Temptation Trails - Page 181

“Is she awake?” I asked.

“No, she closed her eyes again.” Owen lowered himself onto the edge of the bed. “Can I talk to you about something?”

“Of course.”

“I was thinking.” He paused for a moment. “My cousin Thomas has a stepdad.”

“Yeah, I know Levi is his stepdad.”

“But he just calls him Dad. And Grandma is Dad’s stepmom, but he just calls her Mom. And you’re Isla’s mom, so she needs to learn to call you Mom, and I was thinking maybe I could…”

I held my breath, a lump forming in my throat.

He raised his eyes to meet mine. “Maybe I could call you Mom? I know I’m not a little kid like Thomas was when he met Levi, or like Dad when Grandma and Grandpa got married. But I keep thinking about it, and if it’s okay with you…”

A single tear broke free from the corner of my eye. “I would love it if you called me Mom.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.” I swiped the tear from my cheek. “I didn’t carry you as a baby and I wasn’t there when you were born, but you’re the son of my heart. You always will be.”

I could see the tears forming in his eyes and I just about lost it. Sniffling a little, he glanced away. “Thanks. Mom.”

For some reason, that made me laugh. Not because it was funny, but because I was so happy, I couldn’t help myself.

Owen laughed too, and a few tears did sneak out of the corners of his eyes. I pretended not to notice as he wiped them away.

“I love you, kiddo,” I said. “And look at you. You’re already the best big brother.”

He gazed at Isla. “She’s pretty awesome. And I love you too.”

As if she knew we needed a little dose of reality in the midst of our moment, Isla squirmed in Owen’s arms and let out a cry.

“Uh-oh.” Owen handed her to me. “I think she needs you.”

“She’s probably hungry. Being born is hard work.”

“Do you need me to leave?”

“They’re just boobs, Owen. It’s not that big of a deal.”

His face flushed and he turned his back to me. Isla got an arm free of her swaddle and stretched.

“There you go, sweet girl.” I worked on situating her so I could get her to latch while Owen hilariously refused to look. Not that I blamed him. I wouldn’t have wanted to see my mom’s—or stepmom’s, if I’d had one—boobs either. Even in the context of nursing a baby.

Garrett came back in and the smell of burgers wafted in with him. My stomach growled. The hospital’s food wasn’t half bad—or maybe I was just that hungry. The room had a small table where he set up our meal, but before he started on his, he brought mine over and fed me bites while I nursed our daughter.

He was such an amazing man.

And the best part? He was mine.

We belonged to each other, all four of us. We’d been through a lot to get to that moment. But we’d never given up. Garrett had risked everything for the people he loved—for his family.

He was, and always would be, my real-life hero.