would protect her no matter what. Sean, too, who was just as much like a brother to her as Matt, would always have her back. Jena had shown what lengths she would go to for those she cared about. She’d been the one who had found her. And Janet had asked her to call her “Mom.”

And Kimmie said she loved me.

Chapter Ten

Josh loved having his arm around Carrie, looking up at the first stars appearing in the sky. She sat between him and Jacob on her family’s front porch swing. There wasn’t any place in the world Josh would rather be than right here.

Jena and Janet had ordered him and Jacob to keep her out of the kitchen, saying they would handle the cleanup with their guys. It was Carrie’s party after all.