Hold on to Hope

I eased up, getting onto my knees, leaning over the girl and taking her by the face. “I saw what you were willing to do last night. I saw it, and I know you meant it. You are more than enough. You are everything.”

I leaned in.

Kissed her slow.

Loved her soft.

Silently promised her that was what they were going to be.

My everything.

I grinned at her lips when I felt the movement on the mattress, my forehead dropping to hers as I looked to the side to find Everett on his knees. Giving us one of his scrunched up, adorable grins.

Pointing at us with that little finger. “Da, Fi-Fi, Ehvie!”

He laughed like it was the funniest thing, and I was laughing, too. I swiped him into my arms.

Felt his giggles float into the air.

Ricochet from the walls and echo in our hearts.

Milo perked up, ears twitching, old guy crawling slowly up to get snuggled in with us.

Our real hero from last night.

Holding Everett in one arm, I reached out and cupped Frankie’s cheek. “Unicorn Girl . . . let’s soar for the stars.”

Emotion crested her face, and she brushed her fingers through Everett’s hair, kid bobbing an arm at her to get her to take him into hers. “Just as long as you two are flying by my side.”

Epilogue

Frankie Leigh

Two Years Later

Sunshine poured into the backyard. The Alabama sky as blue as could be. The trees surrounding our home were full and lush. Surrounding the yard in a hedge of protection.

My pulse thudded when I glanced at the clock.

Almost noon.

I stepped the rest of the way out onto the patio.

Everett noticed me the second that I did, and he hopped up from where he was playing in the yard and raced my direction. “Mommy! Is it time? Is it time? Daddy said he was going to be here when the sun got way, way, way up high in the sky, and look it. It’s so high.”

Kai did circles around Everett’s ankles, yipping and barking and wagging her tiny tail in excitement.

I wondered if the sweet girl could feel it. The anticipation in the air. The feeling that everything was getting ready to change.

“It is way up high, isn’t it? It’s almost time. You should come inside.”

Everett stopped where the lawn met the wood and hopped onto the patio with two feet. “Dids you see that? I jumped so high. Almost as high as the sky.”

Love overflowing, I ran my fingers through his soft hair. He grinned up at me, sending me one of those smiles that shattered me. Tied him to me.

Sometimes it was hard to fathom the love that I had for this child.

I knelt down a little so I could kiss him on the forehead. “You are such a big boy. I’m so proud of you.”

I searched his emerald eyes. “Are you ready for this?”

“Yes! It’s my favorite day!”

I heard the car pulling into the front yard. Everett’s eyes bugged out in excitement.

God, he looked so much like his daddy in that second that I couldn’t stand it.

“He’s here, he’s here, he’s here!” He clapped and did some kind of dancing jig that pulled a giggle right out of me. “Wet’s go. Come on, Kai. We gotta go fast.”

Everett bolted through the house, his footsteps banging on the wood floors, Kai’s nails clicking as she raced alongside him. The girl basically refused to leave his side.

Chest tight, I followed them to the door where Everett stood antsy, waiting on me to unlock it. The car came to a stop, and we stepped out.

I met Evan’s gaze through the windshield of his car.

That energy surged.

I’d always thought it impossible. The connection that I shared with this man. But it’d only grown.

Amplified.

Deepened with the commitment we shared.

This life.

This home.

This family.

Those emerald eyes flashed devotion.

Admiration.

But it was me who was so incredibly proud of him.

Evan had stepped up to take a chair on the board of A Lick of Hope. He’d committed his life that he’d once feared inconsequential campaigning for awareness for genetic heart disorders.

I’d taken over the marketing of the actual lollipops. Getting them into stores across the country to help spread the word.

Together, as a team, we were making a difference.

Evan cracked open the door while Everett was jumping all around at my side, clapping his hands over his head and shouting, “You see my puppy.”

Affection pulled at the corner of my mouth, and Evan stood from the car.

Emotion crashed.

Tugged and strobed and pulsed.

My smile trembled.

Evan sent me that look that promised he understood me in every way. That he would never cut my wings. That he would be there with me every step of the way.

That we were doing this together.

That it was right.

Finally, I moved, knees weak, heart in my throat.

Every sensation heightened.

I reached my hand out for Everett. “Come on, little man.”