Chapter 16 Reese #2
Cody shrugged, but Reese could see he was pleased. “If they offer a scholarship, then yeah. I love running. Finding the gym changed my life. Well, and you guys, obviously.”
“You’re going to kill it in college,” Emma said to Cody. “And not just running. Tell Grace and Walter about your computer science class”
“Oh, yeah, well, I’m learning to write code,” Cody said. “And my teacher thinks I have talent in it.”
“You’re gonna be one of those rich dudes, and we’re all going to be super jealous,” Emma said.
“You and Marcus will be on Broadway by then,” Cody said.
“Wouldn’t that be amazing?” Emma asked.
“Dream it and it will come,” Reese said, fighting the lump in her throat. “And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of you. Roan and I will be here for every moment.”
“What about you two?” Emma asked, looking at Reese and Roan. “What’s your good news?”
Reese and Roan exchanged a glance.
“We do have some news,” Reese said.
“The adoption paperwork for both of you is almost finalized,” Roan said. “Logan says we should have the court date scheduled by the end of the month.”
“For real?” Marcus asked, eyes shining with tears.
“Yes,” Reese said. “You’re ours. Officially. Legally. Forever.”
Cody looked down at his plate, but not before Reese saw his eyes go glassy.
“I didn’t think anyone would ever want to keep me,” Marcus said.
“Me either,” Cody said. “Sometimes it all seems like a dream.”
“We want to keep you,” Reese said, her own tears falling now. “Both of you. Always.”
Grace and Mauve were dabbing at their eyes with their napkins. Walter was suspiciously focused on his plate.
“Okay,” Emma said, her voice watery. “Someone say something funny before we all fall apart.”
“I’m excited for my trip out to L.A.,” Mauve said. “Reese and I went shopping last week so I’ll have the right clothes for all the fancy people. Jason’s taking me to some big party at a producer’s house or someone like that.”
“Oh, I’m jealous,” Emma said.
“I’ll be sure to take notes and tell you everything when I get back,” Mauve said. “I’ve been looking forward to it for so long, I’m a little afraid I’ll be disappointed.”
“Jason’s there. That’s enough,” Reese said. “Whether you admit it or not.”
Mauve’s cheeks flamed. “Jason and I are just friends. As you all know, so stop teasing me.”
“He asked me about you three times this week,” Roan said. “Just casually. ‘How’s Mauve? Does she seem happy? Is she nervous about coming out for a visit? Is she dating anyone?”
“He did not say that last part,” Mauve said.
“He absolutely did,” Roan said.
“How does he not know the answer to those questions when they’re constantly texting?” Cody asked.
“And how exactly do you know that?” Mauve asked, still pink.
Everyone laughed.
“It’s pretty obvious when you’re looking at your phone and typing, smiling away,” Julia said. “We know who’s on the other end.”
Mauve buried her face in her hands. “We’re friends. That’s all. We agreed that long distance and our lives being so totally different wouldn’t work. We’re both happy with that arrangement. He’s a wonderful friend.”
“You already have a best friend,” Reese said. “That’s not what you need.”
“It’s totally going to happen,” Emma said knowingly.
“I give it two days in L.A. before you two admit you’re in love with each other,” Cody said.
“Cody, you know no such thing.” But Mauve was smiling despite her embarrassment.
“I think it’s romantic,” Julia said. “Long distance is hard, but, if it’s meant to be, you’ll figure it out.”
Reese watched Mauve’s face—the way she tried to downplay—but couldn’t quite hide—her feelings.
She suspected Cody was right. Two days in L.A.
, maximum, before everything changed. She really hoped she didn’t lose Mauve to Hollywood.
On the other hand, Reese wanted her friend to be as happy as she was with Roan.
Even if it meant losing her to the west coast.
“Well, whatever happens,” Grace said diplomatically, “we’ll be here to support you, dear.”
“Thank you,” Mauve said, with a pointed look around the table. “Grace is supportive instead of teasing me, unlike you jackals.”
“Who wants dessert?” Reese asked, laughing.
All hands shot up. Then, it was a flurry of activity as they all helped to clear the table.
Soon, they were all back in the dining room enjoying tiramisu.
Emma was teaching Julia a hand-clapping game, both of them giggling.
Marcus was showing Cody something on his phone—probably a video from musical rehearsal.
Grace and Walter were discussing Thanksgiving plans with Mauve.
And Roan was holding baby Nora, making silly faces that had her shrieking with laughter.
Her heart was full to the brim. This was what Reese had always wanted. A big, messy family with unconditional love instead of transactional as it had been with her parents. She had the chance to do all of this the right way. Maybe even a baby or two of their own in the next few years.
After dessert, people started trickling out.
Julia needed to get Nora home for bedtime.
Emma had an early dance class to teach in the morning.
Mauve had packing to do for her trip. Grace and Walter left shortly thereafter.
Marcus and Cody helped clean up the kitchen, loading the dishwasher and wiping down counters.
“We’re going to watch a movie downstairs,” Marcus said when they finished. “That okay?”
“Of course,” Reese said. “Just don’t stay up past eleven.”
“But it’s Saturday tomorrow,” Marcus said.
“Growing boys need their sleep,” Reese said.
“Yes, Reese,” they chorused.
They headed downstairs to the finished basement where they’d set up a TV and gaming system. They’d asked if they could continue sharing the bedroom upstairs, even though they could have had their own. “Brothers stick together,” Cody had said.
Roan pulled Reese toward the living room and turned on the gas fireplace, then put some music on in the background.
They settled on the couch, with Reese tucked under Roan’s arm and her head on his chest. His wedding ring caught the firelight.
It never ceased to thrill her to see it on her hand, tying him to her forever.
They’d gotten married on Valentine’s Day in a small ceremony at Grace and Walter’s farmhouse.
All the kids and the Hayes family had been there.
Jason had flown out for the wedding to surprise his brother, despite his busy filming schedule.
It had been the perfect day. So far, they’d been too busy with the boys to take a honeymoon.
She had big plans, though. Her Christmas gift for Roan was a honeymoon on one of the river boat cruises through Europe.
She’d seen it in his search history and knew immediately that she wanted to surprise him with it.
She couldn’t wait to see his face when he opened it.
All she wanted, for the rest of her life, was to make him smile.
“What a sweet night.” Roan pressed a kiss into her hair, breathing in the heavenly scent.
“It always is when we’re together”
“Are you content? Here with me and the boys instead of dancing in New York?”
She looked up at him. “First off, I wasn’t in New York when we found each other again. Second, how could you even ask that? I’m the luckiest woman in the world to have you and the boys.”
“I’m the luckiest.”
“Well, you are lucky to have me, that’s true,” Reese said, smiling as she laid her head on his shoulder. “Plus, I love living here in Sugarville. Teaching at the studio. Being a mom.”
They sat in silence for a while, watching the fire, the music playing in the background, enjoying the down time.
“I’ve been thinking,” Roan said. “About what’s next.”
“Yeah?”
“The adoption will be finalized soon. The boys are settling in.” He paused. “I think maybe … in a year or so … we should think about having a baby. If you want.”
She sat up straight, studying his face, making sure he was serious. “Oh, I do. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.”
“Not right away, obviously. I’m enjoying this time in our relationship. Plus, the boys need us right now. They need stability, not the chaos a baby would bring.”
“Agreed. But in a year or two maybe?” Reese smiled. “I think we’d be ready then. Cody will be off to college in the fall. Marcus only has a few years of high school left. It’ll go fast.”
“You’ll be the best mother.”
“I already am a mother,” Reese said. “To two teenage boys who eat me out of house and home and make my heart swell with pride.”
“They are pretty great.” Roan tightened his arm around her.
“When I held Nora tonight, my ovaries started talking to me.” Despite her light tone, emotion caught in her throat. “I do want a baby. One we get to watch grow up from day one.”
“We will. When the time is right.”
Reese nodded, content with that. They had time. They had each other. They had this life they’d built together.
Downstairs, she could hear the muffled sounds of the movie the boys were watching. She could picture them sprawled on either end of the couch. Marcus holding a throw pillow to his chest like he did when he watched television and Cody with his large feet on the coffee table.
Outside, the November wind rustled through the trees. Inside, it was warm and cozy and filled with the small, ordinary moments of family life that she cherished. This was the life she’d always dreamed of, and she cherished every second.
A year ago, she’d never have predicted she’d be sitting here wrapped in Roan Hayes’s embrace.
It had taken so long to forget him and then, there he was, winning her heart all over again.
They’d been so young when they first fell in love, even if she’d not understood that at the time.
Seeing the boys every day, how immature and vulnerable they still were, she had compassion for the grief-stricken boy he’d once been.
He simply couldn’t cope. But she’d forgiven him.
She loved the man he was now. And she loved who they were together.
They stayed wrapped in each other and in gratitude for everything they’d found as the minutes ticked by, punctuated by the boys’ laughter coming from downstairs. Their house. Their boys. Their future.
Thanks for reading Christmas Encore!