Theo
I rested my head back against the headrest, letting the steady hum of the plane settle into my bones.
Maui was still about an hour away, and by this time tomorrow I’d be wearing a badge, shaking hands, and sitting through panels with other attorneys while I daydreamed about ocean air and building sandcastles on the beach.
Charlotte was zonked out in the window seat, her little body sprawled across my lap. One side of her curls had gone flat, her mouth slightly parted as she breathed.
Nora was on my other side, her head tipped onto my shoulder, our hands intertwined and hidden under the corner of Charlotte’ s blanket.
And man, did it feel good. Just having her beside me on the plane like this. Knowing we had each other.
For so long after Alisha died, the future had looked like a hallway with no doors. Just years stretched out in a dark, endless line.
I’d told myself during that phase of my life that I just needed more time to move on. More healing. More distance.
But sitting here now, with my heart so full and hopeful about the future, I knew it had never been about waiting for some magical day where I’d wake up “fixed.”
It was about finding the right person to make moving forward feel possible.
About finding Nora.
I squeezed her hand, just soaking in the peacefulness of this moment. Reveling in the warmth that spread throughout my chest, feeling gratitude over the fact that my heart had finally remembered how to expand.
And when Nora shifted, lifting her face just enough to press a gentle kiss to my cheek, I couldn’t help but just feel so happy. So content because I really was the luckiest man in the world.
Holding the hand of an amazing woman, with my sleeping princess on my other side.
Nora’s thumb traced once over my knuckles, and knowing we only had a little bit of time left before Charlotte was awake and able to hear everything we said, I whispered, “I’ve been thinking a lot about something and was wondering if I could get your opinion on it.”
“You have?” Nora lifted her head, lashes fluttering as she looked up at me. “What is it?”
“It’s about us,” I said, then nodded toward the little girl sprawled across my lap. “If it’s okay with you, I think it’s time we tell Charlotte about us.”
“You think so?” she asked, her eyes searching mine.
“I do.” I squeezed her hand, then lifted it and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I feel really good about where we’re headed. And so, if you feel the same…”
“Yes,” she whispered, not hesitating even for a second.
“Really?” My chest loosened, even though I’d been pretty sure we’d been on the same page.
She nodded.
“Then I think it’s the right next step.” I paused, then let a smirk tug at my mouth. “Plus, it would be nice to wake up with you next to me instead of having you sneak out of my room every night.”
Most nights that she stayed in my room didn’t even matter since Charlotte usually slept like a rock and didn’t stir until I was already out the door.
But on the few nights Charlotte had a bad dream hit and she ended up climbing into my bed to feel safe—it was just smarter to have Nora stay in her own room so we could avoid the questions we weren’t quite ready to answer.
“I definitely wouldn’t mind sleeping next to you again,” Nora said.
“Good,” I murmured before kissing the top of her head.
“So… how do you want to do it?” she asked, her gaze dipping to my mouth before returning to my eyes. “Do you have a plan?”
“I do.”
“And?” Her brows lifted, waiting.
I held her gaze for a beat, enjoying the suspense.
Then I winked. “It’s a secret.”
“You and your special secrets.” Nora let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head, her eyes glittering.
“Don’t worry,” I said, brushing my thumb over her knuckles again. “I think you’re going to like this one.”
“Hey,” I whispered to Charlotte later that afternoon. “I have a secret to tell you.”
Charlotte froze mid-step, green eyes going huge.
“A secret?” she gasped, one tiny hand flying to her mouth. “What is it?”
I had to bite back a smile because this was one of my favorite parts of being her dad. The way a secret could turn her into a tiny detective in half a second.
We’d just gotten settled into our hotel suite in Maui. It was bright and airy, with a big balcony overlooking the ocean. There was a main living area with a small kitchenette, then two bedrooms and a bathroom.
The plan was simple. I’d take the primary bedroom; Nora and Charlotte would stay in the other room with two queen beds.
So while Nora was unpacking her suitcase and getting settled in, I pulled Charlotte into my room, crouched in front of her and whispered, “You know how Nora has been getting all those flowers from her secret admirer?”
“Uh huh.” Charlotte nodded so hard her curls bounced.
“Okay, so… the secret is…” I took a breath, keeping it dramatic on purpose, “that all those flowers were actually from me.”
“They are?” Charlotte gasped.
I nodded. “I’m Nora’s secret admirer.”
“I knew it!” she squealed, practically vibrating with excitement before doing a little jump. “I knowed you was the pwince!”
I let out a quiet laugh, loving how her cute brain put things together. “So you figured me out?”
She nodded, beaming with pride.
“Well,” I said, softly brushing my thumb over her cheek. “Then I guess you probably figured out that I like Nora a lot.”
“I like her, too,” she said immediately. Then she leaned closer and added very seriously, “I looooove her.”
Which, of course she did.
Charlotte loved with her whole soul.
But I really couldn’t blame her for loving this particular nanny, since we really hit the jackpot with Nora.
She’d saved us in our time of need. Brought so much happiness into mine and Charlotte’s life. Given us love and laughter and hope.
And so, needing to let Charlotte know that we were on the same page, I swallowed and said, “I think I might love her, too.”
Charlotte’s whole expression softened like she’d just heard the best news. Then smiling big and bright, she asked, “Can she be my new mommy?”
My heart squeezed so hard it almost hurt.
Because part of me wanted to say yes so fast—wanted to scoop Nora up, keep her, and make her ours forever.
But one magical month of dating was probably a bit quick to get down on one knee, so I kissed Charlotte’s forehead and said, “Maybe someday. But first, I was thinking it would be fun to ask Nora to be my girlfriend.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened again. “Your girlfwend?”
“Yes,” I said. “You know how Aunt Lucy and Owen are boyfriend and girlfriend? I think it would be nice for Nora and me to be boyfriend and girlfriend, too.”
“Ohhh, yes!” Charlotte clapped her hands together. “And I can be your princess.”
“Of course.” I smiled. “You’ll always be my little princess.”
She beamed so hard I thought her cheeks might actually explode. Then she launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, and I hugged her back, breathing her in for a second.
When I pulled away, I held her shoulders gently. “But,” I said, lowering my voice even more, “I need you to help me.”
Charlotte’s face went serious again. “Otay.”
“I want it to be a surprise. Do you know what a surprise is?”
She gasped. “Like your birthday party?”
“Yeah.” I huffed a quiet laugh. “Kind of like that.”
Then glancing toward the bedroom doorway to make sure Nora was still busy, I said, “I want to do something special for Nora when I ask her. And I’ll need your help. Do you think you can do that?”
“Yes, Daddy.” Charlotte nodded. Then she squealed quietly and hugged me again, squeezing like she was trying to keep the secret inside her body.
Right on cue, I heard a door open in the bedroom next to us. Nora’s footsteps. The soft click of a drawer.
I lifted a finger to my lips.
Charlotte copied me instantly, lips pressed together like she was holding in a whole firework show.
“Just remember,” I whispered, “you can’t tell Nora anything until we do the surprise tonight, okay?”
“Otay.” Charlotte nodded solemnly.
And then she grinned at me like we were the sneakiest team in the world.