21. Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Noah
I wish I could tell her Marian is all bark and no bite, but having been bitten plenty of times, I know she's like a dog with a bone until she gets what she wants.
I look into Lily’s eyes, sapphire blue, beautiful, and filled with trust yet shadowed by worry. I lean in, capturing her lips with mine, hoping that, just for a second, Marian’s threat will melt away. She responds with such sweet surrender, allowing me to explore her mouth with mine as if nothing else matters. The night air is warm, but the cool breeze stirs a touch of romance, wrapping us in the intimacy of the moment. I wish I could stay, hold her in my arms until every trace of fear disappears. But I can’t.
As I reluctantly pull away and head back toward the house, a resolution settles inside me. Tomorrow, I’ll sit down with my sweetheart and set a date for our wedding. Sleeping apart is no longer an option. She belongs here with Davey and me—under the same roof as a family. My wife, my son, my world.
***
"I'm taking David on a hike," Marian announces the moment I open the door.
"Good morning, Marian," I say as she brushes past me.
The scent of her perfume hits me hard—bold, unmistakably familiar. It’s the same one she's worn since the day we met, stirring memories of what I once believed was permanent, now shattered. What we've lost forever.
"I would love it if you came with us," she says, turning back toward me. She places her hand on my chest, her touch too casual, too intimate. Instinctively, I wrap my fingers around her wrist, pulling it away.
"Did you hear me, Love?" she asks, standing close, her gaze steady. "Will you join us?"
"No," I say flatly, offering nothing more.
"I want you back, Noah," she whispers, her lips coming too close to mine for comfort. But I stand my ground, refusing to budge.
"Mommy!" Davey's cheerful voice pulls my gaze away from her, but Marian's eyes remain locked on me.
"Mommy!" Davey repeats, louder this time, when Marian still refuses to look away.
"Hi, Darling!" she finally exclaims, turning her attention to Davey. "Are you ready to go?"
"Where are we going?" Davey asks, his face scrunched in confusion.
"Did you forget?" she says, kneeling down to his level, her voice softening. "We talked about it the last time we were together."
"We did?" Davey asks. "I don't remember."
"Well," she says, her tone sharpening with impatience, "do you want to go or not?
"Ah," I murmur, "there's the Marian I know."
The look she shoots me would kill most, but I’m accustomed to it. It only reaffirms the old adage that people rarely change.
"Go grab your backpack, Darling," she says, placing a hand on his shoulder while still giving me a lethal stare down. "I'll wait for you right here."
"Do you want to see my room, Mommy?" he asks, his tone brimming with excitement. Davey is blissfully unaware of the silent war of wills unfolding around him. His innocence tugs at my heart, making me wish things could be different, if only for a fleeting moment. Because in the next room is my future, my happiness, my fiancée.
"I'd love to!" she says, taking Davey's hand and heading toward the stairs. "I'll help you change, and we can pack you an overnight bag."
"No," I interrupt. "We have dinner plans. Please have him back by four."
"Dinner plans?" she asks, turning back to face me. "With whom?"
"With my niece and her husband," I say.
"Which one?" she probes, fishing for details.
"Loren," I reply flatly.
"So, Loren, Aaron, you, David, and who else?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
"If you're asking if Lily is invited, the answer is yes."
"Come on, David," she says, her icy tone returning. "Show me your room."
Once they’re at the top of the stairs, I walk into the kitchen where Lily is waiting. Her fingers are wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee as if she's trying to fend off an icy chill. I can relate.
"Did you catch all that?" I ask, taking my cup from the table and moving to the coffee pot for a refill.
She stands and walks toward me, her blue gaze unwavering as it locks with mine. Her perfume is subtle, yet its alluring scent pulls me in like a sweet dream. I close my eyes and inhale deeply, wrapping my arms around her until there’s no space between us. What I had with Marian was never like this. It was never this safe.
"I love you," I whisper in her ear, feeling her body melt into my embrace.
"I love you too, Noah."
Ten minutes later, I walk Davey and Marian to the door where I hug my boy goodbye. We both watch him run down the porch steps and into the back seat of the car. Once he's out of earshot, I turn to Marian. "I’d like his tooth back," I say with a slight smile. "For the tooth fairy."
"The tooth fairy can visit him the next time he spends the night with me."
Refusing to argue, I nod. "Fine, but don't forget."
***
Dinner with Mateo, Loren, and Aaron is going far better than I anticipated. The menu is grilled salmon drizzled with a rich bourbon sauce, vegetables, rice pilaf, and a crisp salad. But what truly captivates me is watching Lily interact with them and the kids—she’s effortlessly charming, drawing everyone in with her warmth and laughter, and I can’t take my eyes off her.
"Do you guys remember the day I called from a stranger's phone because I got lost?" Lily laughs, nudging Aaron as she starts to tell the story. She turns to me with a grin. "It was my first time in Cold Spring, and somehow I managed to get completely lost."
Aaron bursts out laughing. "Cold Spring has one main street! It's literally called Main Street, so I still don’t know how you pulled that off."
Lily shakes her head, trying not to laugh. "I’d met Loren for dinner one night before heading back to Boston. After we ate, we sat in her car chatting because it was freezing cold. I didn’t realize I’d left my phone in the car until she drove off."
"Classic," Aaron chuckles.
"It gets worse!" Lily says, eyes wide with mock horror. "It was late, it was drizzling, and I spotted what I thought was her car. So, obviously, I started following it. I'm thinking, ‘Where the heck is she going at this time of night?’ At some point, the car gets on the highway, and I’m still trailing it, totally convinced it’s Loren. Then... I lose her."
"No way!" I laugh. "You seriously followed her onto the highway?"
"Yeah! So I pull into this random gas station with no phone to call her. I had to borrow a stranger’s phone—total damsel in distress moment," Lily says, laughing. "I call her, and—"
Loren cuts in with a chuckle, "I pick up, and Lily's like, 'Where are you going?' And I’m just like, 'What do you mean, where am I going? I’m home. Where are you?'"
"I’d been following the wrong car the whole time!" Lily laughs, and I smile realizing I get to hear that sound for the rest of my life.
"Are you kidding me?" I say, still laughing. "How do you get lost in Cold Spring?"
"Exactly!" Aaron exclaims.
Lily giggles, her cheeks flushed. "Don’t judge me! It was a stressful night!"
"Hay, Mija," Mateo chimes in, shaking his head with a grin. "Your mama was the same way. She lived in the same neighborhood her whole life and still asked me if she was going the right way."
"Is everyone ready for dessert?" Loren asks, starting to push herself up from her seat.
"Let me," Aaron says quickly, gently helping her sit back down.
"I can help," I offer, already eyeing the chocolate cake on the counter that’s making my mouth water.
"Ice cream or whipped cream?" Aaron asks, glancing around the table.
"Whipped cream," Lily and I say at the same time, while everyone else, including Davey, chooses ice cream. When our eyes meet, a quiet exchange of love passes between us, and we share a smile. I turn back to cutting the cake, warmth spreading in my chest. When I hand her a piece of cake covered in whipped cream, our fingers touch for just a brief moment, but it’s enough to make my heart race. The warmth of her skin lingers, and I wish I could pull her close and kiss her right here, right now.
But the doorbell rings, ending the moment. Everyone exchanges glances, wondering who it could be.
"Are we expecting someone?" Loren asks, turning to Aaron.
Aaron shrugs. "Not that I know of."
With their open-concept floor plan, we all have a clear view of the door as Aaron walks over to answer it.
"Aaron!" Marian’s voice is bright and overly cheerful—though to me, it sounds worse than nails on a chalkboard. I glance quickly at Lily, and she gives me a reassuring smile, letting me know it's okay.
"Mommy!" Davey's little voice cuts through the tension, his joy the only bright spot in the room as he rushes to greet her.
I follow Davey to the door and guide him and Marian out onto the front porch, shutting the door firmly behind us.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, trying to keep my voice calm.
"Guess what?!" Marian exclaims, looking down at Davey with a bright smile. "Tonight is the last night the tooth fairy can come to visit you."
"The tooth fairy?" Davey's eyes widen in excitement. "Will she leave me some money?"
"She will," Marian replies. "But you have to spend the night where you lost your tooth."
"At the hotel!" Davey exclaims.
"That’s right, Darling. At the hotel with me."
I stare at Davey, then at Marian, struggling to process what just happened. It’s clear Marian has outplayed me, and I’m left with no choice but to let my son leave with her.
"That's why you kept his backpack," I say, suddenly realizing that Davey came home without it. "You packed enough clothes for him to stay with you tonight."
"That's right, Love," she smirks. "Don’t worry. I’ll bring him home tomorrow. I promise."
I try to mask my anger, determined not to give her the satisfaction or let Davey see how upset I am.
"Have him home by lunch," I say before kneeling down to hug Davey. "Have a good night, and I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay, Daddy," Davey replies, his eyes shining with excitement. "Do you think I'll get to see the tooth fairy, Daddy?"
"She usually waits until you're sound asleep," I smile. "But you never know."
When I walk back into the house, all eyes turn to me as if a thousand questions are about to be thrown my way.
"Don't ask," I mutter, sinking into the seat beside Lily. When her hand finds my knee, I catch it gently, bringing it to my lips. I linger there, pressing a kiss to her skin, feeling the warmth of her touch settle something deep inside me.
"Where did Davey go?" Holly asks, approaching me with one of my books in hand.
"He's spending the night with his mommy," I say, forcing a smile.
"I thought he lived with you," Holly says, her curiosity innocent but direct.
"Holly," Aaron interjects in a gentle, parental tone.
"It's okay," I reassure him, then turn back to Holly. "Davey lost a tooth, and he's expecting the tooth fairy to visit him tonight."
"I don't believe in the tooth fairy anymore," Holly whispers, pressing her fingers to her lips as if sharing a secret.
I chuckle softly, giving her a wink.
"Can you sign this book for me?" she asks, holding it out with a hopeful smile.
"My secret's out," I say with a grin, glancing over at Loren.
"Are you kidding?!" she exclaims. "The moment you told Mom and Dad, they called us."
I open the book to the inside cover, the pages soft and worn from love. With a smile, I write: To my wonderful great-niece—I'm so lucky to have you in my life. With love, Noah.
I return the book to her, and she immediately flips it open to read what I wrote. A rosy blush spreads across her cheeks as she beams and rushes over to Loren. "Look, Mommy!" she says excitedly, then heads to Aaron. "Look, Daddy!"
"I still can't believe we have an author in the family!" Loren says, her smile wide, pride shining in her eyes.
Looking at Loren, I realize just how much she resembles my mother. "You look so much like Mom," I say softly. "You have Sharon's eyes, but your features and smile are all Mom's."
Loren smiles warmly. "Whenever Dad tells the story of my birth," she begins, "he always says the first thing he thought when he held me was how tiny I was, like a peanut. And the second was how much I looked like Grandma, so they named me Loren Elizabeth after one of their best friends and Grandma."
"I always wanted a daughter," I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them. I feel Lily’s hand stiffen in mine, and regret tightens in my chest. But no one seems to notice as Loren continues, focusing now on the twins she's carrying.
"Part of me hopes one of these babies is a girl, but I already have my daughter," she says, pulling Holly in for a warm, affectionate squeeze.
"I hope one of them is a girl, Mommy," Holly says, her voice full of hope. Although Holly isn’t Loren’s biological child, the way she beams with confidence shows how deeply she feels loved as the firstborn in this family. Loren and Aaron have created something beautiful—a home filled with happiness and love. I glance at Lily, and she offers me a small smile, but I know my earlier words stung.
"What about you, Aaron?" Lily asks.
"I'll be happy with whatever God gives us," he says, resting his hand on Loren’s belly. "There are two little babies in there, and I already love them both more than I can say. I can’t wait to meet them." His eyes glisten with pride.
After dessert is gone and the coffee pot is almost empty, Mateo's deep voice from the end of the table breaks the moment. "Tonight’s my first night at the hotel, so I should get going. Mija, can you drop me off on your way home?"
"Of course," Lily says, standing up from the table.
In the meantime, I offer to help Aaron clean the kitchen so Loren can relax.
"Let me just put Peter to bed first," Aaron replies, cradling his son in his lap.
After Lily hugs and kisses everyone goodnight, I walk her and Mateo to the door. Mateo heads toward the car, but before Lily can follow, I gently take her hand and pull her closer. "I'm sorry," I whisper. "That was careless of me."
"It's okay," she says softly, though her eyes betray the hurt—the unspoken pain of knowing she may never give me a child.
"I love you, Sweetheart."
"I love you too, Noah."
I lean in and kiss her gently. "See you at the house?"
She nods, her smile returning before she walks away, leaving me standing there, wishing I could take away her pain.