45. Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter forty-five
A ria, Nick, and Stacy walked up the path to Aria’s parents’ front door. This was their second Sunday family dinner after a judge signed off on their guardianship of Stacy. They’d passed their home visit and interviews. The social worker had given the judge a glowing review, letting him know Stacy would be lucky to have them. Really, they were lucky to have her.
Last Sunday, Stacy had been nervous. She barely spoke to anyone, except Aria and Nick. This time, she seemed more confident and put her hand on the knob and opened the door, just like Aria had done last weekend. This was home. Just like her place with Nick. This would always be a place where she was welcomed and loved. Nick and Stacy were a part of that, too.
It was what they wanted Stacy to feel every time she walked in their door and this one.
Her mom, Robin, rushed to them as they entered. “I’m so happy you guys could make it.” She bent down to Stacy. “Hello. I made you another batch of double-chocolate brownies because you said they’re your favorite.”
Without prompting, Stacy enveloped Robin in a hug. “Thank you, Grandma.”
Robin’s eyes glassed over and she held Stacy close. “Oh. Well. You’re more than welcome.”
Stacy stepped back and smiled, though she clenched her hands in front of her like she didn’t know what to do with them.
Aria’s dad, Wade, moved closer, keeping some distance because Stacy had been especially shy around him and her brother, Jax.
Stacy took a step closer to him. “How is the baby cow that got sick?”
Wade dropped to a crouch and pulled out his phone. He swiped the screen, then turned it to Stacy. “I took a picture of her this morning. She’s doing just fine. Back with her mama. See?”
Stacy took two more steps closer to him for a better look. “She looks much better. She’s so cute.”
“Hey, munchkin, do you have a hello for me?” Jax bent forward and held out his fist.
Stacy bumped, then shied away and backed up into Nick, who kept close to her because he knew how hard it was for Stacy to relax in big groups.
Lyric was sitting at the table, her hand over her baby bump. “Want to feel the baby kick?”
Stacy rushed over and threw her arms around Lyric, then put her hand on Lyric’s belly. Stacy let out a squeak. “I felt her, Auntie.”
Mason walked over to her, looming large like all the other men. But Stacy didn’t shy away.
“Hi, Uncle Mason.”
“Hey, sprite.” Mason had started calling her that after he heard Nick call her by the nickname. “You still working on your dad about that dog?”
Stacy grinned. “He says I have to wait until after the wedding.”
Mason brushed his hand over her head. “That’s just another week away.”
Stacy let out a huff. “But they’ll be gone on their trip.”
“And you’ll be spoiled by both sets of grandparents. Plus, our cousins are coming. You should call them all uncle and make them feel old.” He winked at her.
“Is Uncle Hawk flying everyone here, like he brought me?” Excitement filled her voice.
Once the judge signed off on the guardianship, Hawk had volunteered to fly Stacy home to them. Since she was familiar with him from the hospital after she was rescued, she’d been excited and eager to fly with him.
Nicole, Emma, and Toby heard about it during one of their group therapy sessions and wanted their turn, too.
Mason nodded. “You’re going to meet the whole crew. Your grandma and grandpa can’t wait to see you in person.”
They’d been having video chats with everyone in the family, so Stacy would know each of them at least a little bit before there were so many people surrounding her at the wedding. She and Nick were trying to ease her into things, but with such a big family, it was hard not to overwhelm her.
She was doing well in school. The teacher had paired her up with a different girl from her class each day, so she could make friends and navigate the new campus. Stacy had made a couple of friends, who invited her to lunch with them every day. Her teachers said she was bright, but quiet in class. So far, she’d brought home nothing but high scores on all her classwork and tests.
They were nurturing her love of books. She liked getting lost in another world. Aria and Stacy had bought a stack of books at the bookstore and put them on the shelf in her room, right next to her favorite spot on the window seat, which Aria had cozied up with a soft pillow and blanket for her to snuggle up. She even found a cute little table with carved legs to put next to her. Stacy loved to drink hot chocolate and read on weekend mornings.
Stacy walked around the table and hugged Layla. They’d spent last Saturday in Layla’s art studio after Stacy asked about her aunt’s talent. Layla gave her some lessons on drawing, but it seemed Stacy had a talent for it.
Stacy pulled out the sketchpad from her bag and opened it on the table, showing off what she’d drawn this past week.
Jax came up beside Aria. “They have a special bond. Layla hasn’t stopped talking about what a fantastic artist she is. How there’s something raw and bold and sometimes sad in what she creates.”
“She’s been through a lot.”
“She’s warming up to us. She’ll be ready to babysit Layla’s and my munchkin before we know it.” Jax hooked his arm around her shoulders. “You did a really good thing. An amazing thing. She’s already better for being with you and Nick.”
“She’s got a long way to go.”
“She’s got a lot of love and support to get her there.” Jax looked down at her, a twinkle in his eyes. “And if that’s not enough, Dad and I found her a pony. He’ll be here next week.”
Her eyes popped wide. “What? Are you serious?” It warmed her heart that they’d do something so sweet.
“Mars will be for all the kids. But he’s mostly hers because she’s so much older than her cousins.”
Nick brought her a glass of wine. “Why are you grinning like that?” Nick pulled her from Jax and into his arms.
“Because our girl is getting a pony from her uncle and grandpa.”
Nick chuckled. “I’m surprised it took you two this long to get her one,” he said to Jax.
Stacy was in the kitchen now with Robin, helping her mash potatoes in a pot at the stove, standing on the same step stool she, Lyric, Jax, and Melody used to use when they were kids.
Nick kissed the side of her head. “She’s happy.”
Every day, she got a little bit farther away from the pain. One day, it would fade into the background, a distant memory of where she’d come from and how she’d survived.
Aria loved being a mom. It made everything else pale in comparison. She still loved the bar, but she loved being with her family more. Right now, she got to shower Stacy with all her attention and love. Stacy needed it. But Aria couldn’t wait to make her a big sister, too.
But first, she and Nick were tying the knot.
“What’s that smile for?” Nick held her close in the warmth of her family home.
“I was thinking about how excited and anxious I am to marry you.”
“Yeah. Me, too. I can’t wait to call you Mrs. Gunn.” He kissed her right there in her mother’s kitchen, their family around them. Their soon-to-be daughter was surrounded by just some of the many people who would love and protect her always.
She’d never felt more humbled and appreciative to be a part of the people here who made this place home.
She held up her wine. “To the Wilde Gunn family.”
Everyone around the room held up a glass. “The Wilde Gunn family.” They all drank.
Stacy clinked her soda can to her grandma’s glass of wine, then they hugged each other, and Stacy announced, “Dinner’s ready.”
The family gathered around the table with their plates piled high and their hearts full.