His Forever Love

Willow clings to me like a lifeline. She trusts that I can handle this and anything else that gets thrown our way. Her trust feels almost as good as when she told me she loves me.

Somehow I know that whatever the fallout from all of this is, it will be worth it. I’d pay any price if it meant that I get to give Willow the happily ever after she deserves.

20

Willow

“Out of my way!” I hear someone snap.

I open my eyes. It takes me a moment to realize where I am. I sit up on the sofa. I must have passed out. After the cops came and took Tiffany away, we spent the next few hours telling them over and over again what happened. It was exhausting but also traumatic to keep reliving the moment I almost lost everything that is important to me.

Bear snapped when they tried to get me to recount it for the fourth time. We’d packed up our stuff and left, Reid and Zoey coming with us. I don’t even remember getting home. The last thing I recall is passing out on the plane.

“She’s resting. I told you I'd call when she wakes up.”

“Theodore Grayson! If you don’t move out of my way and let me check on her, I’ll have your dad physically move you.”

“I’m awake,” I call out, standing. A moment later Alice is barreling into the room. She wraps her arms around me in a tight hold.

“You okay, sweetheart?” She cups my face with her hands. Her eyes are red. She’s been crying.

“I’m fine. Really. More startled than anything.”

“I’m so sorry I brought that woman into your lives.” Alice bursts into tears. I pull her in for another hug.

“It’s over with now. There was no way you could have known that she was mentally unstable. Hopefully they can get her the help she needs.”

“You really are such a sweetheart.” She kisses my cheek.

“Something to drink?” Bear asks.

“Hot chocolate?” I suggest.

“That sounds wonderful.” Alice takes my hand, leading me towards the kitchen. I don’t think she wants to let me go. My eyes start to burn now. She is acting like a mom should act.

“Don’t worry about me or anything, Mom. I’m perfectly fine,” Bear teases her. Alice rolls her eyes at him.

“Are you going to show me?” Before I can ask her what she wants me to show her, she goes for my hand, looking at the ring. “A perfect fit, I see.”

“Thank you for this. It means a lot to me that you trust me with a piece of your family's history.”

“Our history, sweetheart. It’s now yours too.” A warmth fills me at her words. At the thought of being a part of their family. It’s the same feeling I get when I’m around Zoey and her mom, Quinn. One of being loved unconditionally. Tears of happiness begin to leak from my eyes—or it could be these pregnancy hormones.

“Don’t cry, sweet girl,” she says as she wraps me in another hug.

“I’m sorry. I don’t normally cry this much. I’m blaming it on the pregnancy hormones.” Alice gasps, jerking back to look at me. She’s about to burst with excitement.

“What did you say?”

Crap. I think I have pregnancy brain too. Bear and I haven’t talked about when we’d tell people.

“We only found out yesterday.” I glance over to Bear, hoping I didn't reveal a surprise he had planned. It should have been him that told them. When his eyes meet mine, all I see is warmth. He’s got a giant smile on his face. I love seeing him this happy, and knowing that I’m a big part of the reason that he is.

“We need to start planning for this. I need paper and a pen.” Alice jumps up from the chair. Jim chuckles at his wife.

“I’m glad you’re okay, sweetheart.” He drops a kiss on the top of my head. Alice is back within seconds.

“Mom. We don’t need to do this today. She needs to relax.”

“No. I want to do this. I want us to get married soon too.” I’m excited. Not only to be married to Bear and have his last name but because I know Alice will treat me like her own daughter and be at my side to plan the wedding, filling the role my own mother should be taking but I know she won’t. But I’ll worry about dealing with my parents another day. We’ve had enough stress these last few days, and I want to enjoy my new family.

“Not too soon. We have to plan.”

“A month.” Bear jumps in.

“A month!” Alice protests. “That’s not enough time!”

“If it was up to me, I’d drag her to the courthouse today, but I want my Willow to have the wedding she’s always wanted.”

I start to cry again.

“You’re killing me.” Bear picks me up in his arms.