Four more familiar chimes came in quick succession, indicating a flurry of text messages. Probably not Bethany, her former babysitter. A pang of regret thrummed at the unexpected reminder of Connor and her time in Merritt’s Crossing. Although she tried not to think about him, the sweet little fella had stolen a piece of her heart and was never far from her thoughts. Was he taking his first steps yet? Did McKenna have a good job? Was he safe?
She dug her phone from her bag and glanced at the screen. Ten missed calls and multiple text messages waited. What in the world?
The first text from Mom made her pulse race.
Connor is here. McKenna wants us to take him. Permanently. Is there any way you could come home??
The next messages from Laramie, Jack and Drew were all variations on the same piece of shocking news. The last message from Gage made tears well.
Skye, I found McKenna and Connor on the side of the highway. If you don’t want to text me, I understand, but please contact your mom ASAP. It’s important. Connor needs you.
“The side of the highway?” She quickly scrolled through the messages for more details. What had happened to McKenna? Was she hurt? Was Connor hurt? There were far more questions than answers.
Her hands shook as she attempted to text them all at once. Leaving Denver now.
She quickly shoved the box inside her apartment, grabbed one of the suitcases she’d recently unloaded, locked the door and rushed back to her car. While she navigated the Sunday-evening and holiday traffic, one important question surfaced above all the others. What about Gage? Did he need her? Or was he merely the messenger, dutifully informing her of what he’d observed as a first responder?
As the city lights faded behind her in the rearview mirror and darkness closed in, sheer adrenaline kept her barreling down the interstate toward Merritt’s Crossing. It was after nine when she pulled into her mom’s driveway, and her headlights bounced across a familiar pickup truck. Gage.
Her pulse skittered as Mom’s front door opened and his broad, muscular frame was silhouetted by the light spilling out from the living room. The visual image of him waiting for her—welcoming her home—propelled her out of the car. She left the engine running and raced up the driveway, then flung herself into his open arms.
“I’m so sorry.” Her voice broke and she clung to him, her arms roped around his neck and her cheek pressed against his chest.
Gage’s strong arms encircled her waist and he held her close, enveloping her, like a shelter in the middle of a brutal storm. Even if McKenna hadn’t changed her mind about Connor, Skye would’ve come back. In her heart, she knew Denver and her career didn’t offer happiness and contentment. Gage did. She belonged with him.
This—this felt like home. He was her home.
She closed her eyes, the realization prompting a wave of fresh tears, and she earnestly hoped that he felt the same way.
Slowly, she pulled back and searched his face. “Say something. Please.”
A half smile formed, and he tenderly wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb, sending a warm, tingly sensation straight through her.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said, his voice husky. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“Will you please forgive me?” She kept her gaze riveted on his. “I was such an idiot, letting my fear stand between us.”
“Idiot is not a word I would ever use to describe you.” The golden glow of the lamplight emphasized the broad planes of his face and he cupped her cheek with his palm. “You are beautiful and intelligent, and your fierce loyalty to the people you love is a force to be reckoned with.”
“It’s also the thing that gets me in the most trouble, especially when it blinds me to what’s right in front of me.” She swallowed hard. “I’m so sorry for the things I said at the festival. You were right. We’ve enabled McKenna for a long time and it wreaked havoc in our lives. And even if she hadn’t changed her mind, I’m here because I want to be with you.”
“I’m sorry, too. I said things about you and your family that I’d take back in a heartbeat if I could. My mother’s addiction issues were fueled by people enabling her—people I trusted to keep me safe—which meant I had to go into the foster care system. When McKenna showed up and took Connor, it brought back so many painful memories, and that’s why I was so angry.” Gage caressed her arms with his hands. “But Connor’s asleep inside, and he and McKenna are both safe, and you’re back. That’s all that matters.”
“You’re being very gracious.” She clasped her hands behind his neck. “Are you sure that’s all you want to say?”
His smooth brow furrowed. “There is one more thing.”
She knew it. Her stomach lurched. Was he going to extract himself from her embrace and tell her they didn’t have a future together?
His gaze flitted to her lips for an instant. When his eyes met hers again, only approval and affection filled those gorgeous green-gold pools. “I need you, Skye. No matter what the future holds for Connor, I don’t want to be apart from you anymore. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Then her eyelids fluttered, and he claimed her mouth with his. As Mr. Handsome-Hazel-Eyes deepened the kiss, she tunneled her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. The warmth of his touch and the comfort and safety she found in his embrace confirmed what she’d secretly known from the beginning—Gage wasn’t a man who led with harsh words and intimidation. Quite the opposite. All along, he’d only used his strength to protect.
* * *
Gage sat on the Tomlinsons’ couch, his arm wrapped around Skye’s shoulders, and his other hand entwined with hers. He hadn’t stopped holding on to her since she’d raced up the driveway and back into his life over an hour ago, and until Mrs. Tomlinson sent him home, he had no plans to let go. McKenna and Mrs. Tomlinson sat across from them, staring at him expectantly.
“Gage?” Skye squeezed his hand. “Did you hear McKenna?”
“I—I’m sorry, I didn’t.” He grinned at her. “Got distracted.”
Her mouth curved into a knowing smile, drawing his gaze to the fullness of her lower lip. His arms ached to pull her into another embrace and re-create their reunion on the front porch, but not with her mother and cousin as an audience. He tore his gaze away and forced himself to focus on McKenna.
“I said I want you and Skye to be Connor’s legal guardians.”
“What?”
“Since you’re together—I’m assuming that’s the case, since you can’t stop staring or touching each other.” McKenna’s eyes gleamed with tears as she offered a wobbly smile. “I want you to be his permanent guardians.”
His pulse spiked. Was she serious? And how was that even possible? He and Skye weren’t married or even engaged. Not that he hadn’t thought about both those events happening in the very near future. He opened his mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. “What about Gerald and Irene?”
“I’ve been in touch with an attorney,” Mrs. Tomlinson said. “He’s preparing a response in case they sue for custody.”
“Not that I have any right to be critical, but Irene was not very hands-on as a mother. Ryan told me once that she was way more interested in her hobbies than him.” McKenna twisted a tissue around her fingers. “I should have told you sooner because he said that whatever happened between us, he didn’t want his parents raising Connor.”
The hair on the back of Gage’s neck stood up. That explained why Ryan hadn’t spent a lot of time talking about his parents. “When did he say that?”
“He wrote it in an email. I still have it.” McKenna glanced at Mrs. Tomlinson. “At least I did one thing right.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Mrs. Tomlinson said. “You’re being very brave.”
Gage’s mind raced, eager to map out the facts.
“After I told him I was pregn
ant, he asked me to move to Florida. I said I was too afraid to move that far, especially when he spent so much time at sea, and I didn’t have any support. That’s when he said he could borrow money from his parents to help me move, but if they found out about the baby, he warned me they’d...be a challenge to deal with.”
McKenna dabbed at her tears with the tissue. “Ryan wanted Connor to have a different childhood than he did.”
Gage released a heavy sigh. Skye’s thumb slid gently across the back of his hand, offering comfort.
“I know this is a big decision, but I’m not capable of taking care of Connor on my own. I—I’m scared I’ll just keep hurting him.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Mrs. Tomlinson pulled McKenna close. “We are going to figure this out. Together. It’s getting late. Why don’t you try to get some sleep?”
McKenna nodded and pushed to her feet. Her teary-eyed gaze lingered on Skye and Gage. “Please think about what I said.”
“We will.” Skye’s eyes flitted to his, and the tenderness there filled him with love. She’d make such an amazing mother, to Connor and to any future children they had together. Warmth crawled up his neck at the image of a house full of kids. For the second time in only a few minutes, he forced himself to rein in his thoughts.
“Looks like you two have a lot to talk about. I’ll help McKenna get settled in the guest room.” Mrs. Tomlinson stood and followed McKenna down the hall. “Don’t stay up too late.”
When they were alone, Gage dipped his head and brushed his lips against Skye’s. “I’ve been waiting almost an hour to do that.”
Her soft laughter made his heart beat double time. “I thought they’d never go to bed.”
While he wanted to kiss her senseless, Mrs. Tomlinson had gently hinted that he ought to go soon, and they still had so much to talk about. He straightened and put a fraction of an inch between them, just so he could think straight. And ask her the question that had been top of mind since she’d come back to Merritt’s Crossing.
“Are you still going back to Denver?”
“Nope. I’ll call my boss first thing tomorrow and resign.”
He felt the tiniest embers of hope ignite.
“What about you? Still heading for Wyoming in the morning?”
He studied her. “Who told you?”
Eyes gleaming, she shook her head in mock disbelief. “If you’re going to live in Merritt’s Crossing, you’ll have to accept what I’m about to tell you as absolute fact.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“We all make it our business to know everyone else’s business.”
He nodded. “Good to know. Sounds like my kind of place.”
Her eyes grew wide. “Does that mean you’ll stay?”
“Only if you will.”
She grinned. “I hear there’s a furniture store that still has hope of surviving and a little boy who needs a mom and a dad.”
“I thought motherhood wasn’t part of your long game. What changed your mind?”
Reaching up to cup his cheek with her palm, she stared deeply into his eyes. “Connor. And you.”
Goose bumps raced across his skin. “What do you think about McKenna’s request?”
She stared at him for what seemed like an eternity. “I plan to say yes, but I need to know if you’re willing to take on a family? Because Connor and I are a package deal.”
Tears pricked his eyelids, but he battled them back. Reaching for her hand, he pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist. “Nothing in the world would make me happier than to build a life with you and be Connor’s dad.” His voice cracked. “Marry me?”
“Yes.” Her heavy-lidded gaze made warmth flare. “Now, kiss me again.”
He moved within inches of her mouth, drinking her in, memorizing every curve of her face before he complied with her request.
The realization that they were planning a life together seeped into him, chasing away the guilt and regret that had plagued him for far too long. While he’d valued his time in the navy and the structure offered by the military lifestyle, it had enabled him to avoid any serious romantic relationships. While he’d once equated family and intimacy with pain and rejection, Skye gave him the courage to risk his heart again. Finding Connor and meeting the Tomlinsons taught him what a real family looked like, not only the faults but the unconditional love, too. He’d kept his word to Ryan and gained more than he ever dreamed possible.
Epilogue
One year later
Skye was glad she’d said yes.
Yes to McKenna’s request to become Connor’s guardian, yes to staying in Merritt’s Crossing and, most of all, yes to Gage’s marriage proposal.
“You look stunning.” Laramie caught her gaze in the mirror hanging in the church’s Sunday school classroom that they’d transformed into a makeshift dressing area as she adjusted the gauzy veil pinned carefully around Skye’s elegant French twist.
“Thank you.” Skye admired the long-sleeved gown with a fitted lace bodice that tapered down to her waist and then billowed out into a full satin skirt with flowers embroidered along the hemline.
She smiled at her reflection, then turned and hugged her best friend and maid of honor. “We couldn’t have pulled this wedding off without your help.”
“Nonsense,” Laramie said. “You did most of the planning.”
“I want today to be amazing. For me and for Gage.”
Waiting a whole year to become Mrs. Gage Westbrook had been challenging, and more than once they’d seriously considered eloping at the county courthouse. But since they were about to become a family of three in a most nontraditional way, having an intimate traditional ceremony and reception with their closest friends and family was important. Connor meant the world to both of them, but they’d dedicated so much time and energy to his needs.
Since the adoption was finalized and they were officially Connor’s mother and father now, today was meant to be a celebration of their love as they became husband and wife.
Skye’s legs trembled, and goose bumps raced down her spine. She wasn’t apprehensive—just overwhelmed with joy. For a long time, she’d written off the possibility of ever wearing a gown like this. Scarcely allowed herself to dream of one day walking down the aisle toward a man like Gage.
But God, in His infinite love and grace, had healed the broken places and orchestrated something beautiful where once she’d only seen chaos and heartache.
“I’ve loved every minute of this hectic whirlwind that’s become your life, by the way.” Laramie popped open a compact and quickly powdered Skye’s nose one more time. “It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it?”
“It has,” she agreed. “Today couldn’t get here soon enough.”
Between Gage’s long hours at Alta Vista’s wind farm and her efforts to turn the furniture store into a successful business, they’d needed a year to plan the wedding and jump through all the hoops to win the custody battle waged by Ryan’s parents. Thankfully, the judge had officially declared Skye and Gage Connor’s parents and granted Gerald and Irene weekend visitation once every other month. They were required to come to Colorado to spend time with Connor.
Laramie checked her own reflection in the mirror one last time, smoothed her hands over the simple navy satin bridesmaid’s dress with the floral lace overlay, then stepped into her sling-back heels.
A knock sounded at the door and her mother and Bethany came in, wearing dresses similar to Laramie’s.
“Oh, look at you.” Mom splayed her hand across her chest, eyes glistening with tears.
“No crying.” Bethany fanned Mom’s face with her hand. “If you start, we won’t be able to stop.”
“I’m so happy for you, sweetheart.” Her mom gently pulled Skye into an embrace and then tenderly kissed her cheek. “You are going to make Gage very happy, and you are already a
n incredible mother to Connor.”
“Thank you,” Skye whispered, determined not to melt into a puddle of tears before she and Gage saw each other.
They picked up their bouquets, and the photographer slipped in and took more pictures. When she was finished, Laramie circled around behind Skye and lifted the train of her gown. “C’mon, you’ve kept your groom waiting long enough.”
They moved slowly toward the door. Skye heard Connor’s contagious laugh echoing out in the hallway, and she smiled. Drew said something, his voice muffled, and Connor giggled again. He’d been the star of the show last night at the rehearsal dinner. Hopefully between Drew and Jack, they’d steer him down the aisle as the ring bearer and keep him occupied during the ceremony. It was a lot to ask of a two-year-old, but she couldn’t imagine not including him.
Mom was babysitting Connor for the next five days, but once she and Gage came home from their honeymoon in Estes Park, near Rocky Mountain National Park, they’d finally be a family of three.
As the bridal party moved toward the closed double doors at the back of the sanctuary, the violinist’s prelude filtered through the air.
Connor caught sight of Skye, toddled over to her in his miniature gray suit and reached for her hand. He tipped his head up and offered a smile. “Mama.”
How could two little syllables make her heart soar? “Hey, pumpkin. You look handsome.”
The doors opened, and Drew seated Mom in the front row. Connor wiggled uncontrollably, his chubby hand still clasping hers. While she waited for Drew to return so he and Jack could both walk her down the aisle and into her future with the man she loved, she stared at Connor in amazement.
Their Baby Blessing Page 18