“Yeah. And maybe the sun will change its mind and revolve around the Earth.”
Chapter Forty
Amelia
The scent of bacon, pancakes, and coffee wafted into the bathroom. I met Charlie’s eyes through the mirror and sniffed. “Smells tasty out there, doesn’t it?”
She nodded as I drew a brush through her hair. “Daddy’s gotten good at breakfast.”
Something in her smile caught my attention and I stilled, cocking my head. “You seem awfully excited first thing in the morning. What’s got you so grinning so big?”
“Oh, nothing.” Her eyes sparkled and her smile grew faster than she’d been lately. She must have put on an inch and a half since her seventh birthday last month. “Just thinking something good. That’s all.”
I returned her grin and finished her hair. The second I put the brush down, she scampered out of the bathroom without saying a word.
“Okay, then. Seriously weird,” I said to my reflection, then followed after her, sniffing as I entered the kitchen. “Something smells ama…zing…” I trailed off when I found Jack and the kids standing in front of the table, all still in their PJs, holding a flower in their hands. Plates of fluffy pancakes and perfectly cooked bacon steamed at our places, with mugs of coffee for me and Jack, and orange juice for the kids. Charlie’s grin was even bigger than it had been in the bathroom as she bounced from foot to foot.
I paused in the doorway, my heart pounding. “What’s all this? What’re you guys up to?”
“Just making sure you know what you mean to us.” Jack smiled as he stepped forward. “When you met us, we were all in a pretty bad place, but you stuck around anyway. I’d been thinking I needed to keep things normal for the kids, but you proved me wrong. Who cares about normal? I’d rather we all be happy.”
Staring at the people in front of me, wearing mismatched PJs and clutching daisies in their hands, I realized I’d redefined the true meaning of happiness. Before I moved to Wildrose, I thought I had to spend every minute of the day blissfully ecstatic, or somehow I was doing it wrong. Pre-Jack, life was black and white. Good and bad. After living with him and the kids, I learned hard things happen in good times. And then wonderful things happen in awful times. That I could have a bad day and still be living my best life. Because being part of the Cooper tribe? That was me at my best. I’d dropped the always happy act in favor of being shamelessly real…and in that I’d discovered true bliss.
“Ahh, yes,” I said to the man I loved more than anything. “Embrace the woo-woo. Let it into your heart in all its glory.”
“I will gladly embrace the woo, but only if it means you’ll marry me.” Jack handed me the daisy, then got down on one knee, and held out a ring box he produced from his PJ pocket. “Say yes, Amelia. Say yes and make me the happiest I’ve ever been.”
I dropped down in front of him, cupping his cheeks between my hands. “Are you serious? Are you flippin’ flappin’ serious?” Instead of waiting for him to respond, I kissed him, right there on the kitchen floor, both of us on our knees as tears welled in my eyes. “I would love to be your wife.”
Jack slipped the ring on my finger then stood, sweeping me into his arms and spinning me in a circle as the kids danced and cheered. When he put me down, the children swarmed us.
“I’m real glad Dad met you, ‘cause you’re real good at being a mom,” Charlie said as she handed me her flower. “And now I want you to be my mom. Mommy won’t mind. I know she must be watching and I bet she loves you too.”
Tears welled in my eyes as the boys stepped forward, handing me their daisies, then stepping back with their chins lifted and their posture proud.
“Thank you for marrying Dad,” said Garrett as he gave that smile that looked so much like Jack’s.
Connor nodded, copying his brother’s posture and I swallowed past a lump in my throat, then pulled them all in for a hug.
“All right then, Coopers,” Jack said, meeting my eyes with a smile that promised forever. “Who wants breakfast?”
Epilogue
Amelia
Outside the picture windows in the living room, snowflakes drifted to the ground. The maples lining the drive shivered in the breeze, the stark lines of their branches outlined in white against the morning sky. Inside, the five of us sat in the living room where a fire roared in the fireplace. The kids lounged in front of the Christmas tree, looking tired but excited.
While they pulled gifts out of their stockings, I slid a tray of cinnamon rolls into the oven. I’d found the recipe a couple years ago and they’d quickly become a holiday tradition. Jack poured us both a cup of coffee and wrapped an arm around my waist, drawing me close and nuzzling my ear. “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Cooper.”
I grinned, closing my eyes as I leaned into him. “Merry Christmas, Jackalicious.”
Arm in arm, we made our way into the living room as Nat King Cole crooned Silent Night over the speakers. The kids sat in a pile of wrapping paper, surrounded by the contents of their stockings…lip balm, socks, a new essential oil or two, and tons of candy.
“Looks like a solid haul,” Jack said as he lowered himself to the couch. “You kids have a good Christmas? Did you get everything you wanted?”
Charlie rolled her eyes. “You say that every year after we open our stockings. Next you’re gonna pretend you don’t see any presents until we all laugh.” At nine years old, she’d landed squarely in the preteen phase. Sometimes, when I tucked her in at night, I thought I could see the young woman she’d become and couldn’t believe how fast she was growing up.
Jack painted on a shocked expression. “I’ve never done such a thing.”
“How did I know you were gonna say that?” Connor shook his head. “Oh yeah. Because you say that every year too.”
“You guys think you’re such an expert on your old man, huh? Bet you never saw this coming.” Jack drew me into his arms, leaned us back into the couch, and kissed me passionately, his fingers threading into my hair.
The kids groaned, squealed, and covered their eyes.
“That’s something I’ll never unsee,” Garrett said in a haunted voice. At twelve, he was turning into the kind of young man any parent would be proud of. All the anger and aggression he’d suffered after his mom passed had finally burned away.
The morning eased by in laughter, hugs, and wrapping paper as we opened presents, oo-ing and ahh-ing over each and every gift. When we were done, I sat there on the couch, grinning at my family. The love I had for these people grew year after year. It didn’t matter that the kids weren’t my flesh and blood. I was theirs and they were mine and that was a truth no one could deny. A year ago, they’d started calling me Mom-Amelia, but recently, that had faded to Momma. Natalie was still Mom, or Mommy, but I was Momma, and it filled my flippin’ flappin’ heart.
Jack made a show of leaning to check under the tree. “Looks like there’s one more back here.”
I frowned. As far as I knew, all the presents had been opened. I said as much, but lo and behold, he pulled out a slim box and made a show of reading the tag. “Well look at that. It’s for you. From the kids.”