Chapter 23
The transition into Albert’s room was smoother than Claire anticipated.
As Wade assured her, it didn’t feel strange—just bittersweet.
The faint scent of cedar and something uniquely Albert lingered in the air.
She felt closer to him as they sifted through his belongings.
She paused to touch a photo. So many lined the walls and dresser, each capturing different moments of his life.
Bella wiggled like a caterpillar and scooted from one corner to the next, alternating between punching plush toys and letting out delighted squeals.
Claire sucked in a breath and unfolded a faded red flannel shirt. She lifted it to her face, breathing in the scent that still clung to it. “This is a keeper.”
Wade glanced over from sorting through Albert’s books. His movements slowed. “Reminds me of that fishing trip. He swore it was his lucky shirt.”
“He thought we’d catch something just because he wore it.” She snuggled it. “Even scolded me for talking too loud—said I scared the fish away.”
Wade cocked a hip against the dresser. “I was ready to pack it up after the first hour, but Albert—he had the patience of a saint. Meanwhile, we were fuming, sure we’d wasted the day.”
“He was grateful for the adventure.” She folded the flannel and tucked it into a box marked Keep. Her gaze swept the room, lingering on the fishing trophies, the framed photos, the details that made it Albert’s. “It’s strange being in here without him.”
“We can keep his legacy going. His shop’s staying open.” Wade straightened a photo of Albert cutting the ribbon on that shop. “As long as I’m breathing, it’s not going anywhere.”
Her chest warmed. Wade wasn’t the kind of man to let go of something that mattered, be it family, friendship, or tradition.
“Someday, Bella can decide if she wants to keep it or not.”
She smoothed the flannel shirt lapels. “Albert made the right choice leaving Bella with you.”
“And you.” Wade winked. He then picked up a photo. “This trip”—he held it out—“Albert told me he believed you and I would end up together in the future. I laughed at him then, but…”
Claire’s shoulder bumped his arm as she crowded in to look. The three of them grinned around a campfire. She was a junior then. A sigh escaped. “My first marshmallow roasting.”
“You were relentless to come with us. You literally got into an argument with your brother over it.”
“He didn’t want me there, said I’d slow you guys down.” Meanwhile, she’d been desperate to spend time with Wade and wanted to learn rock climbing from the two experts. “But you gave him that look—the one that said, ‘Why not let her?’”
His smile deepened. “I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in years.”
“I haven’t made s’mores since.”
He nudged her. “Well, that’s just wrong. We’ll have to change that—if you promise not to set them on fire again.”
“Hey! That was entirely the wind’s fault!”
“Sure it was.”
Unable to resist, she threw a bed pillow at him.
He caught it, his grin reckless. “Oh, it’s on now.”
Pillows flew, laughter rising and chaos unfolding. Bella squealed from the toy corner, her giggles joining the fray. Claire darted around the bed, but he caught her and tugged. She tumbled onto the bed, breathless as her back hit the mattress.
Wade hovered over her, his breath fanning her face. His playfulness melted, replaced by an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. As the air turned charged, she swallowed, parched. His fingertips brushed a stray spiral from her cheek.
Her heart thundered as she shifted on the bed, only for a muffled squeak to break the moment.
They both froze, then broke into grins. What was that?
She reached into the tangled blankets, and her fingers met something small and soft.
She freed a well-loved book with colorful buttons that blinked when pressed.
The tension dissolved as Wade’s laughter erupted, his body collapsing onto the bed beside her.
Claire squished the duck-shaped button, and it let out a comical “quack.”
Wade smirked and hit the pig button. A “snort” set them both laughing.
Each button they pushed brought a new sound and laughter until Claire wiped at her eyes. “Let’s see what Bella thinks of this.”
He stood, grasped Claire’s hand, and pulled her up with him.
“Bella, look!” Claire wiggled the toy and pressed the duck. Its quack had Bella’s eyes sparkling. She began her usual scooting across the floor.
“You’ll like the pig better!” Wade hit the button, and Bella waved impatiently.
“Come get it.” Claire always loved how Bella wiggled like a worm or caterpillar. She should record that. She patted her pants for her phone, but she didn’t have it on her.
She tapped the cow, and Bella pushed herself onto her hands and knees, rocking back and forth as if testing her strength.
“Wade, look!” Claire spun toward him. “Do you think she’s going to crawl?”
“She should. What I read seems she’s the right age.”
With another press and another, Bella inched forward on her knees.
“Get the phone, a picture.” Claire jumped in excitement.
Wade was already thrusting out his phone. “I’ve got it.” He crouched beside Claire, positioned the phone, and called Bella.
Claire moved the toy further ahead, coaxing Bella. “Come on, sweetheart. You can do it!”
Bella hesitated with hands and knees in place, her lips quivering as if unsure. Then she made a tiny shift forward.
“Come on, sweet girl.” Wade beamed.
She crawled three paces, Claire squealing, Wade shouting. No wonder they scared the baby. She stilled, collapsed on the floor, and cried.
Wade tossed his phone on the bed, scooped Bella up, and jiggled her. “I’m sorry we made you fall.”
Claire inched in with the book and pressed a button that had Bella grabbing for the toy book. She clutched it and jabbed the buttons. Animal sounds soon replaced her crying.
“You crawled for the first time.” Claire rose on tippy-toes to kiss Bella.
“That was amazing.” Wade kissed Bella’s curls.
Claire looked up, her heart full as she gazed at them—her favorite people.
He smiled back and wrapped his free arm around her.
“This calls for a celebration,” she said.
“We’re already celebrating.” He kissed the top of her head, and she hugged him, Bella’s feet kicking against her arm. Bella, ever curious, banged her toy against Claire’s hair. Wade laughed. “She probably thinks that’s how she’ll get the sound from the book.”
“Silly girl.” Claire rose to squeeze Bella’s round cheeks. Oh how she savored this moment of just them, a small family, celebrating a small victory.
“Thank you, Wade.” Her throat tightened. “For being here.”
It had taken ages for her to feel this kind of certainty, and now, it filled her to the brim.
He nudged wisps of curls from her face, his steady gaze conveying something she couldn’t quite name. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”
She stepped back to look at him, but Bella started fussing, wiggling in his arms, eager for her next adventure. When he set her on the carpeted floor, Claire didn’t want their moment to end. But… “We should probably feed her and get her down for a nap.”
He nodded, but his gaze lingered on her, deep and searching and weakening her knees.
“Thank you for the flowers.” In the whirlwind, she nearly forgot the beautiful bouquet. “I’m having Pringles and cupcakes for lunch.” He’d refrigerated the cupcakes when she hadn’t managed to eat all those days. As for Pringles, he must have picked them up at the store.
“You’re welcome.”
She tilted her head, curious. “How did you know I like sour-cream-flavored Pringles?”
He tapped his chin, pretending to think. “You might have mentioned it once… when you made me the best grilled cheese sandwich ever.”
She laughed. “I’m a terrible cook, and you know it.”
“But you make a mean grilled cheese.”
“That’s only because you were starved after an entire day of skiing.”
“Who’s remembering events now?” His grin wide, he edged in closer.
The space between them shrank, and her breath caught in her throat as her gaze flicked to his lips. His smile softened, and the world seemed to hold its breath.
Then Bella broke the spell, chattering and banging her toy against the wall. Wade chuckled and offered a rueful headshake. He lifted their daughter. “I need to make a couple of virtual work calls while Bella naps.”
Claire pressed both hands on her heated cheeks, unable to steady her breathing. What a tangled emotional mess she’d become! She needed to get a grip. Making lunch might get her back to normal. “Grilled cheese, it is.”
While he fed Bella, Claire ignored the meals his mom packed into the fridge. Cooking for him felt like the smallest gesture after everything he’d done—changing Bella, staying longer than planned, working from her cramped house.
But how do you say thank you to someone like Wade? Grilled cheese hardly seemed enough.
As she reached for the griddle, a glint caught her eye. Her wedding ring on the microwave.
She picked it up, the cool metal smooth against her fingers. She slid it onto her finger. This time, it didn’t just symbolize an arrangement. Now, he looked at her the way she’d always longed for him to, and the ring felt… right.
She washed her hands to start lunch.
The doorbell rang.
With him busy feeding Bella, Claire rushed to answer. She opened the door to Rhett’s easy smile.
“Hey, beautiful.” He held out a potted plant. “I noticed you didn’t decorate for fall like you usually do.”
Her heart slammed in her throat, and her mind skittered all over. Normally, she’d return the flirtations and whatnot, but Wade had made some sort of promise where they stood.
“No fall flowers. I thought—”
“Rhett.” Her voice wavered. Was now the time to explain her marital status? Refusing the plant felt rude, so she took it, her fingers brushing the wavy edge of the clay pot. “That’s… thoughtful of you.”