As my dad walked to the elevator, he turned and added, “Oh, and, Josie?”
Looking over at him, he smiled. “Your mother would be proud of the woman you’ve become. I know I am.”
Gulping, I said nothing as my dad disappeared into the elevator.
Sometime later, I stood and looked at the dining room table, as I made sure I didn’t forget anything. I planned everything down to the littlest detail. I wanted tonight to be perfect.
“Mom!”
Smiling, I headed for the living room as Jasmine rushed over, hugging my waist while her brother Jasper grinned up at me, George slowly following them. “Hey, Mom, guess what?”
“What?”
“Mrs. Steiner said I can call her granny!”
“She did?”
“Yeah.” My little boy nodded his head. “Said you were gonna marry George, and he was gonna be our dad.”
“She did, did she?” I quirked an eye at the man, cautiously sulking in the background. “Is that so?”
“Does that mean I have to be nice to Cameron now?” My daughter huffed. “Because he’s a big fat meanie with cooties!”
“I think he’s cool!” Jasper smiled.
“We will talk about that later. You two, go wash up. Dinner is almost ready,” I ordered as they both ran off, leaving me alone with George.
“Thank you for bringing them home.”
“You’re welcome.”
“George, I want to apologize—”
I never got the words out because, in the next instant, he grabbed my face and kissed me as if his life depended on it. George deepened the kiss, a slow, steady rhythm that mirrored the beating of my heart. His arms encircled me and drew me closer, and I felt a familiar warmth spread through me, chasing away any lingering shadows of doubt.
This wasn’t just any kiss; it was his promise, his quiet affirmation of all the good things to come. A symbol of a brighter future we were building, brick by hopeful brick. His lips movedagainst mine, a tender dance of affection, and I lost myself in the feeling when I vaguely heard the elevator ding.
“Oh! Are we interrupting something?” Lidi asked.
Breaking the kiss, George growled. “Yes. Go away.”
“Can’t do that. I’m hungry.” Frank, George’s brother, smiled as he placed two infant carriers on the floor while his wife, Dr. Claudia James-Steiner, stood beside him, holding Charlie on her hip.
Smirking, I wrapped my arm around George’s waist. “Dinner will be ready soon, Frank. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable until the others arrive?”
The elevator dinged again and when the doors opened, we all clearly heard, “I’m telling you, Granny, Bailey said it was funny as hell. She had him by the balls and wouldn’t let go!”
George groaned, rolling his eyes as he walked over to the bar and poured himself a double.
“Oh, there you are, my dear.” George’s grandmother smiled, walking over to kiss me on the cheek as Fiona walked over to George. “How are you? Any lingering side effects?”
“I was the one maimed, Granny,” George grumbled, downing his drink.
“And rightly so,” the older woman snapped, turning to look at her grandson. “I should take a switch to your hide, young man. Leaving poor defenseless Josephine locked behind bars.”
“Not defenseless,” George muttered, then grimaced as he not so politely adjusted himself. “Woman’s got a mean grip.”
Frank chuckled as the elevator dinged again. My dad and LeeAnn, along with Laurel, Banks and their sons, and a man I’d never met, walked in talking a mile a minute.
