“I was adopted,” she answers quietly.
“No, you weren’t. You would have told me.”
“There was really no reason to tell you. To me, it wasn’t a big deal, so it’s not something I think about. I was adopted when I was a day old. In my heart, Linda and Robert Henderson were my parents, so I never even thought about trying to find the people who created me. The only thing I know is it was a closed adoption.”
“Wow,” I breathe. “This is… surprising. You actually look like nanna and papa.”
She laughs lightly. “I know. It’s strange, isn’t it? I always felt it was a sign that they were meant to be my biological parents. It’s not something I purposely try to hide. I just never talk about it because it’s never been a cause of concern for me.”
“I still can’t believe it,” I marvel. “So, there’s nothing you could tell me about them? Any illness or ailments in their families?”
I hear her exhale. “No. And with it being a closed adoption, I don’t think we would be granted access to find out.”
“Hmm… I’ll let Dr. Becker know. I’m sure it won’t make a difference anyway.”
“When do you go for your scans?”
“I’m waiting on Lena to call with an appointment, but probably tomorrow. I go back Monday for the results.”
“Okay. Well, I don’t need to tell you to call me as soon as you hear something.”
“I know, Mom. You’ll be my first call.” I get up from the couch. “I gotta let you go. I’ve got to put dinner in the slow cooker, so it’ll be done when the kids get home.”
“Actually, I was going to tell you I’m kidnapping them for the night. Gemma and I have mani-pedi plans. She wants to dress my nails up unicorn style—whatever that means.” She finishes with a laugh.
“You two have fun.” I pull the roast from the fridge. I’m setting it on the counter when I feel strong arms wrap around me from behind. I smile and lean into the warm embrace. “I’ll call you tomorrow about getting the kids.”
“Love you, Mols.”
“Love you too.”
As soon as I set the phone down, I’m turned around by my waist and hoisted up on the counter. Lincoln wedges his hips between my legs.
“Did I just hear that the kids are gone for the night?”
I slap my palms against his backside and yank him closer. Our mouths are only a centimeter apart. “Yep.”
Reaching around, he grabs my wrists and pulls my hands off him. He steps back from me and grabs the meat off the counter.
I pout, disappointed he’s no longer within touching distance. “What are you doing?”
Snatching the fridge open, he haphazardly tosses the package in and slams it closed. His eyes are predatory as he stalks back over to me. Tingles form in my stomach and my toes curl.
“We’ll call in takeout later.” I wrap my legs around his waist and he picks me up. “Way later.”
Chapter Six
MOLLY
Dear Linc,
Today was a good day, despite the MRI I had. The kids and I surprised Lincoln by finishing painting his workshop. He started it a few days ago but had to stop when an old client of his called with an emergency. He hasn’t had the time to finish it because he’s been so swamped with the Fischer commission. I could practically see the weight lifting off his shoulders when he saw what we had done. I hate seeing him stressed and always try my best to help when I can. I think the kids ended up with more paint on their clothes than the workshop. Of course, it didn’t help when Gray accidentally-on-purpose swiped his paintbrush across Gemma’s arm, and she had to get him back. It wasn’t the shop that alerted Lincoln to what we had done, but the paint all over the kids. We had a lot of fun.
As a thank you, while the kids were cleaning up, Lincoln pulled me behind the shop and laid a long and deep kiss against my lips that practically had my panties melting. He always makes me weak in the knees. That’s one of the million things I love about him. He promised to show me more of his gratitude tonight after the kids go to bed. Even as I write this, my insides are turning to mush thinking about what he’ll do later tonight.
Will I ever get enough of him? Not just his touch, but his words and actions, even simply his presence. I know deep in my heart, I won’t. I could live a thousand lifetimes with Lincoln and still want a thousand more.
I look up from my journal when Gemma comes bounding into the room, Mr. Cuddles, her favorite stuffed bear, tucked under her arm. I set my pen and journal down on the coffee table just in time for her to jump on the couch beside me.
“Will you do my hair in French braids?” she asks, handing over the brush.
I scoot back on the cushion, spread my legs, and pat the space I’ve made for her. “Come sit.”
“Yah!” she hoots and plops down in front of me.
“It looks like we didn’t do a very good job of getting the paint out of your hair,” I remark when I start separating her hair into two sections. I carefully scrape away the paint as best as I can.
She shrugs her little shoulders. “It’s okay. It gives my hair more color than only red.”
“You don’t like your hair color?” I gently run the brush through her hair, growing envious at the thickness. She gets her hair color from me but the density from my mom.
“I do, because red is my favorite color, and it’s just like yours. I like that we have the same color.”
I gently tug her head back by her hair until I see her face. “I like that we have the same color too.” I drop a kiss on the tip of her nose.
She bounces up on the cushion and does the same to me. My Gemma is the sweetest little girl.
“Did you have fun painting today?”
“Uh huh. I wish Daddy were there with us, though. It would have been fun to have a paint war with him.”
I separate her hair into three sections and start on the French braid.
“Well, we still have the back porch to paint. Maybe we can con him into helping and getting him then.”
She giggles as her heels tap against the bottom of the couch. “We’ll have to surprise him. But we can’t tell Gray cause he’ll tell Daddy.”
I pull the hair tie from around the handle of the brush and tie off the end of her braid before working on the other side.
“What’s your daddy and brother doing?”
“Playing videos. Can I go to work with you tomorrow?”
“Hmm… yeah, I think that’ll be okay. You wanna help me doctor the animals?”
“Yep. Can I listen to their heartbeats?”
“You sure can.”
“Goodie!” She pauses a moment. “And can I play with the new kitty you got for the office?”
I laugh. “Ah ha! That’s why you want to go to work with me.”
“Yeah, but I wanna help you take care of the animals too.”
I tie off the second braid and kiss the back of her head. She gets up from the couch and turns to face me.
“Thank you, Momma,” she says before throwing her tiny arms around my neck. I hug her extra tight and bury my face in her neck, inhaling her fresh innocent scent.