“It does. You have all these memories; these moments, and I have a dream with you in it that I don’t understand. You have all this… love and I feel—” She stops talking and shakes her head.
“Is that what you’re worried about? That I told you I love you?”
“I-I can’t say it. I don’t know. There is so much going on inside of me, so many emotions.”
“Laney.” I lean down and kiss her temple. “There is nothing to worry about. You wanna know why?”
“Enlighten me,” she says, her sadness already starting to fade.
“Because I’m going to make you fall in love with me all over again.”
“You’re so certain I was before? We never said it, right?”
“No, we never said it, and I’m sorry. I should have. This time, I have my second chance and I won’t stop until you’re head over heels in love with me.”
“You seem confident.”
“I am. When it comes to my girls, I am. Now, let’s grab our coats and get moving. I wouldn’t put it past my mother to send a search party.” Delaney’s eyes widen and I laugh. “She’s excited to meet both of you. I think prom was the last time I took someone home.”
“Prom? As in high school?”
“Yep. Now, let’s get moving.” I set Kendrix on her feet, and she rushes off to get her coat. I help her into it and her boots while Delaney gathers her stuff as well. I snag my jacket from the hook by the door and we’re off.* * *Twenty minutes later, we’re pulling into my parents’ driveway. The front porch light, glowing bright like a beacon, calls us in. I help Kendrix out of the truck and don’t even try to set her on her feet. She’s a tiny thing like her momma. She might be too big for Delaney to carry her around all the time, but not for me. I intend to do it as long as she’ll let me. I’ve missed so much with her, at least I have this.
Stepping into the house, I smell Mom’s been baking, and I smile. I know as soon as the call ended, she rushed into the kitchen to make some kind of treat for my daughter. Her granddaughter. There is no doubt in my mind she’s going to dote on both of my girls.
We take off our shoes and coats and follow my parents’ voices to the kitchen. “Hey,” I greet them.
“Oh, who do we have here?” Mom asks.
“Mom, Dad, this is Kendrix.” I bounce her in my arms. “And this is Delaney.” I pull her into my side with my free arm. “Ladies, these are my parents, Gordon and Georgia Baldwin.”
“It’s so nice to meet you.” Delaney offers Mom her hand, but Mom bypasses it and pulls her into a hug. Mom pulls away and keeps her hands on Delaney’s shoulders. Something passes in her expression, but it’s gone before I can name it. “Welcome,” Mom says softly, stepping back. I can hear the emotion in her voice. I know she’s wanted me to settle down, but this is not what I expected. I knew she’d be happy and that she would love her simply because I do, but her emotions are unexpected for sure.
Delaney then turns to my dad, and he does the same. “Welcome to the family,” he says softly before releasing her.
“And this little lady?” Dad steps closer and holds his arms out to Kendrix. “Come and see your papaw.”
She doesn’t even hesitate as she reaches for him, allowing him to take her from my arms. “Hello, Kendrix.” My mom places her hand on her arm. “I’m your mamaw.”
“Hi. That’s my daddy, and that’s my mommy.” She points to Delaney and me.
Her tiny hands squeeze my heart with her words. Such easy acceptance of me into her life. I wasn’t sure how she would take it, but she’s acting as if us telling her that I’m her dad is as normal as the fact that Delaney has always been her mom.
“Well, come on in and sit down. I made some cookies, but they need to cool.”
“I love cookies,” Kendrix tells my dad on the way to the living room.
“Yeah? What’s your favorite?”
“All of them.” Her tone says she’s serious and it makes the four of us laugh.
Over the next hour, we sit and talk. My parents are enamored with both of them. I can see my mom’s wheel spinning, and I’m sure she’s wondering if and when she’s going to get more grandkids.
“We should get going,” I say after Kendrix yawns for the third time.
“No, I want to stay.” Kendrix pouts. She’s sitting on the couch between my parents and crawls up into my dad’s lap. He gives us a pleading look.
“We need to get you home, kiddo.”
“Hey, how about you come hang out with us this weekend? Mommy and Daddy can drop you off and we’ll spend the entire day playing, and we can bake more cookies, or make a cake.”